First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Moon Shinhak (right) on Oct. 27 takes a photo with Saudi Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Abdullah bin Ali Al-Ahmari ahead of their bilateral talks at Government Complex-Seoul in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources)  

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources has agreed to greatly expand cooperation with Saudi Arabia in key industries such as shipbuilding and cars as well as in future-centric high-tech sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.

The ministry said First Vice Minister Moon Shinhak on Oct. 27 hosted bilateral talks on raising such collaboration with Saudi Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Abdullah bin Ali Al-Ahmari at Government Complex-Seoul in the capital's Jongno-gu District.

The two officials agreed to maintain close communication and cooperation so that major joint projects proceed as planned. The ventures include International Maritime Industries, a joint venture shipyard between HD Hyundai and Saudi Aramco under construction at King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services set to be the largest shipyard in the Middle East, and Hyundai Motor's first assembly plant in the region being built in King Abdullah Economic City.

In addition, both sides agreed to speed up cooperation in building AI infrastructure including advanced semiconductors and data centers and boost collaboration in AI applications such as digital twins, cloud computing and robotics.

dusrud21@korea.kr