By Kim Se-jeong
The new Swiss ambassador to Korea calls himself “a trade diplomat,” and this area as well as research and science will be his focus over the next four years.
“I am a strong trade diplomat. I believe in economic cooperation and its benefits on both sides. With Korea, there is still space for further enhancement in the sense that Swiss universities and Swiss industries are doing a lot of basic research,” Ambassador Joerg Alois Reding said during an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday. “And Korea is very fast and excellent in bringing products into the market.”
The private sector in Korea has strength in commercializing ideas and bringing products into the market. However, at the same time this has been a target of criticism inside the society, because it has become an excuse for declining investment in basic science and research.
The ambassador’s experience fits very well with his “trade diplomat” description.
Having earned a degree in international economics and developing countries, Reding joined the Swiss Federal Office for Foreign Economic Affairs. He worked for the African Development Bank for three years; and was co-founder and a founding board member of the Swiss Import Promotion Organization, and the Swiss Organization for Facilitating Investment.
At the newly formed Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, he was in charge of bilateral economic relations committee with all countries worldwide and for export control and sanctions, between 1999 and 2006.
It was in this capacity that he traveled to Korea in 2002 with a proposal to the Korean government to start a bilateral free trade with Korea.
“Back then it was too early. South Korea wasn’t ready,” he recalled. But two years later, the negotiations began and in 2006 the agreement entered into force.
The size of the country coupled with the strength of its economy, has endeared Switzerland the reputation of an affable free trade player from early on, the ambassador said. Switzerland needed a free trade with the European Union, to which two thirds of its exports go.
Korea’s circumstance isn’t much different because its economy heavily relies on exports, propelling it to expand free trade agreements around the world.
Chile was its first free trade partner, followed by European Free Trade Association in which Switzerland belongs, plus FTAs with Peru, Singapore, the European Union, India and the United States.
Negotiations with Colombia and Turkey were completed recently, and now both sides are waiting for ratification by each parliament. Negotiations with Canada, Mexico, China, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand are currently underway.
The FTA with Switzerland has brought down prices of made-in-Switzerland watches sold in Korea and Korean cars running on the streets of Geneva.
The ambassador indicated that Switzerland supports the fundamental value of free trade, but it takes note of the importance of maintaining the agriculture industry and protecting the natural environment.
Due to a strong wall of protection for its farmers by the Swiss government, it will still be awhile until consumers here can have affordable access to Swiss dairy products which the Swiss take great pride in.
Korea and Switzerland see eye to eye on these issues.
For a similar reason, rice is heavily protected in Korea, often obstructing FTA negotiations, especially with rice producing countries.
International development is another area of expertise for Reding. He has represented the Swiss government in its relations with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank and the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC).
He praised the work of the OECD DAC, and welcomed Korea. Korea became a DAC member in 2010. This was widely publicized in Korea as a sign of the country’s growing stature in international development. And it resonated well with many in Korea, because the country was once a recipient of foreign assistance.
“It is a crucial organization. Switzerland is doing something, and other countries are doing something bilaterally. At the end of the day, you need to talk and cooperate. It makes assistance-giving much more efficient and easier for both sides,” he said. Plus, the DAC creates peer pressure among donors to encourage donations.
Switzerland has nearly half a century of long term development assistance. With a focus on gender equality and environment, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation runs programs in nearly 10 countries in Asia including North Korea.
The program in North Korea is geared towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis.
Last year alone, a total of 8.4 million Swiss francs ($8.93 million) was spent on sustainable production of rice, potatoes, wheat and berries on fertile hill sides and providing children and mothers with Swiss milk powder.
The ambassador is looking for a family who hosted him for two weeks in 1974.
He was visiting Seoul as the student president of AIESEC, an international organization that helps university students find overseas internship opportunities. He was invited by the Korean chapter.
“I only remember that this Korean family was manufacturing pots, pans and kitchenware.” He also recalls a son of his age and a daughter’s wedding preparation.
“We were sitting in the house while the groom was outside shouting what they’d offer.” With the help of local staff at the embassy, he’s now gathering a list of cooking equipment manufacturers that operated in the 1970s.
“It was a wonderful and very kind family. I would like to find them,” he said earnestly.