Geelong signs Korea city deal

THE City of Greater Geelong (COGG) has formally opened a landmark agreement with the Republic of Korea’s Changwon City ahead of a major Geelong-based military supply deal.

Greater Geelong acting mayor Trent Sullivan welcomed Changwon mayor Huh Sungmoo to Geelong Town Hall last week for a ceremony where the leaders signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between their cities.

Changwon is home to global manufacturers including Hanwha Corporation and its subsidiary Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA), which is delivering a $1 billion Land 8116 defence project for the federal government.

The mega military deal will bolster Australia’s arsenal of weapons and heavy military vehicles, including with self-propelled howitzers and armoured ammunition resupply tanks.

An Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence based in the Geelong region would build the defence gear under the contract, but an exact location is yet to be confirmed.

HDA is also one of two companies involved in a supply deal for Land400 tanks to go to the Australian Defence Force, with the total contract worth $27 billion over 10 years. Hanwha would base its tank building operations at the same facility.

An announcement on the tender is expected this year on the Geelong projects that are expected to create 350 jobs.

The MOU also agrees for the two cities to collaborate on trade, education and cultural exchanges to promote investment and employment opportunities.

Geelong councillors had agreed to enter the agreement in December last year following a request from the South Korean city.

COGG CEO Martin Cutter, Hanwha chief Jaeil Sohn, HDA managing director Richard Cho and Deakin University research director Genevieve Reid were also at the historic signing.

Cr Sullivan said COGG was honoured to sign the agreement with the Korean city.

“The Geelong region is very hopeful that this Memorandum of Understanding will bring great benefit for both regions and we believe there will be much to learn from each other,” he said.

“We see this as an opportunity to build a great relationship with a city that holds many similarities to ours, and that has equally high aspirations of competing on the global stage.

“This MOU aligns with the Geelong community’s 30-year vision to be internationally recognised as a ‘clever and creative’ city with a prosperous economy, that supports jobs and education opportunities.”

Mr Huh Sungmoo said he hoped the deal would deliver ongoing benefits for his city.

“I am confident our two cities’ close cooperation will contribute to advancing smarter global society,” the Changwon mayor said.