KCCI chief to promote Expo bid as presidential special envoy in Europe

By Kim Hyun-bin

Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), will visit three European countries ― Spain, Portugal, and Denmark ― as a presidential envoy from Feb. 28 to March 5 to seek support for Busan's bid to host the World Expo in 2030, according to the KCCI, Thursday.

This is the first time Chey has become a presidential special envoy and the delegation includes KCCI Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee, SK Hynix Vice Chairman Park Jung-Ho and SK Eco Plant CEO Park Kyung-il.

KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won

“This delegation to the three European countries will serve as an opportunity to broaden the consensus on the necessity of hosting the Expo in Busan,” Woo said.

Spain, the country where the Mobile World Congress is held, is known to be in strong cooperation with Korea in the digital industry, through electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries. It is also considered an advanced country in renewable energy development, ranking first worldwide in solar power generation and fifth in wind power.

Denmark considers the transition to green energy as a key national task and recognizes Korea as an optimal partner.

Following a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Feb. 28, the delegation will meet with Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Reyes Maroto on March 1 to discuss support for Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The strategy is to gain support from the Spanish government based on the friendly relations between the two countries, which have been strengthened further since the Spanish prime minister's visit to Korea last November.

On March 2, the delegation will meet with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Lisbon. The next day, the delegation is scheduled to hold a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen to request support for the Expo campaign and enhance business cooperation.