ID :
191974
Thu, 06/30/2011 - 09:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/191974
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea's composites industry needs to go global: French CEO
SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's composite materials industry, one of the nation's key industry sectors as a future growth engine, is promising but has to present itself to the international market more actively, the head of a global information provider related to the global sector said Thursday
Frederique Mutel, president and CEO of the Paris-based JEC Group, made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul. Established in 1956, JEC promotes the use of composite materials worldwide by providing networking and information services.
Composite materials, often shortened to composites, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. Dubbed as "the materials for the 21st century," they are of light-weight but resistant and widely used in many areas such as aerospace, transportation and construction.
"(South Korean) companies are only oriented to the local market as they didn't see the need to broaden their markets," Mutel said. "But as they have started to change their targets to other countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, soon South Korea will take a bigger part in the Asian market."
The French CEO called for South Korean industry to tap into the Asian market before entering the European market, saying the Asian market is the most logical option.
The president, however, said South Korean companies have potential to enter the European market due to the support from the country's strong economy, sound finances and ambition. She added that every market could be an opportunity for South Korea.
Mutel, who is in Seoul to gain a better understanding of the composites industry in Korea, gave a presentation on Wednesday about the upcoming JEC COMPOSITES ASIA 2011 international exhibition. The fair, to be held from Oct. 18 to Oct. 20 in Singapore, is expected to bring together more than 345 companies and over 7,000 visitors.
The president said the organizers have made South Korea as this year's main guest country for the fair, in recognition of the country's contributions from its scientific community and companies.
The three-day annual exhibition reflects the industry's growth in Asian countries, said the president. Asia accounted for 42 percent of global composite production in 2008, up from 25 percent in 2000, according to JEC data. The company forecasts Asian players will be responsible for half of global composite production by 2015.
The data also shows the current Asian composite market amounts to 18 billion euros (US$26 billion), mainly driven by major growth markets in China, India and other Asian countries.
"Innovation is an easy answer," Mutel said when asked how to strengthen South Korea's competitiveness in the market, "If you bring solutions with innovation, you can succeed."
Frederique Mutel, president and CEO of the Paris-based JEC Group, made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul. Established in 1956, JEC promotes the use of composite materials worldwide by providing networking and information services.
Composite materials, often shortened to composites, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. Dubbed as "the materials for the 21st century," they are of light-weight but resistant and widely used in many areas such as aerospace, transportation and construction.
"(South Korean) companies are only oriented to the local market as they didn't see the need to broaden their markets," Mutel said. "But as they have started to change their targets to other countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, soon South Korea will take a bigger part in the Asian market."
The French CEO called for South Korean industry to tap into the Asian market before entering the European market, saying the Asian market is the most logical option.
The president, however, said South Korean companies have potential to enter the European market due to the support from the country's strong economy, sound finances and ambition. She added that every market could be an opportunity for South Korea.
Mutel, who is in Seoul to gain a better understanding of the composites industry in Korea, gave a presentation on Wednesday about the upcoming JEC COMPOSITES ASIA 2011 international exhibition. The fair, to be held from Oct. 18 to Oct. 20 in Singapore, is expected to bring together more than 345 companies and over 7,000 visitors.
The president said the organizers have made South Korea as this year's main guest country for the fair, in recognition of the country's contributions from its scientific community and companies.
The three-day annual exhibition reflects the industry's growth in Asian countries, said the president. Asia accounted for 42 percent of global composite production in 2008, up from 25 percent in 2000, according to JEC data. The company forecasts Asian players will be responsible for half of global composite production by 2015.
The data also shows the current Asian composite market amounts to 18 billion euros (US$26 billion), mainly driven by major growth markets in China, India and other Asian countries.
"Innovation is an easy answer," Mutel said when asked how to strengthen South Korea's competitiveness in the market, "If you bring solutions with innovation, you can succeed."
