Attendance at the Caribbean Community Summit
Sharing Korea's Vision as a Global Hub Nation...Negotiations for Hosting the Busan Expo
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Bang Moon-kyu, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, currently on a tour of Nassau, Bahamas as a special presidential envoy, promoted the '2030 Busan World Expo (Expo) sales' at the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Summit. CARICOM is an economic council of 15 countries that officially supports Saudi Arabia as the host country for the 2030 Expo. With less than nine months remaining until the host country selection, the government is putting all its efforts into winning votes until the last moment. Before arriving in the Bahamas, Special Envoy Bang appealed for support from Pacific island countries during a stopover in New York.
On the 15th (local time), Special Envoy Bang delivered the keynote speech as the first speaker at the CARICOM and Council for Foreign Relations special meeting. He declared, “The Republic of Korea aims to present solutions to major transformations such as climate change, inequality, and the digital divide through the 2030 Busan Expo, which will also contribute to the sustainable development goals of the Caribbean region.”
Visiting Gwon Visit, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, in a meeting with Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica (Source: Prime Minister's Office)
Special Envoy Bang introduced the Korean government’s vision of a ‘global pivotal state’ that expands its role and responsibility in the international community based on its know-how of growing from a least developed country to an economic powerhouse. He emphasized, “We will strengthen cooperation with the Caribbean region and share growth know-how.” He also proposed launching a Korea-Caribbean ministerial forum and a regular dialogue mechanism in the second half of this year. He announced plans to increase cooperation funds between the two countries and strengthen partnerships in digital government, climate change, energy, and food security.
He then met with Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and Joseph Andall, Foreign Minister of Grenada. He introduced projects such as strengthening resilience along the Caribbean coast and dispatching agricultural delegations while conducting Expo hosting negotiations. Prime Minister Skerrit expressed support for Korea on various international issues. Foreign Minister Andall conveyed that “Korea’s case of leaping from a least developed country to a top 10 economic power serves as a model for the international community.”
Visiting Kyu Bang, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, delivering the keynote speech at the Special Meeting of the Regional Consultative Group on Diplomatic Relations (Source: Prime Minister's Office)
After the meetings, he attended the opening ceremony and welcome reception of the CARICOM Summit, engaging in conversations with heads of state from various countries. He met with Ariel Henry, Prime Minister of Haiti, and Jean Victor Geneus, Foreign Minister of Haiti, to discuss cooperation measures for Haiti’s social stability and economic development and requested support for the Busan Expo bid.
He discussed cooperation methods through regional financial institutions such as the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) with Denzil Douglas, Foreign Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis. He also discussed future cooperation plans between Korea and CARICOM with Carla Barnett, Secretary-General of CARICOM, and requested support for the Expo bid from Myles Laroda, Bahamas Minister of State.
Meanwhile, the 15 CARICOM member countries include Bahamas (Chair), Guyana, Grenada, Commonwealth of Dominica, Barbados, Belize, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Haiti, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Montserrat (British Overseas Territory). The CARICOM Summit was attended by heads of state such as presidents and prime ministers of the 15 Caribbean countries, as well as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the President of the African Export-Import Bank, and the President of the Development Bank of Latin America.
Larroda Bahama, Minister of State, and Visit Gyu, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination (from left)
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