Russia-Korea Joint Research Center has opened in Vladivostok today, on June 17, 2015 at Admiral Nevelskoy Maritime State University, IAA PortNews correspondent says. The main purpose of the Center is the analysis of transport & logistic complex and port infrastructure in the Far East and Arctic regions.
It took one year to develop the joint project of the Nevelskoy Maritime University and the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI, Republic of Korea) under the international agreement on cooperation signed by the Transport Ministries of the two countries in 2014.
According to KMI President Kim Sung-gwi, the key task of the Center is to become link between the Korean and Russian businesses, mostly transport and port ones.
“Russia’s Far East and the Northern Sea Route are acknowledged by the business community of Korea to have an enormous geopolitical meaning and economic perspectives. Korean business is interested in different areas of cooperation: Northern Sea Route, investment projects in the far east as well as transport & logistic complex including the corridor across China” said Kim Sung-gwi.
He also emphasized the interest of Korea, as a large importer of energy, in partnership with Russian suppliers. The Republic of Korea is ready to shift the flow of coal from Australia to a more profitable route from port Rajin.
The Center’s personnel will number four employees – two representatives of the each side. The office is located in one of the University’s buildings. The research of 2015 will be dedicated primarily to the Northern Sea Route. Then it will cover the logistic system, the ports of the region and the fishing sector. Twice a year the Center will issue bilingual analytic reports. It will also hold research and practice seminars. The first one is supposed to be held on July 16 under the auspices of the Consulate-General of Korea in Vladivostok.