Infrastructure Procuring Agencies from 32 Countries Gather in Seoul to Seek AI and Energy Cooperation Projects

[Financial News] Ministers, vice ministers and CEOs of procuring agencies from 32 countries will gather in Seoul to discuss cooperation projects involving artificial intelligence (AI), energy and transportation infrastructure.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said on the 11th that the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference (GICC) 2026 will be held for three days from the 15th at Conrad Seoul in Yeouido. The event will be hosted by MOLIT and organized by the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK), with approximately 500 participants from Korea and abroad expected to attend.
Marking its 14th edition this year, the event is themed “Cooperation on Global Infrastructure Projects Opened by AI.” Participants will examine how AI is changing the design, construction and operation of construction and transportation infrastructure, and discuss ways for countries and companies to cooperate on projects.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m. on the 15th, will feature an opening address by Han Man-hee, president of the International Contractors Association of Korea, a welcoming address by Kim Yun-duk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea, and congratulatory remarks by foreign ministers.
Jeff Rubenstone, deputy editor of the U.S. construction and engineering publication ENR, will present on changes in the global construction market driven by AI and technological innovation, along with response strategies. Hwang Tae-hwan, executive vice president of Samsung Electronics, will outline the convergence of AI and global infrastructure and directions for cross-industry cooperation.
Immediately after the opening ceremony, a high-level multilateral meeting chaired by Young Tae Kim, secretary-general of the OECD International Transport Forum, will be held. Six ministers from foreign procuring agencies will discuss their countries’ infrastructure development plans and strategies for cooperation.
The AI and energy infrastructure seminar will include ENR, Ernst & Young Hanyoung and global data center operator Equinix. It will examine AI’s impact on design, construction and data center operations, as well as energy transition trends and strategies for Korean companies seeking to enter overseas markets in response to growing electricity demand.
At the transportation cooperation seminar, Korea National Railway, Korea Railroad Corporation, Korea Expressway Corporation and Incheon International Airport Corporation will introduce transit-oriented development (TOD), AI-based highway operation and maintenance, and airport investment and operation technologies. The participants will also work to develop specific cooperation plans for railway and road projects with major procuring agencies from countries including Tajikistan and Australia.
An event linked to the Korea-Central Asia Summit, which will be held during the same period, will also take place. Participants will discuss transportation and infrastructure cooperation with major Central Asian countries and plan to sign memorandums of understanding for follow-up projects in land, urban development and transportation.
A global cooperation forum, project briefings and one-on-one business consultations will also be held. Overseas procuring agencies will share information on new projects, while Korean companies will be able to directly check the bidding conditions and potential for participation in projects of interest. The event will also support participation in projects financed by multilateral development banks, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), as well as entry into overseas investment and development projects.
Since its launch in 2013, GICC has brought together 590 organizations from 90 countries. Approximately 450 international projects have been discussed for cooperation through the event. Companies wishing to participate in the various briefings and consultation sessions can register on the official GICC website.
Kim Yun-duk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea, said, “With the spread of AI technology, the global infrastructure market is entering a period of transition toward infrastructure centered on the integration of advanced technologies and services.” He added, “Through this GICC, I hope Korea can establish itself as a global partner that meets the infrastructure needs of countries around the world.”
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter