Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, recently held key discussions with a senior Korean business delegation and explored ways of enhancing synergies between the two parties and examined emerging business opportunities in the technology and entrepreneurship fields.

The high-ranking delegation led by Dr Yanghee Choi, Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning, was received at the DSOA head quarters by its vice chairman and chief executive Dr Mohammed Alzarooni.

The meeting explored ways of enhancing synergies between the two parties and examined emerging business opportunities in the technology and entrepreneurship fields.

The visitors were later introduced to Silicon Park, the Dh1.3 billion ($354 million) smart city project at DSO spanning an area of 150,000 sq m, and Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre (DTEC), DSOA’s wholly-owned technology incubation hub, which is the largest-of-its-kind in the region, along a number of other projects.

Exchanging industry insights, the participants identified possibilities of collaborating on various technology-centered projects in the region.
Welcoming the Korean group, Dr Alzarooni said the visitors have shown great interest in its technology hub. "Our talks highlighted the advantages that DSO offers to emerging technology and large companies alike when setting up their businesses in the high-tech park. We are committed to developing a smart technology infrastructure that adapts to evolving business partner and international investor needs and goes a long way in promoting DSO as a technology hub on a regional scale."

"The Republic of Korea with its advanced technology solutions can serve as a valuable partner in helping us realize this goal," he added.

Dr Choi commended DSO on its smart city initiatives and praised the futuristic vision of the Dubai government.

In addition, he expressed optimism at the possibility of IT companies in Korea leveraging the opportunities that the Dubai-based integrated park offers, such as the conglomerate Hyundai, which has established a quality and inspection center in DSO.

"We are honored to have had the chance to familiarize ourselves with DSO and its offerings, and experience first-hand the great progress the free zone has made in the implementation of smart city solutions and support of technopreneurs. We see ample potential for future collaboration and exchange of expertise."

"DTEC is a center of immense size and scope that offers vital support to the start-up community in the UAE. We were proud to learn that the incubation hub hosts more than 700 companies, of which 40 per cent are Asian," he added.-TradeArabia News Service