Martial Arts, Han-Mekong Business Forum and Online Consultation Meeting Held

Discussion on Cooperation Measures with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam

Cho Hak-hee, Head of the International Business Division at the Korea International Trade Association, delivers a congratulatory speech at the 9th Korea-Mekong Business Forum held on the 16th at Lotte Hotel, Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Korea International Trade Association]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) announced on the 16th that it held the '9th Korea-Mekong Business Forum and Online Consultation' at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, discussing cooperation measures with the five Mekong countries?Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam?which have high complementarity in resources and industrial structures with Korea.

Under the theme "Seizing Opportunities in the New Normal Era ? Promoting Resilience of Small and Medium Enterprises," the event was attended by over 200 participants both online and offline, including Lee Seong-ho, Economic Diplomacy Coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sok Soken, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, Cho Hak-hee, Head of KITA’s International Business Division, government officials and economic organization representatives from the five Mekong countries, and local businesspeople.

Head Cho said, "Cooperation between Korea and the five Mekong countries has steadily grown in both quantitative and qualitative aspects since 2011," adding, "As the Year of Korea-Mekong Exchange has been extended until next year, KITA will actively promote private-led economic cooperation with Mekong economic organizations to maintain strong regional collaboration."

Lee Seong-ho, Economic Diplomacy Coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized in his opening remarks that "Korea-Mekong cooperation is a catalyst for the economic growth of the entire ASEAN," and stated, "To overcome COVID-19 and achieve sustainable and inclusive development, the Korean government will work closely with the Mekong countries."

Ok Nya Ku Peng, Vice Chairman of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, highlighted in his congratulatory speech that "Korea and the five Mekong countries maintain close relations based on cultural similarities and possess high cooperation potential with mutually complementary environments in resources and industrial structures."

At the consultation held that day, 33 domestic companies participated and conducted online export consultations with 10 Cambodian buyers, who are co-hosts of this year’s business forum.

KITA established the Korea-Mekong Business Council with economic organizations from the five Mekong countries in December 2019 and has been leading support for Korean businesspeople’s overseas activities by serving as the chair of the East Asia Business Council, to which the Mekong economic organizations belong, in 2021.

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