| | SEPTEMBER 20268IN FOCUSHanoi and Seoul are set to deepen cooperation in smart city development, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence following a bilateral meeting between Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. The meeting had taken place during National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man's official visit to South Korea.Marking three decades of friendship between the two capitals from 1996 to 2026, Thang highlighted expanding cooperation in urban management, planning, transportation, e-government, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Both leaders agreed to focus future collaboration on four key areas, beginning with smart cities, digital transformation, and AI. The partnership will explore technology, big data, and AI applications in urban management, intelligent traffic control, public services, and urban data analysis. Hyundai Motor Group announced plans to launch hydrogen fuel cell buses and develop electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Oman in collaboration with the Omani government and local firms. The automotive group established memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Oman's transport ministry and companies to collaborate on sustainable mobility initiatives during an event at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Complex in Salalah, Oman.According to the agreements, Hyundai Motor will launch Oman's inaugural hydrogen-powered city buses, and the group will assist in developing ultra-fast EV charging infrastructure in the nation. Oman's government-operated transport firm Mwasalat intends to establish an environmentally friendly public transit line in Muscat and carry out a trial passenger service with Hyundai Motor's ELEC CITY hydrogen fuel cell buses. HA NOI AND SEOUL PROMOTE STRATEGIC BILATERAL COOPERATIONHYUNDAI MOTOR TO INTRODUCE HYDROGEN FUEL CELL BUSES IN OMANThe Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs said the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) will significantly expand global market access for Indonesian exports. Edi Prio Pambudi, the ministry's Deputy for Economic Cooperation and Investment Coordination, said the trade agreement will support key commodities including palm oil, footwear, coffee, furniture, agricultural and fishery products, and telecommunications devices.Under the agreed terms, 90.4 percent of Indonesia's tariff lines will receive zero duties once the agreement is implemented, while another 8.37 percent will benefit from gradual tariff reductions and Tariff Rate Quota provisions. Following negotiations concluded in 2025, officials are targeting ratification in late 2026, with the agreement expected to take effect in early 2027, strengthening Indonesia-EU trade ties and economic integration. IEU-CEPA TO STRENGTHEN MARKET ACCESS FOR INDONESIAN GOODSTRADE & ECONOMIC COOPERATION AUTOMOTIVE & SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
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