Pohang City Hosts Northeast Asia CEO Economic Forum ... Concurrent Online International Trade Consultation

Former Minister Hong Seok-woo Emphasizes Pohang's Cultural Competitiveness in the Digital Era

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] On October 30, Pohang City in Gyeongbuk held the '2020 Northeast Asia CEO Economic Cooperation Forum' at the POSCO International Hall under the theme of 'Post-Corona Era New Northern Policy and Pohang's Challenges and Tasks,' with participation from major city leaders and experts in Northeast Asia.

The forum proceeded with an opening address by Mayor Kang-deok Lee, followed by a keynote speech by Hong Seok-woo, Chairman of the Industrial Strategy Research Foundation (former Minister of Knowledge Economy), the 1st and 2nd sessions, discussions, and Q&A.

In his keynote speech, former Minister Hong Seok-woo diagnosed that "global digital innovation is accelerating due to COVID-19," and urged that "Pohang should lead cooperation and innovation in the Northeast Asia region by adding cultural competitiveness to its traditional industrial strengths."

The 1st session featuring local government CEOs' presentations was conducted in a hybrid format combining pre-recorded and on-site proceedings, chaired by Mayor Kang-deok Lee. The Mayor of Hunchun City, China, introduced COVID-19 prevention systems and policies for the contactless era; the Mayor of Maizuru City, Japan, explained cases of regional revitalization; and the Mayor of Vladivostok City, Russia, forecasted tourism industry cooperation in the East Sea region after COVID-19.

In the following 2nd session, Doo-hee Lee, Director of the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade, presented on "The Crisis and Overcoming Strategies of Regional Industries in Korea," predicting that "Pohang will be able to create innovative growth engines and new jobs through the next-generation battery recycling regulatory free zone."

As a side event of this forum, an international trade consultation was held, where about 36 local small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in one-on-one video business consultations with approximately 45 buyers from four countries: Russia, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Mayor Kang-deok Lee stated, "Cooperation and solidarity are most important to overcome the COVID-19 crisis," and added, "I hope that through this forum, various fields of cooperation among major cities in Northeast Asia will be realized and a new future will be opened."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.