Governor Choo Meets Île-de-France President to Discuss Expanding Cooperation

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae met with Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France region of France, at Dodamso on the 16th to discuss ways to expand exchanges and cooperation between the two regions.

This meeting was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the friendship and cooperation established between Gyeonggi Province and Île-de-France in 2016. Both regions are metropolitan areas representing South Korea and France, respectively, and share similarities and potential for cooperation in a variety of fields.

In particular, at this occasion, the two leaders signed the "Gyeonggi-Île-de-France Joint Implementation Plan," which sets out the direction for future cooperation based on a decade of exchanges. The implementation plan includes areas of cooperation such as the economy, science and technology & innovation, youth & education, sustainable development & transport, tourism & culture, and international cooperation.

Governor Choo stated, "Gyeonggi Province and Île-de-France are representative metropolitan areas leading the economy, industry, and science and technology of their respective countries. Because their scale and conditions are similar, they are the optimal partners who can immediately apply each other's policy experiences." She added, "I hope that, based on the trust built over the past 10 years, we can connect our strengths to create practical cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence, startups, and mobility."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae (left) is signing a joint implementation plan for cooperation between the two regions with Valérie Pécresse, Governor of the Île-de-France region, at Dodamso in Suwon on the 16th. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

President Pécresse commented, "Gyeonggi Province and Île-de-France are innovation hubs representing Korea and France, respectively," and said, "This joint implementation plan reflects our determination to develop each region's strengths into concrete collaborative projects, further strengthen our strategic partnership, and create new opportunities for businesses, researchers, and innovators."

In addition, both sides discussed the potential for cooperation in fields where both regions have strengths, such as artificial intelligence (AI), advanced industries, startups, and future mobility.

Gyeonggi Province has established an ecosystem for artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and startups centered around Pangyo Techno Valley, while expanding its semiconductor industry ecosystem in areas like Yongin and Pyeongtaek. Île-de-France serves as a leading research and innovation hub in Europe, accounting for about 40% of France's total R&D activities, with a concentration of universities, research institutes, and global enterprises, including the Paris-Saclay science and technology innovation cluster.

Since establishing relations in November 2016, Gyeonggi Province and Île-de-France have engaged in exchanges across diverse sectors, including startups and science and technology. In particular, cooperation has continued through activities such as participation by Gyeonggi-based companies in VivaTech (a technology exhibition) and scientific and technological exchanges with Paris-Saclay, linking the innovation ecosystems of both regions.

Meanwhile, President Pécresse and her delegation visited Hwaseong Haenggung Palace and Gyeonggi Provincial Library that day, and experienced autonomous vehicles at the Anyang City Smart City Integrated Center, exploring Gyeonggi's historical and cultural sites as well as its future industries. Île-de-France also donated 16 books introducing their region's history and cultural heritage to the Gyeonggi Provincial Library.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.