Sodhi said that with CEPA (Comprehensive
Economic Partnership Agreement) in place, India and South Korea were looking to
grow bilateral trade. He said, “Automobile industry of both countries can
further technological tie-ups, while being partners in handling changes that
have become essential because of sustainability challenges.”
Korea
is one of the global leaders in the EV industry. It is the 8th largest market
in the world with 100,000 units sold annually and it exports more than 120,000
units per year, hence, establishing itself as the fourth largest EV exporter in
the world.
The
event was attended by Chang Jae-Bok Ambassador to India, the Embassy of the
Republic of Korea, and top officials from Niti Ayog, Hyundai Motor India,
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-New Delhi, Hero Motors, TATA Power,
Magenta Power and Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL).
In
his speech, Chang Jae-Bok said that ever since the establishment of diplomatic
relations in 1973, Korea and India always enjoyed cordial relations between the
two countries, developing their economic, cultural and political relations
seamlessly.
The
Ambassador said, “Today's Korea-India EV Cooperation Forum will greatly contribute
to the economic cooperation between the two countries because the automobile
industry is in the middle of a transition from internal combustion engines
vehicle to electric vehicles and it means a lot when we discuss together over
new, green form of automotive at this historical transition.”
Dr.
B.K Panigrahi, Head of Centre For Automotive Research & Tribology (CART)
and Professor at IIT Delhi, also presented his valuable inputs highlighting the
infrastructural challenges for EV segment in India and discussing solutions
that bridge this gap.
“The
faster adaptation of EV(s) in India is still encountering greater technical
challenges such as charging infrastructure, cost, repair, etc. However, the
major challenge is the skilling and re-skilling of the personnel associated
with the transportation industry because of the transition from the IC engines
to the EV(s)”, he said.