Kim Jun, SK Inno Vice Chairman, Visits Africa to Seek Support for Busan Expo

As Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister
Visit to Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo
"Hope to Build Long-term Relations Through Meetings"

Kim Jun, Vice Chairman of SK Innovation (left), and Faustin-Archange Touad?ra, President of the Central African Republic, are taking a commemorative photo after a meeting in Bangui, Central African Republic, on the 31st of last month (local time). Photo by SK Innovation

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] SK Innovation Vice Chairman Kim Joon visited Africa to request support for hosting the ‘2030 Busan World Expo.’

SK Innovation announced on the 7th that Vice Chairman Kim Joon visited Africa as a special envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to promote the bid for the Busan Expo. Africa has 45 member countries of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE), second only to Europe.

Vice Chairman Kim attended a business forum marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and South Africa as a representative of SK Group, then visited the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ambassador Kim Jonghan to Cameroon (also Ambassador to the Central African Republic) and Ambassador Cho Jaecheol to the Democratic Republic of the Congo also participated in each visit to support the Busan Expo bid efforts.

On the 31st of last month (local time), Vice Chairman Kim met sequentially with President Faustin Archange Touadera of the Central African Republic, Foreign Minister Sylvie Baipo Temon, and Minister of Commerce Lea Koyassoum Doumta, requesting their support and cooperation to hold the Expo in Busan. On the 2nd, he visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo and met with Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula and Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade Jean Lucien Bussa, explaining the significance of the Busan Expo bid and requesting support on behalf of SK Group and the Republic of Korea government.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman Kim emphasized, “The Busan Expo is planned under the theme ‘Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future,’” adding, “It is an opportunity to discuss various challenges humanity faces, such as the climate crisis, diseases, and inequality.”

He further stated, “If countries with similar concerns come together on the Expo platform, solutions to each country’s problems can be found quickly,” and added, “I hope this meeting will serve as a chance to explore opportunities for cooperation between the two countries and build long-term relationships.”

During his visits, Vice Chairman Kim also discussed potential collaboration between the two countries and the Republic of Korea and SK Group. Earlier in May, President Touadera visited Korea?the first Central African Republic president in 18 years?to express willingness for cooperation with Korea, including the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement). Vice Chairman Kim emphasized that if there are areas for cooperation related to Saemaul Undong and SK’s business sectors such as energy, semiconductors, ICT, and bio-healthcare, he will actively seek opportunities.

Faustin Archange Touadera, President of the Central African Republic, said, “I am very interested in the Busan Expo and its theme, and I want to share the humanitarian values that are the foundation of Korea’s development,” adding, “I especially hope that the development of the Central African Republic will accelerate through the sharing of new technologies.”

Vice Chairman Kim Jun of SK Innovation (left) and Christophe Lutundula, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are taking a commemorative photo after a meeting on the 2nd (local time) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo by SK Innovation

Christophe Lutundula, Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also stated, “Korea is a long-time friend and an important partner country in the Northeast Asia region,” adding, “We sympathize with SK Innovation’s management philosophy and green energy direction, and this visit will be a good turning point for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has great interest in eco-friendly fields.”

Earlier, Vice Chairman Kim visited Poland in August to promote support for the Busan Expo bid. He met with Waldemar Grzegorz Buda, Minister of Economic Development and Technology of Poland, to request interest and support for the Busan Expo and discussed cooperation in future green energy sectors.

Meanwhile, SK Group has launched the ‘WE (World Expo) TF (Task Force)’ for the Busan Expo bid. Chairman Cho Dae-sik of the SK Supex Council leads the TF, and vice chairman-level top executives are actively engaged in supporting the Busan Expo bid activities.

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