– Discussion of global land and transport issues at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Transport Forum (ITF)
- Support for smart city and transportation infrastructure advancement, strengthening reconstruction cooperation, and other related activities
□ The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (Minister Park Sang-woo) will attend the OECD Regional Development Policy Ministerial Meeting (May 5-19) and the OECD International Transport Forum (ITF) Transport Ministerial Meeting (May 22-5.19) held in Warsaw, Poland and Leipzig, Germany from May 20 to 5.21 to discuss future land and transport policy directions.
ㅇ Attending this meeting is a forum for the international community to discuss global common issues such as low birth rates, climate change, and digital transformation.
ㅇ This is part of efforts to actively promote our government's excellent policies, such as the construction of a super-wide area megacity and K-Pass, take the lead in presenting exemplary solutions, and enhance the national image.
□ The OECD* Ministerial Meeting on Regional Development Policy is the highest-level meeting held approximately every five years, hosted by the OECD Committee on Regional Development Policy**. This meeting will be held for two days from May 5 to 5 in Warsaw, Poland, which holds the chair country.
* Our country is currently one of 38 member countries and joined the OECD in 1996.
** One of the OECD policy committees, it deals with policy issues in the regional and urban sectors.
Review policy cases and trends of member countries and discuss policy directions
□ This meeting will be held under the theme of ‘Strengthening regional policies to create resilient regions.’ At this event, which will be attended by approximately 50 countries and organizations, including chief representatives of member countries and key figures from international organizations, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Park Sang-woo was designated as the lead speaker (out of a total of three people). This can be seen as reflecting international interest in our country’s policies.
ㅇ The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport will announce the direction of our country’s construction of ultra-wide-area megacities and innovation growth hubs to respond to local extinction and strengthen regional competitiveness, and will seek directions to strengthen regional competitiveness together with the international community.
□ The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport will attend the OECD International Transport Forum (ITF) Transport Ministerial Meeting* on the theme of ‘Responding to Climate Change and Strengthening Transport Resilience’ to share policies related to the transition to carbon-neutral transport and responding to disasters and climate crises with the international community.
* A global consultative body of transport ministers from over 60 countries and international transport organizations, the highest-level meeting with substantial influence on setting international standards and policies in the transport sector.
ㅇ At the ‘Climate Change Ministerial Roundtable’ to be held on May 5, Korea’s representative transportation policies such as K-Pass for revitalizing public transportation will be introduced, and the main discussion will be on improving global transportation governance and cooperation measures to respond to climate change.
ㅇ In addition, we plan to request international interest and support from APEC member countries attending the Transport Ministers’ Meeting for the successful hosting of the ‘Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit’ to be held in Gyeongju this year.
□ Meanwhile, Park Sang-woo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, will hold bilateral meetings with Poland, Ukraine, and other countries during the conference, and will also hold discussions with local companies to hear their opinions.
ㅇ Minister Park plans to meet with Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy of Poland, the chair country, during the OECD Ministerial Meeting (May 5.21-22) and sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in the smart city sector between the two countries.
ㅇ In addition, we will also discuss ways for cooperation between Korea and Poland on the reconstruction of Ukraine based on the MOU signed with the Polish Plenipotentiary for Development Cooperation in Ukraine (under the Fund Regional Policy Department) in May 23.
ㅇ We will also meet with Poland’s Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak and work to support our companies in securing orders for infrastructure projects in the transportation sector, such as the new Polish airport high-speed railway and new road construction projects.
ㅇ In addition, Minister Park will meet with Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, to review the status of reconstruction cooperation between the two countries, which has been promoted in earnest since the signing of the MOU on reconstruction cooperation between the ministries in 23, and share the results of cooperation and new reconstruction demands from the Ukrainian side. In addition, they plan to discuss ways to expand the participation of our companies in various forms of reconstruction projects, such as future investment and development projects (PPP).
ㅇ Next, we will hold a meeting with domestic construction and engineering companies that have advanced into Poland. At this meeting, we plan to listen to their achievements and difficulties in the local area and reveal the government’s will to support the era of $2 trillion in overseas construction.
□ Park Sang-woo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, said, “Through this OECD and OECD ITF meeting, we will actively participate in the international community’s solidarity to respond to current challenges and express our government’s will to lead key agendas.”
ㅇ He emphasized, “Korea will expand its role and cooperate with the OECD to spread OECD values and norms for resolving global common issues while implementing domestic land and transportation policies in a more inclusive manner to create a sustainable future for all.”