Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said on the 29th that it had laid the groundwork for Middle Eastern countries to create opportunities to cooperate with Korea on artificial intelligence (AI).
Following the signing on the 9th of a memorandum of understanding to strengthen AI and digital cooperation with the Dubai Future Foundation, it hosted the "AI Cooperation Forum" in Qatar on the 17th and the "Korea-Saudi AI Future Cooperation Partnering" event in Seoul with the Ministry of Investment on the 26th.
Middle Eastern oil producers are devising national strategies related to the AI industry to move away from oil-dependent economies. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced "AI Strategy 2031," Qatar announced the "National Digital Agenda 2030" and the establishment of a "National Artificial Intelligence Center," and Saudi Arabia announced the "National Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategy."
They are also pursuing cooperation with Korean AI corporations. At the "Korea-Qatar AI Cooperation Forum" held on the 17th, the Minister of Qatar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology visited the site and expressed interest in Korea's AI solutions. Saudi state-run oil corporation Aramco has been conducting technology cooperation with a domestic AI semiconductor corporation since 2024 through its subsidiary, Aramco Digital.
KOTRA announced the "KOTRA AI Strategy" on the 22nd and outlined its support direction for the "globalization of the national AI ecosystem." It plans to improve trade and investment support systems using AI and to support exports of the domestic AI industry.
Kim Myung-hee, KOTRA executive vice president, said, "The Middle East has a strong will to foster AI and invest, making it a promising region for our AI corporations to build cooperation models. We will actively support the globalization of the domestic AI industry ecosystem."