The LS Group and LIG Group—both part of South Korea’s influential Pan-LG family of conglomerates— have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation across defense, energy, and advanced technology sectors.

A press release said that the agreement, announced March 31, follows a high-profile gathering of Pan-LG leaders at GS Group’s 20th anniversary, underscoring a renewed spirit of unity among the country’s leading business families.

Under the MoU, LS and LIG will collaborate on joint R&D, market analysis, technology and personnel exchanges, and may establish joint ventures to leverage each group’s core strengths. The LS Group, known for its focus on electrics, materials and energy, will bring expertise from subsidiaries such as LS Cable & System and LS Mtron. The LIG Group, whose portfolio includes defense equipment and IT services, is expected to integrate LS’s material and cable technologies into its flagship defense unit, LIG Nex1, which specializes in advanced weapon and command systems.

A joint consultative body will be formed to define detailed cooperation plans and set an execution timeline. The partnership is widely viewed as a strategic move, especially as LS Group faces heightened competition and legal disputes in the cable sector. Recently, Hoban Group, parent of rival Taihan Cable & Solution, acquired a 3% stake in LS Corp., fueling speculation about its intentions amid an ongoing patent and technology theft dispute between Taihan and LS Cable & System.

More than a year after an expected production order, the Great Sea Interconnector—a project to link the electricity grids of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel—has seen little progress as it deals with unresolved financial arrangements and deposit guarantees, casting uncertainty over its future viability.

A recent article in Vima, a Greek newspaper, spelled out the problems encountered by the project that trace back to mid-2023 when the original developer sought a financing increase to €1.9 billion from Greek and Cypriot regulators due to cost overruns. Although a long-delayed contract with French cable manufacturer Nexans was signed for the Crete-Cyprus segment, EuroAsia Interconnector soon declared it could not make the required advance payment, further jeopardizing progress.

To prevent collapse, the Greek and Cypriot governments intervened, asking Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) to assume responsibility for the project. The European Commission endorsed this move, expressing confidence in IPTO’s ability to deliver. By October 2023, IPTO was officially in charge, and the project-renamed the Great Sea Interconnector-finally entered the implementation phase after thirteen years of planning.

Despite this momentum, significant challenges persisted through 2024. Construction of the first phase began in December 2023, with Nexans instructed to secure production slots and initiate procedures. However, in July 2024, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority issued a ruling that upended the project’s financial framework by rejecting recognition of a reasonable return, revenue, or cost recovery during construction. This decision severely undermined the project’s economic viability.

Compounding the situation, the Cypriot government did not fulfill its commitment to acquire a stake in the project, despite earlier assurances that a decision would be made by January 2024. After months of negotiations, Greece and Cyprus signed a bilateral

agreement in September 2024 to accelerate the project, overturning the July regulatory decisions and providing a more sustainable foundation for development.

Japan’s NTT World Engineering Marine Corp. (NTT WE Marine), the submarine cable laying subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT), has launched a new CLV that is registered under the Philippine flag and operated primarily by Filipino crew members.

A press release said that NTT WE Marine, marking its 25th year in the Philippines, launched the CS VEGA II, a state-of-the-art cable-laying vessel. NTT notes that it is the only cable provider that has a fully equipped, Philippine-flagged cable-laying vessel.

The new CLV, is primarily intended to be operated for the maintenance of domestic submarine telecommunications cables within the Philippines, as well as international submarine telecommunications cables in nearby waters. It joins a fleet that includes four other CVLs: Vega, Orion, Subaru and Kizuna. The vessels are used for a range of tasks including submarine cable installation, maintenance, ocean investigation, construction, repair work and marine surveys.

NTT WE Marine is a key participant in the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN), a 2,500-km initiative led by Eastern Communications, Globe Telecom and InfiniVAN, aimed at improving connectivity in underserved regions. It also will be a maintenance supplier for PDSCN, which was said to be in its final project stages. The

network’s subsea (wet) segments were finished as scheduled in 2023, and about 90% of its 33 planned cable landing stations have been constructed. The remaining landing stations and some inland facility connections are expected to be completed within this year.

NTT WE Marine President & CEO Mamoru Watanabe said that the Philippines project has a pivotal telecom role. He also cited global security concerns and the need for stable communications infrastructure as key drivers for the expansion. “Economic development’s foundation is communication. There’s a lot of opportunity in the Philippines, especially now that global security is unstable,” he said.

Earlier this year, Adani Group, one of India’s largest and fastest-growing cement manufacturers, announced plans to enter the wires and cables industry through a newly formed joint venture.

On March 19, 2025, Adani Enterprises, via its wholly owned subsidiary Kutch Copper Limited, finalized the incorporation of Praneetha Ecocables Limited in partnership with Praneetha Ventures Private Limited. The joint venture will focus on the manufacturing,

marketing, and distribution of metal products, cables and wires, marking a significant diversification for the conglomerate.

A company statement said that the initiative is part of Adani’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence across the infrastructure and construction value chain. By leveraging the group’s extensive experience in large-scale manufacturing and its ongoing investment in India’s largest greenfield copper refinery in Gujarat, Adani aims to secure reliable raw material supply and competitive pricing for its cable business. The company expects this vertical integration to provide a unique advantage as it enters a market that has seen a compound annual growth rate of over 13% in recent years.

The new venture will target key sectors such as residential, commercial, infrastructure and industrial applications, reflecting the rising demand for high-quality cables and wires driven by India’s urbanization, smart city projects, and renewable energy expansion.

Adani Group’s leadership emphasized that this entry aligns with its long-term vision to be a leading provider of integrated solutions for India’s rapidly growing construction and infrastructure sectors. The company’s board has approved the plan, signaling its intention to diversify its portfolio and capitalize on synergies with its existing copper and infrastructure businesses.

M. Huber Corporation announced that it has acquired the alumina trihydrate (ATH), antimony-free flame retardant and molybdate-based smoke suppressant assets of The R.J. Marshall Company.

A press release said that the deal will see the acquired assets incorporated into the Huber Advanced Materials (HAM) strategic business unit of Huber Engineered Materials, an operating company of J.M. Huber Corporation. These assets will enhance HAM’s product portfolio and strengthen its position as a leader in the North American market of flame retardant and smoke suppressant technologies.

The acquisition includes R.J. Marshall’s alumina trihydrate and Marshall additive technologies product lines (excluding those containing antimony trioxide). HAM will integrate these products into its existing portfolio, providing customers with a seamless transition and continued access to the materials they rely on. “This acquisition underlines HAM’s strategic commitment to grow our halogen-free fire retardant and smoke suppressant portfolio and expand our product offering for our customers,” said HAM Global Vice President Sales & Marketing Martin Schulting.

HAM, known for its focus on sustainability and innovation in specialty additives, continues to invest in expanding its environmentally responsible product range. The company has recently achieved significant milestones in life cycle analysis and is recognized for advancing halogen-free solutions for industrial applications.