On June 12, Kim Jong-Soo, the head of the South Korean delegation, briefed the press at a center in Rome about the outcomes of the Korea-Italy business roundtable attended by business leaders from both countries.
Lee Jae-Yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, remarked, "Italy is a special country for Samsung. Events like the Milan Furniture Fair have been a remarkable source of inspiration, and our Chief Design Officer is also Italian."
He added, "By combining Italy's strength in science with Korea's technological innovation, we can expand cooperation in various advanced industrial sectors."
Koo Ja-Eun, Chairman of LS Group, highlighted recent collaborative achievements with Italy, stating, "We will strive to create tangible results in the power infrastructure sector, leveraging Italy's significance as a Mediterranean hub connecting North Africa and Europe."
Cho Hyun-Joon, Chairman of Hyosung, shared examples of cooperation in fashion and finance, expressing a commitment to enhance collaboration in eco-friendly materials and energy infrastructure to contribute to the economic development of both nations.
Kim Jung-Soo, Chairman of Samyang Foods, introduced joint research and development efforts aimed at improving the taste and quality of noodle products from both countries, including Korean ramen and Italian pasta.
Moon Jae-Young, CEO of HD Hyundai Construction Equipment, expressed gratitude for the swift resolution of issues related to the accelerated depreciation system, likening the Italian government's problem-solving speed to that of Ferrari.
Kim also reported that companies such as LG Chem, Naver, Korea Aerospace Industries, Fashion Group Hyungji, Cosmax, and Cureverse expressed their aspirations to expand collaboration with Italian firms in their respective fields.
Italian business leaders responded positively.
John Elkann, Chairman of Ferrari, described Korea as a continuously inspiring market and a homeland, expressing hope for collaboration through joint research and development in electrification and digitalization, in addition to traditional luxury car ventures.
A senior official from the Blue House noted that Elkann and Lee Jae-Yong have been friends for 27 years and mentioned that Lee had previously served as an outside director at Ferrari.
In addition to Elkann, other Italian business leaders, including Giuseppe Mazzotta, Chairman of the defense and shipbuilding company Fincantieri, and Dominici, CEO of Kiko Milano, expressed their desire for collaborative relationships with South Korea.
After the business leaders' remarks, President Yoon stated, "In this time of great transition, solidarity and cooperation between countries that share values are essential. I hope that South Korea and Italy can develop together in a dynamically changing global order, and I expect business leaders to play a central role in that process."
Following the event, President Yoon held an impromptu meeting with South Korean business leaders to express his gratitude for their participation.
He also encouraged them to make proactive policy suggestions, stating, "If there are requests that individual ministries find difficult to handle, please bring them directly to the Presidential Policy Office."
President Yoon also announced that a direct hotline between the two countries, proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to India, has been established between the Indian Prime Minister's Office and the Blue House. Additionally, it was confirmed that a 'Korea Business Week' will be held in India at the end of this month.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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