Three days, two countries, fifteen meetings. Minister Kupka visited Singapore and South Korea14/4/2023|Press releasesCooperation in the field of state-of-the-art transport technologies, high-speed lines, space activities and the development of direct air links between Prague and the South-East Asian region. These were the main topics of transport minister Martin Kupka's mission to Singapore and South Korea this week. Together with the transport minister's delegation, almost 60 representatives of businesses from the Czech Chamber of Commerce went to Asia to establish contacts with local companies and organise several business forums and B2B meetings. "South-East Asia is a place of great opportunity for our entrepreneurs. I am therefore pleased that we have managed to organise the largest economic diplomacy mission of the ministry of transport to this area. We have supported more than 50 companies to establish significant business contacts in two successful and rapidly developing Asian economies. I also took advantage of the trip to meet my ministerial counterparts from Singapore and Korea," says transport minister Martin Kupka. "Both Singapore and South Korea are very progressive countries and there are many modern business methods to learn. We are therefore very pleased that the transport minister could be accompanied on his trip by a delegation of nearly 60 business people from the Chamber of Commerce. We managed to organise two business conferences focused on the presentation of the potential of Czech companies, accompanied by subsequent bilateral business talks. All this is a great kick-off for their subsequent successful operation in these new markets," adds Michal Štefl, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. Upon arrival in Singapore on Tuesday, minister Kupka visited the local seaport through which 37.5 million shipping containers (TEUs) passed in 2022, making it the second largest container port in the world. On Wednesday minister Kupka began his day talking with the management of Singapore Airlines. The main topic of the meeting was the possibility of direct air routes between Prague and the countries of South-East Asia. "Prague Airport is an important hub for flights from Asia to Europe and beyond. During recent months, we have managed to re-establish a regular flight between Prague and Seoul and introduce a new route to Taipei. We would be happy if we could also expand the opportunities for Czech tourists and entrepreneurs to Singapore and other countries in South-East Asia, Australia and Oceania in the coming years. We have received a promise from the management of Singapore Airlines that they will examine the possibility of further direct connections," said minister Kupka. In Singapore minister Kupka also held talks with his cabinet counterpart, Minister for Finance and Transport Chee Hong Tat. Together they launched the Czech-Singapore Business Forumwhich was attended by the representatives of hundreds of local businesses. "We see great potential for business cooperation in the areas of transport, logistics, financial services, modern technologies and the utilisation of space data and research activities. Singapore can be a gateway for our businesses to enter the South-East Asian market," minister Kupka said at the start of the business forum. Cooperation in space activities was then the subject of a meeting with the Executive Director of the Office for Space Technology & Industry Singapore. Minister Kupka spent Thursday's programme in South Korea where held talks with South Korean Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong. "The main topic of our meeting was high-speed rail lines and my Korean colleague expressed interest in information on the development of infrastructure in the Czech Republic. South Korea is one of the world leaders in this field. And the Czech Republic plays a leading role in the development of connectivity in Central Europe. Although the European system of high-speed train connections is different in many respects, some procedures can be applied here as well, for example signalling and smooth connection of HSL to conventional railway lines. In all these areas Korea can serve as a great inspiration for us and we will therefore address this topic and cooperate on the basis of shared data on the benefits of HSL for the development of the territory, economic relations and the society," minister Kupka said after the meeting. The two ministers also welcomed the resumption of scheduled air services between Prague and Seoul, which are now operated three times a week since 27 March. A Czech-Korean business forum was also held in Busan, with the participation of more than 120 Korean businesses. "The Republic of Korea has long been one of our three most important trading partners on the Asian continent, both in the exchange of goods and services and in foreign investment. Our trade is currently focused mainly on the automotive industry, precision engineering and consumer goods. However, I believe that there is great potential for strategic technological cooperation also in the energy, transport and defence industries," Kupka noted. Before flying back to the Czech Republic, minister Kupka still managed to visit the Hyundai Rotem factory which manufactures and sells railway vehicles.