○ Gyeonggi Province Governor Mi Ae Choo meets Île-de-France Region President Valérie Pécresse on September 16
○ Two regions discuss stronger ties in advanced industries, startups, future mobility, and other fields as they mark 10 years of friendship and cooperation
○ Joint action plan signed to promote sustained exchanges and cooperation
On September 16, Gyeonggi Province Governor Mi Ae Choo met with Valérie Pécresse, president of France’s Île-de-France Region, at Dodamso (former gubernatorial residence) to discuss expanding exchanges and strengthening cooperation between the two regions.
The meeting marked the 10th anniversary of the friendship and cooperation relationship between Gyeonggi Province and the Île-de-France Region in 2016. As the capital regions of their respective countries, Gyeonggi and Île-de-France share many similarities and have strong potential for cooperation across various fields.
During the meeting, the two sides signed a joint action plan that sets out future directions for cooperation based on the relationship built over the past decade. The action plan covers economic cooperation; science, technology, and innovation; youth and education; sustainable development and transportation; tourism and culture; and international cooperation.
Governor Choo said, “Gyeonggi Province and the Île-de-France Region are both capital regions that play leading roles in their countries’ economies, industries, science and technology. Given our similar scale and circumstances, we can readily apply lessons from each other’s policy experience, making us ideal partners.” She added, “Building on the trust we have developed over the past decade, I hope our two regions will forge an even stronger partnership. In particular, I look forward to connecting our respective strengths to achieve tangible cooperation in artificial intelligence, startups, and mobility.”
President Pécresse said, “Gyeonggi Province and the Île-de-France Region are leading innovation hubs in their respective countries, South Korea and France,” adding, “This joint action plan reflects our shared commitment to turning the strengths of our two regions into concrete joint projects and deepening our strategic cooperation. Through these efforts, we will create new opportunities for businesses, researchers, and innovators.”
The two sides also discussed potential cooperation in fields in which both regions have significant strengths, including AI, advanced industries, startups, and future mobility.
Gyeonggi is equipped with an AI, digital, and startup ecosystem centered around Pangyo Techno Valley. It is also expanding its semiconductor industry ecosystem, particularly in the cities of Yongin and Pyeongtaek. Meanwhile, Île-de-France is one of Europe’s leading research and innovation hubs, accounting for approximately 40% of all R&D conducted in France. The region is home to major universities, research institutes, and global companies, including organizations based in the Paris-Saclay science and technology innovation cluster.
The two sides agreed to expand support for companies entering each other’s markets through exchanges among businesses and research institutes, as well as participation in major innovation events. They also agreed to share experience and policies in future mobility, including public transportation, autonomous driving, hydrogen vehicles, and AI-based traffic management.
Gyeonggi Province and the Île-de-France Region have cooperated in fields including startups, science, and technology since establishing their friendship and cooperation relationship in November 2016. In particular, the two regions have worked to connect their innovation ecosystems by supporting Gyeonggi-based companies’ participation in the technology exhibition VivaTech and promoting science and technology exchanges with Paris-Saclay.
During the visit, President Pécresse and her delegation visited the Temporary Palace at Hwaseong Fortress and the Gyeonggi Library. They also toured sites showcasing Gyeonggi’s history, culture, and emerging industries, including an autonomous vehicle demonstration at the Smart City Integration Center in Anyang. The Île-de-France regional government also donated 16 books introducing the region’s history and cultural heritage to the Gyeonggi Library.