(KPL/Yonhap) Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will visit Canada this week to extend support for a Republic of Korean consortium's bid to secure Canada's 60 trillion-won (US$40.5 billion) submarine project, Kim's office said Wednesday.

Kim is scheduled to depart early Thursday for Canada, where he is also scheduled to attend the completion ceremony for LG Energy Solution Ltd.'s joint electric vehicle battery plant in Ontario, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.

The Seoul government has been working to help the Korean consortium, comprising Hanwha Ocean Co. and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., win the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, under which Canada plans to procure up to 12 submarines for patrol missions.

The Korean consortium is one of the two final contenders for the high-profile project, alongside Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.

Canada has reportedly asked Korea and Germany to make investments in Canada's automobile sector in connection to the submarine deal, asking Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. to build a local manufacturing facility, while asking Germany's Volkswagen to expand its existing facility.

KPL