Korea Development Bank has established a foothold in Abu Dhabi, in the latest sign of the strengthening business links between the UAE and South Korea.
The Seoul-based lender, wholly owned by South Korea's government, inaugurated its Abu Dhabi representative office at a ceremony at Etihad Towers yesterday.
As Song Sehoo, a 16-year-old winner of Korea's Got Talent, serenaded a room packed with Emirati and Korean businessmen, a signing ceremony for the next deal was being prepared next door - a strategic alliance between Korea Exchange Bank and Dubai's Mashreq.
The rush to do deals between the two countries' banks underscores the growing importance of South Korea and the UAE place on their relationship, underscored by their cooperation on the Emirates' nuclear programme.
"The UAE and the Middle East have always been close to the heart of Korea," said Kim Han Chul, KDB's vice chairman and chief operating officer.
"Since as early as the '70s, Korean construction companies have worked hard in this region and built relations with the local community," he added.
These relationships were becoming stronger as the dynamism of South Korean companies sets them in search of new markets.
"Both the public and private sector in Korea are interested in expanding into the Mena region, starting with the UAE," he said.
The Middle East and North Africa accounts for more than half of Korea's overseas plant orders, said KDB.
The bank plans to use its representative office in Abu Dhabi to tap into further growth in the Mena region, with support for the Korea Cleantech Cluster project in Masdar City and Korean companies in the energy and healthcare industries.
KDB is attempting to transform itself into a global player as South Korea's overseas ambitions grow, with branch expansions in mainland China, Russia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Uzbekistan.
South Korea has attempted to build what it envisions as a "100-year" partnership with the UAE, built around its nuclear programme.
The UAE's four nuclear reactors will be built and managed by Korea Electric Power Corporation, also known as Kepco.
Lee Myung-Bak toured the site of the Emirates' first nuclear power plant in his final visit to the UAE as South Korea's president in November. South Korea has sought to emphasise that its relations with the UAE will not be affected by the result of its recent presidential election.
"As the UAE takes on a new global scale and has projected to lay the ground for future growth, Korea will be an important partner to help achieve that goal," said Kim Jung Hoon, the chairman of the South Korean National Policy Committee.
For their part, UAE banks have also sought to build ties with Korea's lenders.
Mashreq has also signed an agreement with Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) to support reciprocal investment between the two countries.
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank followed in September last year by forming a partnership with Kookmin Bank, South Korea's largest lender.
National Bank of Abu Dhabi has also signed agreements with KDB and the Seoul International Financial Center to assist in its development.
ghunter@thenational.ae
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
Company%20Profile
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
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The specs
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Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
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Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
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Install an air filter in your home.
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UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
ENGLAND TEAM
England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph
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Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
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Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
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Director: Todd Phillips
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Scoreline
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