Chairman Choi Tae-won Makes First Official Diplomatic Effort for Busan Expo Bid... Attends Paris General Assembly

Participation in the Paris International Exhibition Bureau General Assembly from 21st to 22nd
Prime Minister Han Deok-su's full effort for Busan bid

First official diplomatic campaign since private committee chair inauguration
Met BIE Secretary-General and ambassadors over four days to request support

Major domestic groups form dedicated Busan Expo teams
Bid intensifies as a 'public-private one team'

Chairman Choi Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry is giving a presentation on the Entrepreneurial Spirit Council (ERT) at the Entrepreneurial Spirit Declaration Ceremony held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 24th of last month. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), is embarking on his first official diplomatic mission as the private sector chairman supporting the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo. Starting from the 19th, he will visit Paris, France for four days to intensify the bid activities.

According to KCCI on the 17th, Chairman Choi will attend the 170th General Assembly of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) held over two days from the 21st to the 22nd, supporting South Korea’s second competitive presentation (PT). This will be the first face-to-face competitive PT for the 2030 World Expo bid, as the first PT held last December was conducted virtually due to COVID-19.

Chairman Choi will engage in negotiations by meeting with the BIE Secretary-General and ambassadors from various countries before and after the General Assembly. He will also attend the 'Busan Expo Resolution Rally' involving Korean residents in France.

The KCCI stated, "In addition to serving as the private sector chairman, Chairman Choi is scheduled to co-chair the government committee launching next month alongside Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. During this 3-night, 5-day schedule, he plans to meet with as many ambassadors as possible to urge support for Busan’s bid."

Chairman Choi is expected to explain how Korean companies and the government have overcome national crises through 'one team play' and express his determination to mobilize all capabilities of Korean companies to open a better future for humanity through hosting the Busan Expo.

Major domestic companies participating in the private committee have also formed dedicated teams for the 'Busan Expo' and begun full-scale activities. Currently, 11 companies including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG, Lotte, POSCO, Hanwha, GS, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Shinsegae, and CJ, along with 72 chambers of commerce nationwide and overseas Korean business associations, are involved. In the future, companies with global networks in tourism, culture, finance, and significant influence in each country are expected to join.

The KCCI, which serves as the secretariat, said, "We will select key negotiation countries for each company and prepare detailed strategies to respond. If the government and private sector work as one team to carry out full-scale bid activities, there is a sufficient chance of success."

The World Expo is considered one of the three major international events alongside the World Cup and the Olympics. The economic effect is reported to reach 61 trillion won. Currently, the 2030 Expo bid competition is a three-way race among Busan, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Rome (Italy). The decision will be made by secret ballot of 170 BIE member countries in November next year. In addition to this PT, BIE will hold three more competitive PTs. Member countries will vote considering the competitive PTs and the results of on-site inspections scheduled for early next year.