Choi Tae-won Meets Spanish Prime Minister as Presidential Special Envoy to Promote Busan Expo Bid

Chairman Choi Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (left) is having a cordial talk with Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain. Photo by Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman of SK Group), met with Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, to discuss ways to enhance Korea-Spain cooperation and to promote the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo.

According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the 1st, Chairman Choi, who is visiting Spain as a special presidential envoy, held a meeting with Prime Minister Sanchez at the Prime Minister's Palace in Madrid, Spain, on February 28 (local time).

Chairman Choi expressed hope for strengthening cooperation between the two countries and delivered a letter from President Yoon Suk-yeol requesting Spain's support for the 2030 Busan Expo.

Chairman Choi emphasized, "Spain is a leading country in renewable energy, and Korea is also striving for carbon neutrality by 2050," adding, "Cooperation between the two countries is necessary in strategic industrial sectors, including carbon neutrality."

He also explained, "The Expo should not be just a short-term event showcasing technological advancements," and added, "The Busan Expo aims to present solutions to common human problems and to pass these on to the next host country, continuously contributing to human progress."

Prime Minister Sanchez responded, "We welcome Special Envoy Choi Tae-won's visit to Spain and are well aware of Korea's efforts to host the 2030 Expo and Busan's capabilities as the host city."

He continued, "Spain is the second largest automobile producer in Europe and has a well-established semiconductor industry ecosystem," and stated, "We hope Korean companies will expand their investments in Spain, and we look forward to enhancing cultural cooperation between the two countries through the Cervantes Institute, which will open in Seoul in the second half of this year."

Following his meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister, Chairman Choi met with Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, on the 1st to explain the purpose and vision of the Busan Expo and to share a consensus.

The Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism is the main department responsible for the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE), which selects the host city for the 2030 Expo.

Chairman Choi, who is touring three European countries as a special presidential envoy, will continue his Expo bid negotiations in Denmark and Portugal from the 2nd, following his visit to Spain.