KEPCO-in-Provence
The wording on the plaque unveiled last Friday in Aix-en-Provence says it all: welcome to the "France/°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Organization Representative Office" of KEPCO E&C, a subsidiary of Korea's giant electricity utility KEPCO.
The many °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ procurement contracts awarded to KEPCO E&C (representing approximately EUR 36 million) explain the company's decision to open an office here, at the heart of a science and technology park forty-five minutes from the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ site.
"We are here because of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ," explains KEPCO E&C's President and CEO Koo-Woun Park. "But beyond our commitment to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ, we will extend our ability to explore the promising markets of Europe, especially those of Eastern Europe..."
Being close to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ will make communication much easier and efficient. "We're here to help in the success of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ and it's always better to communicate face-to-face," adds Koo-Woun Park, who came especially from Korea to inaugurate the small office in Aix-en-Provence.
The two-person office—the first established by KEPCO E&C in Europe—will be managed by General Manager Jun Hyung Lee assisted by one secretary only. "It's a small beginning but, symbolically, an important one," he said. He sees the office as a communication channel not only with °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ, but "with the whole energy establishment in Europe".
The company's installation in Aix-en-Provence was facilitated by the Welcome Office for International Companies (WOIC), the agency that works in close collaboration with the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Organization to provide support to foreign firms wishing to establish themselves close to the project.