[Interview] “Busan and the Caribbean Share Many Similarities in the Marine Industry—We Can Transfer Our Technology”
Published: April 9, 2023, 17:45:12
By Kang Sung-hal, Senior Reporter | shgang@busan.com
Song Hae-hwa, CEO of Ocean Entec Co., Ltd.
“Busan and the Caribbean share many similarities in the marine and fisheries industries. By proposing technology exchanges such as fishery product processing know-how, we devoted great effort to supporting Busan’s bid for the 2030 World Expo.”
As a representative of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Busan Office, CEO Song Hae-hwa of Ocean Entec Co., Ltd. visited three Caribbean nations—Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia—from February 25 to March 6, to promote the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo.
Song joined the private economic cooperation delegation led by KITA Chairman Koo Ja-yeol. The delegation included Kim Yoon-il, Secretary for Future Policy at the Presidential Office; Lee Joo-young, Specialist of the Government Expo Support Team; KITA executives; and representatives of five Busan companies belonging to the Busan Business Council—Lee Sang-hoon (Dongkwang Trading Corporation), Cho Bu-rae (Dongseo P&L Co., Ltd.), Kang Cheol-ho (Daehun Co., Ltd.), and Shim Sul-jin (KODUCT Co., Ltd.)—a total of about 16 members.
They visited three of the five Caribbean countries: Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia.
Song said,
“These countries are small nations whose total trade volume with Korea accounts for only about 0.002% of our overall trade.
Although they are small in population and scale, each country holds one equal vote in the selection of the Expo host city, so we cannot underestimate them.”
She added,
“They are members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)—small, but crucial nations from which we must secure support for Busan.”
These countries had already declared their support for Saudi Arabia, Busan’s competitor, last year.
Song continued,
“It was meaningful that local business leaders from Busan voluntarily came together to support the Expo bid. I was honored to participate in the trade and diplomacy delegation and contribute to Busan’s efforts.”
During the Caribbean visit, Song met with ministers of trade, resources, and foreign affairs from each country to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation between Korea and the Caribbean nations.
“Rather than focusing on immediate gains, we proposed the ‘Busan Initiative’, emphasizing long-term development perspectives similar to Korea’s Saemaul Movement.
We also presented projects to address global challenges such as climate change and the digital divide.”
Song introduced the Busan Initiative, which aims to invite young Caribbean professionals to Busan for training in fisheries processing, bio-farming, and long-term preservation technologies, such as canning methods developed by Busan’s local seafood companies.
Born in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, Song studied in Japan for three years in her twenties.
She later joined a trading company in Busan, where she gained six years of experience dealing with Japanese and European buyers.
To strengthen her competitiveness, she also studied English in the United Kingdom for one year. After returning to Korea, she founded Ocean Entec in 2004, securing contracts with Japanese shipyards. Since then, Japanese buyers who trusted her business integrity have continued to place orders. Ocean Entec mainly handles marine engine parts and ship equipment exports to Japanese shipyards.
Song explained,
“The Caribbean has strong cultural ties with Africa, reflected in reggae music and African traditions. Awareness of K-pop and Korean food is still low.
Agriculture and light industry are less developed than in Korea, and due to their small island size, they lack self-sufficient production and consumption systems, limiting overall industrial growth.
However, they have outstanding tourism resources. There is potential to connect Busan and Miami with cruise tourism, while they seem eager to learn Busan’s seafood canning and processing technology for use with their local marine products.”
“Busan has many training institutions specializing in fisheries and marine industries, making it ideal for hosting programs to invite young people from the Caribbean.
Through this opportunity, I hope we can all work together to ensure the World Expo is held in Busan, a city watched by the entire world.”
[Interview] “Busan and the Caribbean Share Many Similarities in the Marine Industry—We Can Transfer Our Technology”
Published: April 9, 2023, 17:45:12
By Kang Sung-hal, Senior Reporter | shgang@busan.com
Song Hae-hwa, CEO of Ocean Entec Co., Ltd.
“Busan and the Caribbean share many similarities in the marine and fisheries industries. By proposing technology exchanges such as fishery product processing know-how, we devoted great effort to supporting Busan’s bid for the 2030 World Expo.”
As a representative of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Busan Office, CEO Song Hae-hwa of Ocean Entec Co., Ltd. visited three Caribbean nations—Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia—from February 25 to March 6, to promote the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo.
Song joined the private economic cooperation delegation led by KITA Chairman Koo Ja-yeol. The delegation included Kim Yoon-il, Secretary for Future Policy at the Presidential Office; Lee Joo-young, Specialist of the Government Expo Support Team; KITA executives; and representatives of five Busan companies belonging to the Busan Business Council—Lee Sang-hoon (Dongkwang Trading Corporation), Cho Bu-rae (Dongseo P&L Co., Ltd.), Kang Cheol-ho (Daehun Co., Ltd.), and Shim Sul-jin (KODUCT Co., Ltd.)—a total of about 16 members.
They visited three of the five Caribbean countries: Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia.
Song said,
“These countries are small nations whose total trade volume with Korea accounts for only about 0.002% of our overall trade.
Although they are small in population and scale, each country holds one equal vote in the selection of the Expo host city, so we cannot underestimate them.”
She added,
“They are members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)—small, but crucial nations from which we must secure support for Busan.”
These countries had already declared their support for Saudi Arabia, Busan’s competitor, last year.
Song continued,
“It was meaningful that local business leaders from Busan voluntarily came together to support the Expo bid. I was honored to participate in the trade and diplomacy delegation and contribute to Busan’s efforts.”
During the Caribbean visit, Song met with ministers of trade, resources, and foreign affairs from each country to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation between Korea and the Caribbean nations.
“Rather than focusing on immediate gains, we proposed the ‘Busan Initiative’, emphasizing long-term development perspectives similar to Korea’s Saemaul Movement.
We also presented projects to address global challenges such as climate change and the digital divide.”
Song introduced the Busan Initiative, which aims to invite young Caribbean professionals to Busan for training in fisheries processing, bio-farming, and long-term preservation technologies, such as canning methods developed by Busan’s local seafood companies.
Born in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, Song studied in Japan for three years in her twenties.
She later joined a trading company in Busan, where she gained six years of experience dealing with Japanese and European buyers.
To strengthen her competitiveness, she also studied English in the United Kingdom for one year. After returning to Korea, she founded Ocean Entec in 2004, securing contracts with Japanese shipyards. Since then, Japanese buyers who trusted her business integrity have continued to place orders. Ocean Entec mainly handles marine engine parts and ship equipment exports to Japanese shipyards.
Song explained,
“The Caribbean has strong cultural ties with Africa, reflected in reggae music and African traditions. Awareness of K-pop and Korean food is still low.
Agriculture and light industry are less developed than in Korea, and due to their small island size, they lack self-sufficient production and consumption systems, limiting overall industrial growth.
However, they have outstanding tourism resources. There is potential to connect Busan and Miami with cruise tourism, while they seem eager to learn Busan’s seafood canning and processing technology for use with their local marine products.”
“Busan has many training institutions specializing in fisheries and marine industries, making it ideal for hosting programs to invite young people from the Caribbean.
Through this opportunity, I hope we can all work together to ensure the World Expo is held in Busan, a city watched by the entire world.”