Bilans d’évènement • La Chambre
FKCCI, KGCCI Co-hosts Special Reception with Industry Minister to Strengthen Korea- Europe Business Ties
The French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI, CEO Sonia Chaieb) and the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg) co-hosted a special reception with Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Jung-kwan Kim on September 29 at the Banyan Tree Club and Spa Hotel in Seoul.
The reception provided a platform to discuss recent developments in economic policy, foreign investment, and the overall business climate for French, German and other European companies operating in Korea. Around 200 representatives of European businesses gathered to engage in open dialogue and exchange with key government and industry stakeholders. From the Korean government side, Ryu Peob Min, Director General of Investment Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Seo Myoung Seok, Director of Labor Relations and Legislation at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, attended the reception, highlighting the administration’s commitment to open dialogue with foreign investors.
David-Pierre Jalicon, Chairman of FKCCI and Park Hyun-Nam, Chairperson of KGCCI, delivered the opening remarks.
In his keynote speech, Minister Jung-kwan Kim, representing Prime Minister Min-seok Kim, highlighted France and Germany as Korea’s close economic partners, noting their collaboration in future-oriented industries such as automobiles, AI, and carbon neutrality. He emphasized that the Korean government is committed to fostering a business-friendly environment where foreign companies can grow alongside Korea as partners in economic development. To that end, he pledged to further systematize incentive programs in areas such as cash support, sites, and R&D, while continuously reviewing and reforming regulations to establish a world-class investment environment.
H.E. Philippe Bertoux, French Ambassador to the Republic of Korea; H.E. Georg Wilfried Schmidt, German Ambassador to the Republic of Korea; and H.E. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea, emphasized the importance of economic cooperation between Korea and Europe in their welcome messages.
The program also featured a dynamic panel discussion with industry leaders, including Nicolas Foirien, President & Representative Director of Air Liquide Korea, Hervé Peneau Chairman/CEO & Representative Director of Veolia Korea, Ana-Maria Boie, General Manager of Boehringer Ingelheim Korea and Mathias Vaitl, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea. The discussion reflected the strategic importance of Korea in the global operations of and German companies, while addressing pressing regulatory and economic concerns. The event was concluded by Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the Delegation of the EU to South Korea.
FKCCI Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon remarked: “French companies are confident in Korea’s resilience and welcome the government’s message of openness, dialogue, and economic modernization. With €16 billion in bilateral trade and €5 billion in French FDI, our partnership continues to grow stronger.”
KGCCI Chairperson Hyun-Nam Park remarked, “In 2024, Germany’s cumulative direct investment in Korea reached USD 18.3 billion, with trade volume amounting to USD 31.3 billion, further strengthening the strategic economic partnership between our two countries. More than 560 German companies in Korea are creating over 100,000 jobs, and we look forward to even closer cooperation between our two countries in driving innovation and sustainable growth. We also hope that Korea’s new government will foster an environment that is favorable for business, investment, and employment, while advancing shared growth in partnership with foreign-invested companies.”
The reception underscored the strong commitment of German, French, and European companies to Korea’s economic development while setting the stage for deeper cooperation and mutual growth.
About FKCCI
Since 1986, the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has represented the French-Korean business community in Korea. With over 475 member companies and strong institutional partnerships in both countries, FKCCI leverages its network to support business success in Korea and France. It is part of the global network of French chambers abroad, comprising over 33,000 member companies in 95 countries. FKCCI is the third-largest foreign chamber in Korea and sixth among French Chambers globally in terms of revenue.
About KGCCI
The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) has represented German business in Korea since 1981. With around 500 members, it is the second-largest foreign chamber in Korea. KGCCI supports German and Korean companies exploring business opportunities through market research, partner matching, trade fairs, delegation trips, and investment promotion. It is part of the global German Chamber Network Abroad (AHK).
