ABB/North Korea Pact Sees Cooperation, Upgrades

ByJohn S. McClenahen Just as it did quietly more than a decade ago in eastern and central Europe, the Zurich-based ABB Group has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with North Korea. The pact envisions the opening of an ABB representative office in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, next year. ABB, says president and CEO Göran Lindahl, will seek investment and technical cooperation opportunities aimed at upgrading North Korea's electricity and basic industrial infrastructure. ABB foresees reviewing investment possibilities with North Korean enterprises and then assuming management control and transferring technology and management expertise to improve the manufacturing of such electrical products transformers, circuit breakers, and cable.