A policy seminar on strategies for interregional connected development of Western Urban Area of Gyeongnam(WUAG), which PCRD hosted, took place at the city hall of Jinju on May 15.

This seminar, PCRD had jointly prepared together with Gyeongnam Development Institute and Dongnam Regional Devlopment Committee, discussed collaborative development measures for WUAG including Jinju city and other 9 cities or counties in the vicinity of it: Sacheon, Tongyeong, Geoje, Namhae, Hadong, Hamyang, Geochang, Sancheong, Gosung.

Those cities and counties of WUAG took advantage of this seminar as an opportunity to reach a firm consensus on the necessity of cooperation as a united community. Also it was discussed how the interregional connected development strategies based on traditional key industries supporting Korea’s manufacturing, 21st century’s cutting-edge aerospace industry and tourism industry should be implemented.

And the following themes were presented at the seminar: ‘Development Strategies for WUAG’ from Gyeongnam Development Institute, ‘Competitiveness Enhancement Measures for Gyeongnam Aerospace Industry’ from Gyeongnam Airnet Center(GNATC), ‘Fostering Strategies for Root Industries of Dongnam Region’ from Korea Institute of Industrial Technology and ‘WUAG’s Tourism Promotion Scheme’ from Professor Lee at Kookje college.

The presentations are followed by a discussion cession where Professor Cho at Gyeongsang National University presided and local authorities, economic and civic groups from those regions and academics attended.

Hong Chul, Chairman of PCRD, said that WUAG as a center of Korean aerospace industry have led the growth of national economy and industry, and also added that if these regions would keep strengthening cooperation as an integrated urban area, the chance of progress would get higher, which was the reason why PCRD hosted this seminar.