![Victor Fedeli, Ontario’s minister of economic development, poses with Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee Cheol in front of the Jang Young-sil, a submarine built by Hanwha Ocean, on Jan. 22. [Photo=Hanwha Ocean]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/01/23/20260123083617604946.jpg)
SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean said Friday that an Ontario cabinet minister visited its Geoje shipyard this week, as the company steps up efforts to win Canada’s submarine project.
Victor Fedeli, Ontario’s minister responsible for economic development, job creation and trade and a provincial lawmaker representing Nipissing, toured the shipbuilder’s Geoje facility, the company said. The visit comes ahead of bidding for Canada’s submarine procurement program.
During the tour, Fedeli reviewed shipbuilding operations and production automation equipment, including welding robots. He also boarded the Jang Young-sil, a Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine launched in October 2025, to inspect its capabilities.
Hanwha Ocean briefed Fedeli on the design and production process for its proposed submarine model, highlighting the company’s large-scale shipbuilding infrastructure and production capacity.
The company also outlined its industrial cooperation plans under Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) program, a key requirement of the bidding. Hanwha Ocean said the plans include investment and job creation across Canada, including in Ontario.
Hanwha Ocean said it aims to expand cooperation with Ontario, part of Canada’s Great Lakes region, and expects such partnerships to strengthen negotiations under the ITB framework by supporting regional industrial development and employment.
“It is very meaningful to be able to introduce in person the latest submarines that have already been proven through the Republic of Korea Navy,” Hanwha Ocean Chief Executive Kim Hee-cheol said in a statement. He added that discussions on cooperation with Ontario-based companies demonstrate a “firm commitment to building sustainable submarine construction and maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities in Canada.”
Hanwha Ocean said it has recently signed memorandums of understanding with more than 10 Canadian companies for shipbuilding and industrial cooperation.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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