5th K-City Platform briefing set for Thursday

The flag of the United Arab Emirates. This image is not directly related to the article. [Getty Images]
The flag of the United Arab Emirates. This image is not directly related to the article. [Getty Images]

The Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation announced Tuesday that it will hold the "5th Convergence K-City Platform Briefing" at its education center on Thursday, focusing on Abu Dhabi and Texas.

The briefing is designed to introduce the Korea-specialized industrial complex, or K-Industrial Complex, project in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as well as mixed-use development and industrial complex plans in major Texas cities, and to explore cooperation opportunities between Texas local governments, economic development agencies and project stakeholders on one side, and South Korean construction, engineering and convergence-sector firms on the other.

A Texas delegation will attend, including Bastrop Mayor Ismael Harris, representatives from the Henderson Economic Development Corporation, the Killeen Economic Development Corporation and the Korea Texas Forum. Park Jun-woo, chief executive of Arkbar Partners, will present on the UAE Abu Dhabi K-Industrial Complex project. The Texas segment will then feature presentations by local government officials, economic development agencies and Korea Texas Forum representatives covering: mixed-use and industrial development opportunities in Henderson; a "K-Town" mixed-use development concept in Leander; the K-City Central development concept in Killeen; a mixed-use development plan in Bastrop; and the corporate incentive and investment environment in Texas. Each presentation will also address key project plans by region and the areas in which South Korean firms can participate and collaborate.

The briefing is drawing particular attention for the practical information it will provide South Korean companies evaluating market-entry prospects — including specific development sites, land-use plans, target industries and incentive structures. Following the presentations, a question-and-answer session and networking among attendees will allow for discussion of project-specific details and potential areas of participation for South Korean firms, with a view to exploring follow-up cooperation between local agencies and interested companies.

"This briefing gives South Korean companies a single venue to review the specific development plans and incentives for both the Abu Dhabi K-Industrial Complex and Texas projects, and to communicate directly with local agencies," an association official said. "We will actively support efforts to ensure that the cooperation demand identified through this event leads to follow-up consultations and tangible project participation."

Meanwhile, the association held a similar briefing in July focused on Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, connecting overseas urban development and smart-city projects with South Korean firms across a range of sectors including construction, engineering, IT, culture and content.


hss@heraldcorp.com