Yoon "Expecting Great Achievements"... UAE Side "Believe There Is Luck"

Yoon Begins UAE Visit... Presidential Office "Will Find Breakthrough for Economic Leap"
Ministers of Economy, Land, and Related Departments Accompany Large Economic Delegation

[Abu Dhabi=Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol, who embarked on his first overseas trip of the year with a 6-night, 8-day schedule, arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the afternoon of the 14th (local time) and stated, "I hope this visit will yield great results." The reason President Yoon visited the UAE is rooted in South Korea's diplomatic focus on economic revitalization and export expansion.

On the day the Air Force One entered UAE airspace, four UAE Air Force fighter jets, two on each side, escorted the plane, honoring President Yoon as a state guest. At the airport, high-ranking UAE officials including Abdullah Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth; Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office; and Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to South Korea, welcomed President Yoon and his wife Kim Keon-hee. On the Korean side, Ambassador Ryu Je-seung and his spouse, Shin Min-chul, President of the UAE Korean Association, and Park Hyung-moon, Chairman of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council UAE branch, attended the welcoming ceremony.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee arrived at Abu Dhabi Royal Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 14th (local time) and are disembarking from Air Force One to move.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At the airport, Minister Abdullah held a conversation with President Yoon and Mrs. Kim, expressing, "It is an honor to host President Yoon and his spouse," and "We have long anticipated this meeting," as relayed by Kim Eun-hye, Chief of Public Relations, during a briefing at the Abu Dhabi Press Center. Minister Abdullah particularly noted, "We believe in luck," and emphasized the special significance of South Korea being the first country to receive a state visit invitation since President Mohammed’s inauguration. In response, President Yoon said, "I sincerely thank the three individuals who warmly welcomed our delegation, symbolizing the relationship between Korea and the UAE."

President Yoon also stressed, "More than 100 business leaders along with ministers from various departments have come together," expressing his expectation for significant outcomes. Indeed, this trip included an economic delegation composed of over 100 Korean companies. This is a measure to comprehensively support Korean companies’ entry into the UAE market. During this process, cooperation plans with the UAE sovereign wealth fund are also expected to be discussed. This economic delegation was organized by the private sector. Approximately 70% of the participating companies are mid-sized enterprises. In addition to traditional cooperation sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and construction, companies from promising fields of bilateral economic cooperation such as defense industry, game content, smart farms, tourism services, and consumer goods were also included.

Chief Kim added, "The Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Science and ICT, and Trade, Industry and Energy are all committed to seeking new economic breakthroughs through mega projects in Middle Eastern countries as ministers of key industries focused on exports," and further explained, "We will approach this trip with the determination to bring forward a future where all citizens prosper."

Meanwhile, President Yoon will stay in the UAE for 3 nights and 4 days until the 17th, holding a summit with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss agendas such as upgrading the bilateral relationship to a ‘special strategic partnership.’