Korea Herald Correspondent
LAS VEGAS -- Las Vegas teemed with global innovation at this year's CES trade show, and Victor Hoskins, CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, seized the opportunity to deepen ties with Korea, a key partner for his municipality.
Fairfax County, Virginia, already hosts over 80 Korean companies, making Korea the country with the largest business presence in the jurisdiction, located just outside Washington, DC.
“Our county’s relationship with Korea spans nearly two decades, largely driven by a strong industry match, especially in AI technology,” Hoskins said in an interview at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Wednesday.
During his three-day CES visit, Hoskins actively engaged with Korean stakeholders, attending events such as the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Daejeon City's booth, signing a letter of support with the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, and networking at "All Connected Incheon Night," hosted by the Korean city's free economic zone. He also met with the Seoul Business Agency and the Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency to explore startup collaborations.
Hoskins praised Korean innovations, including AI-driven swarm drones with defense applications and life-saving portable dialysis machines. He expressed interest in connecting these companies to US defense contractors and regulatory bodies like the FDA.
Fairfax County also strengthened ties with Korean regional governments, inviting Yongin City Mayor Lee Sang-il to ink a friendship agreement and signing a support letter with Daejeon City.
“These cities foster companies perfectly suited for growth in our county,” Hoskins remarked.
By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com)
