Monaco Business Mission to South Korea

From December 3 to 8, 2019, the FKCCI organized a comprehensive program for an exceptional Monegasque economic delegation—a first for the Monaco Government and Monegasque companies, which chose the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry as their key local partner.

The 25-member delegation from the Principality of Monaco, visiting Korea for the first time to discover the country’s economic and digital landscape, included members of the Monaco Government, the Monaco Economic Board (MEB), Visit Monaco, as well as representatives from companies across a wide range of sectors. On this occasion, the FKCCI organized two forums focusing on the economy and innovation, a program of high-level political meetings, numerous targeted B2B meetings, and its major annual Gala, bringing together more than 800 guests.

Read the testimonial from Guillaume Rose, CEO of the MEB:

“In partnership with the FKCCI, the Monaco Economic Board (MEB), accompanied by Frédéric Genta, Country Chief Digital Officer and member of the Monaco Government, organized an innovation-focused economic mission to Seoul from December 3 to 8, 2019. As part of this mission, meetings were arranged for Mr. Genta with senior institutional representatives and top-level executives involved in Smart City initiatives, which proved highly relevant.

During the mission, an Economic Forum, an Innovation Open, site visits, and networking events were particularly appreciated by the members of the delegation of Monegasque entrepreneurs. The remarkable FKCCI Gala, for which the MEB was the main sponsor, brought the mission to a memorable close.

The outcome points toward significant economic rapprochement between the two countries. The quality of the services provided by the FKCCI fully contributed to the success of this mission.”

An Economic Forum (December 5) and an Innovation Open (December 6), bringing together nearly 70 participants at the Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun, provided an opportunity to encourage bilateral exchanges between the two countries, gain a better understanding of the Korean market, and create new business opportunities.

Monegasque companies were able to present their activities and discover the Korean ecosystem through presentations by our network of experts and innovative Korean start-ups.

Read the full recap of these forums here. 

The FKCCI organized a series of meetings for Monegasque institutional representatives—Frédéric Genta, Country Chief Digital Officer and member of the Monaco Government; Guillaume Rose, CEO of the MEB; and Diego Bonaventura, President of the Monaco Chamber of Commerce—with senior Korean officials in areas of shared interest:

• Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, to discuss the geopolitical situation on the Korean Peninsula and the government’s role in the digital transition.
• Choong Hwan Ahn, Vice Minister of the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, to discuss smart cities.
• Se-Yeon Kim, Member of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Health.
• Young-Jin Choi, Secretary-General of the Presidential Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
• Shawn Chang, President of Invest Korea.

And many more...

Read the full recap of these meetings here

The purpose of the mission was not only to give participating companies an initial introduction to Korea, but also to help them identify business opportunities through site visits and 14 tailor-made B2B meetings.

The companies notably visited the new city of Songdo, one of the most advanced and emblematic examples of a “smart city” on the Korean Peninsula, which now serves as an international benchmark.

• Watch the report by Monaco’s television channel on Songdo here
• Read the recap of the seminar on investment in the Incheon Free Economic Zone here

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The Monegasque mission also included an academic component. On this occasion, Luxury Business Institute (LBI) Korea and the FKCCI organized a “Study in Monaco” seminar, bringing together more than 150 students to present academic opportunities in Monaco in the luxury sector.

Since 2017, LBI Korea has maintained an exclusive partnership with the International University of Monaco (IUM), one of the first universities to launch a Master’s degree dedicated to luxury management in 2006.

Read the interview with Emmanuel Alavoine, President of LBI Korea, here.

The FKCCI Gala is the most iconic, dazzling, and prestigious annual event of the French-Korean business community, bringing together approximately 800 participants each year. For its 30th edition, guests enjoyed an immersive experience in the world of Monaco. Through specially designed decorations and a prestigious tailor-made menu, this invitation to travel transported them to the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast and into the heart of a city-state where history and innovation come together.

• View the photos from the evening here
• Read the Gala recap here

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Thanks to the joint efforts of the FKCCI teams and the Monaco Government, the mission received extensive media coverage. A few examples are listed below:

• Watch the report by Monaco’s television channel here
• Read the coverage in foreign-language media in Korea here
• Read the coverage in Korean media here

And dozens of other articles in the local press...