Morland
MAED
HKK 18411
INDEX
SV 20. 51
12 APR 1978
AK OFIC
RECISTAY
PA [Action TakeT
198
UK/KOREA AIR SERVICES
W
Jimmy Mellon is busy briefing himself for his move to Ghana so I am replying to your minute of 23 March.
1.
•
2. It is really for the DOT to pronounce of the importance of individual markets but it so happens that we have been taking particular interest in South Korea because Seoul is about to be inspected and we have just prepared the briefs on the staffing etc of the Commercial Department. Our brief for the Inspectors refers to the rapid industrialisation of the Korean economy and the scope this offers for imports of capital goods and services. Our exports to Korea in 1977 were worth £76 millions, a mere 2% or so of Korea's total imports. UK exporters are awakening albeit rather slowly to the potential of this market which is still unfamiliar, distant, somewhat difficult and very competitive. The number of British business visitors calling on our Embassy in Seoul increased to 1008 in 1977 compared with 99 in 1975. And there is to be a large British Industrial Exhibition at Seoul in June, 1978, at which 47 firms will be represented. The Reading Room of the Embassy is also (subject to PSA approval) to be
converted into an Exhibition Centre for use on a repayment basis by British firms.
3. We have observed at meetings and seminars concerned with exporting that Korea is increasingly cited as the country of opportunity with every prospect of parallelling Japan's rise to industrial strength.
Certainly we need to do everything possible to encourage our exporters to get out there. I have no doubt that a direct service
4.
by British Airways would help.
7 April 1978
Cc: Mr Stewart HKGD
Mr Samuel FED
8. Rusty
G Feast
Trade Relations and Exports Department G4/1 233 3921
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