Kim Dong-yeon discusses economic cooperation with Virginia Gov. Jamryong, the next Republican in the U.S.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, who is visiting the U.S. for international exchange and cooperation, met with Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia on the 16th (local time) to discuss ways to exchange innovative technologies such as startups and bio and economic cooperation.

Virginia is a sister state to Gyeonggi Province along with Florida and Utah.

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin served as co-CEO (2018-2020) of Carlisle Group, a global private equity firm, and became the 74th Virginia governor in 2021.

If Republican Trump is elected in the U.S. presidential election, he is considered a candidate for commerce secretary along with Linda McMan, co-chairman of Trump's transition team, Keith Krak, former deputy secretary of state for economic affairs, and Robert Lighthizer, former U.S. Trade Representative.

In an hour-long meeting at the governor's office in Arlington, Virginia, Governor Kim said, "Congratulations to the state of Virginia on achieving 10,000 startups during the governor's tenure. I will also make Gyeonggi Province a startup paradise, he said. "I'm also going to New York (during my visit) to meet with 500 startups in the United States."

Governor Kim then said, "I was happy to hear that the BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization) selected you as governor of the year," and suggested, "Gyeonggi Province accounts for 40% of the Korean bio industry, so I hope we will strengthen our cooperation with Virginia."

Governor Kim also said, "The policy council between Gyeonggi-do Province and Virginia has been suspended, and we hope to resume," adding, "We hope to establish strong partnerships in other industries and businesses in addition to the two areas of suggestion (start-up, bio)."

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said, "Working with trusted supply chains, trusted partners, and trusted technology cooperation partners is critical. There are very few countries that can be trusted like that, and among them, Korea is always the first country."

"As an economic partner, relations with Korea are very important, and as a sister state, relations with Gyeonggi Province and Virginia are very important," he said. "You mentioned the resumption of the policy council, but it is very necessary. It is necessary to increase the number of exchanges and contacts between the two regions," he said.

In particular, Governor Glenn Youngkin introduced startups, "Virginia is the world's largest market in AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity, and it is said that 70% of U.S. Internet traffic goes through Virginia." He stressed that cooperation between startups in both regions will be possible in such areas.

Governor Kim also proposed cooperation in the field of data and youth exchanges, including the establishment of a large-scale data center, and Governor Glenn Youngkin readily agreed.

Since its sisterhood relationship with Virginia in 1997, the provincial delegation and working groups have visited the province four to five times, and two Virginia governors and the deputy head of the state's economic agency have continued mutual exchanges, visiting Gyeonggi Province.