One Month Before Busan Expo Site Inspection, Public-Private Sector 'All-Out Effort'..."Time to Make a Decisive Move"

Busan World Expo Bid Committee Discusses Detailed Activity Plans at 3rd Meeting
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo: "Maximize Use of Available Resources Such as Multilateral Meetings and Special Envoy Dispatch"

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (fourth from the right in the front row), and Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister (fifth from the right in the front row), are taking a commemorative photo with the attendees. Photo by Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The public and private sectors have launched an all-out effort ahead of the on-site inspection for the 2030 Busan Expo.

The 2030 Busan World Expo (Busan Expo) Bid Committee held its third meeting on the 10th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss the promotion plan for the bid activities and decided to fully mobilize public and private capabilities to win the bid.

This meeting was organized to discuss detailed plans for bid activities such as external negotiations, the on-site inspection by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), competitive presentations (PT), and domestic and international publicity, ahead of the decision on the host city for the 2030 World Expo scheduled for the end of November this year.

The meeting was co-chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Chairman Choi Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Han said, "With about nine months left until the host city decision, the competition among candidate countries is expected to intensify," and emphasized, "Please strengthen tailored negotiations considering each country's demands and make full use of available resources such as multilateral meetings and special envoy dispatches."

Chairman Choi assessed the current situation, saying, "The bid competition has now entered its final phase. The early disadvantageous position has improved to a somewhat even level." He added, "The first half of this year is the decisive battleground that will determine the outcome," emphasizing, "It is now time to make a decisive move."

Chairman Choi pointed to the inspection team's visit in April, the fourth PT in June, and the 'tailored overseas negotiation strategy' jointly promoted by the public and private sectors as the decisive moves, urging, "Let us all do our best as one team of public and private sectors."

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is delivering a greeting. Photo by Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced this year's bid activity plans, including responses to the BIE on-site inspection, publicity, and external negotiations, in its agenda report. The ministry plans to focus all efforts on creating a favorable atmosphere for the bid and securing support through external negotiations. In particular, it will prepare thoroughly for the on-site inspection scheduled for April 3 to 7, just a month away, and carry out various promotional activities both domestically and internationally.

Additionally, through the 2023 Climate Industry International Expo (WCE) held at BEXCO in Busan from May 24 to 27, the ministry plans to actively support the Busan World Expo and foster a favorable environment for the bid.

The host city for the 2030 World Expo will be decided by a vote of member countries at the BIE General Assembly at the end of November this year. The Bid Committee plans to diligently respond to major BIE-related schedules after the on-site inspection and continue to do its utmost in bid negotiations and publicity until the host city is decided.

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