Saudi 'Vision 2030' Key Ministries Leadership Meeting
Focused Discussion on Cultural Industry Synergy Plans
Visit to CJ Daehan Tongun Saudi 'GDC'
On-site Management Including Employee Encouragement
"We will combine CJ Group's cultural industry know-how with Saudi Arabia's cultural resources and potential to create unparalleled synergy in the global market."
Lee Jae-hyun, Chairman of CJ Group, expressed his ambition to use the collaboration with Saudi Arabia, centered on the company's core cultural content businesses such as entertainment, music, and media, as a stepping stone to spread K-Culture in the Middle East and North Africa markets, which have a population of 600 million.
Lee Jae-hyun, Chairman of CJ Group (left), is having a conversation with Ahmed Al-Kateeb, Saudi Minister of Tourism, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 4th. [Photo by CJ Group]
According to CJ Group on the 25th, Chairman Lee held a series of meetings over three days starting from the 4th in Riyadh, the capital, at the invitation of the Saudi Ministry of Culture. He met with key figures leading Saudi Arabia's national development plan 'Vision 2030,' including the Deputy Minister of Culture, Minister and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Director of the Tourism Authority, Deputy Minister of Investment, and the head of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA). Saudi Vision 2030 is a project aimed at opening and diversifying the national economy with goals of a 'Vibrant Society,' 'Prosperous Economy,' and 'Ambitious Nation,' fostering soft power such as entertainment and tourism. Accompanying Chairman Lee from CJ Group were Kim Hong-gi, CEO of CJ Corporation, Yoon Sang-hyun, CEO of CJ ENM, and Jung Jong-hwan, Head of Content and Global Business at CJ ENM.
CJ and Saudi representatives focused on discussing the development of the cultural industry and bilateral cooperation plans for this purpose during the meetings. The Saudi government also proposed a visit to AlUla, an ancient civilization city. CJ Group’s key executives toured 'AlUla Studio,' a film production studio equipped with a 25,000㎡ (approximately 7,563 pyeong) sound stage, and explored collaboration opportunities in content production and tourism utilizing local infrastructure. Chairman Lee shared his impression, saying, "I was impressed by the growth potential and depth of Saudi Arabia's cultural industry."
Lee Jae-hyun, Chairman of CJ Group (second from the left), visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 4th to inspect the construction site of CJ Logistics Global Distribution Center (GDC). [Photo by CJ Group]
CJ Group has maintained a friendly relationship with Saudi Arabia in the cultural business sector. Previously, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia met with Chairman Lee during his visit to Korea in 2022, and from 2022 to 2023, CJ collaborated with the Saudi Ministry of Culture to hold the Korean cultural festival KCON in Riyadh for two consecutive years.
Building on this collaboration, CJ Group plans to use Saudi Arabia, where government support for the entertainment and media markets is substantial and growth potential is high, as a base to further explore business opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, home to 600 million people. CJ Group stated, "As a leading company driving the global cultural industry, we will strive to spread K-Culture in the Middle East."
Meanwhile, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, Chairman Lee visited the Global Distribution Center (GDC) under construction by CJ Logistics at the integrated logistics zone of Riyadh Airport to encourage employees. The Saudi GDC is envisioned by CJ Logistics as a key hub for the CBE (Cross-Border E-commerce) logistics business. It plans to collaborate with globally recognized health functional food retailers and others to handle international shipping in the Middle East region.
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