South Korean delegation to visit Swindon

The Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) and Wiltshire College are hosting a visit by a delegation from South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The delegation of 23 people will include Government officials and local Government County officials from South Korea.

The purpose of the visit is to learn from Western countries how they are developing policies for rural economic development, including initiatives that can be delivered at the local level. 

The delegation of South Korean Government officials will meet in the Lacock Suite to hear presentations by SWLEP and Wiltshire Council about our strong rural economic development programme working closely with the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Wiltshire College will also deliver a presentation about their Agriculture, Animal, Land-based and Life Sciences courses.

Speaking ahead of the visit Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Head of Investment and Export Phil Clement said: “We are delighted to have been asked by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to host this delegation visit. Choosing Wiltshire as their location of choice in the UK recognises the strong world-leading rural economy in our area. Rural businesses make a vital contribution to the economy of Swindon and Wiltshire generating around 44% of annual economic output, more than £7bn each year and there’s potential for that to grow.

"We are working with a range of partners across the private, public and academic sectors to help shape the Swindon and Wiltshire ‘offer’ to prospective inward investors and are also working with local businesses to support their growth aspirations. We look forward to exploring potential opportunities for inward investment and export that might arise from this visit.”