President Lee: South Korea and Italy Are Optimal Partners for Innovation

President Lee Jae-myung stated on June 12, local time, that "South Korea and Italy are indeed optimal partners." During his state visit to Italy, he made these remarks at the 'Korea-Italy Business Roundtable' held at a hotel in Rome, expressing a desire for both countries to navigate global economic uncertainties together based on their complementary cooperation.

President Lee noted, "The AI revolution is intensifying competition for technological supremacy, and the reconfiguration of supply chains is rapidly changing the international economic order." He added, "As uncertainty increases, networks with reliable partners will determine corporate competitiveness and, ultimately, the industrial and technological competitiveness of the nation as a whole."

He emphasized that collaboration between Italy, a stronghold of basic sciences with design capabilities, and South Korea, a leader in advanced manufacturing, could create synergies in designing new industrial orders and innovation ecosystems. He pointed out that Italy is South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, suggesting ample room for future trade and investment growth considering the economic scale and manufacturing capabilities of both nations.

President Lee identified cooperation in strategic advanced industries such as AI, semiconductors, and aerospace as key tasks for future growth. He also highlighted the importance of building robust supply chains in energy and infrastructure to support these advanced industries.

He remarked, "Both countries have a very high mutual affinity for culture. This mutual appreciation will be a significant asset for cooperation between our nations," and expressed optimism about collaboration in consumer goods sectors such as biohealth, cosmetics, and food.

Addressing the attendees, President Lee said, "I am pleased to meet business leaders who play a pivotal role in the Korea-Italy relationship. The future of our industrial and economic development rests in your hands. I hope we can share experiences and wisdom felt on the ground and seize new opportunities for collaboration."

He also expressed his happiness to discuss future cooperation in Italy, a country that has achieved a leap in civilization through the combination of art, science, creativity, and reason, stating, "When we combine our hearts, I am confident that one plus one will not just equal two, but something greater."

Notably, the event was attended by prominent figures from the Korean side, including Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics; Koo Ja-eun, chairman of LS Group; Cho Hyun-joon, chairman of Hyosung Group; and other key business leaders from advanced strategic industries and manufacturing, such as Sung Kim, president of Hyundai Motor Company; Kim Dong-chun, president of LG Chem; Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver; Moon Jae-young, president of HD Construction Machinery; and Kim Jong-chul, president of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).