By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye will be accompanied by the largest-ever business delegation on her state visit to Iran, Cheong Wa Dae said, Wednesday.
Park is scheduled to embark on a four-day trip to the Middle Eastern country, Sunday, which will include a summit with its leader Hassan Rouhani, Monday.
“The business delegation will be comprised of 236 business people and representatives of economic organizations,” said Ahn Jong-beom, the senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, at a briefing. “It is the largest-ever business delegation accompanying the President to a foreign country.”
The previous record is 166 representatives of public and private firms, who joined the President’s trip to the United States last October.
The delegation includes representatives of 38 large groups and companies, including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, POSCO, SK Energy and Hanwha Group and 146 small and mid-sized firms.
Iran is emerging as a land of opportunity following the Jan. 16 lifting of international sanctions on the country.
Iran holds the world’s fourth-largest oil reserves and second-largest natural gas reserves. In addition, it is seeking large-scale infrastructure development projects to rebuild its economy that was hurt by the decades-long sanctions.
The business delegation will participate in a business forum and an investment fair to meet local buyers, according to the presidential office.
Park’s office said it is in talks with Iranian officials about a meeting between Park and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is a former president and considered Iran’s most powerful figure.
Park’s trip to Tehran will make her the first Korean President to visit the country in its entire 54 years of bilateral diplomatic relations.