■ Visited the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo as an envoy of Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs to seek support for Busan’s bid for World Expo 2030

■ Met the Central African Republic’s president Faustin-Archange Touadera and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Trade, Supply and Consumption, Jean-Lucien Bussa, among others

■ Vice Chairman Kim Jun said, “The meetings offered opportunities for cooperation, and we hope to establish a long-term relationship”

SK Innovation announced on November 7 (KST) that Vice Chairman Kim Jun served as an envoy of Minister of Foreign Affairs to promote the support for Busan’s bid to host World Expo 2030 (hereafter “Busan World Expo 2030”). Africa has 45 member countries in the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), second only to Europe.

Vice Chairman Kim, on behalf of SK Group, attended a business forum commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Republic of Korea and the Republic of South Africa. He then traveled to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kim Jong-han, the Korean Ambassador to Cameroon (who also serves as the ambassador to the Central African Republic), and Jo Jae-cheol, the Korean ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also joined Vice Chairman Kim in his visit to back Busan’s bid for the World Expo.

On October 31 (local time), Vice Chairman Kim met President Faustin-Archange Touadera, Foreign Minister Sylvie Baipo Temon, and Commerce Minister Léa Koyassoum Doumta in the Central African Republic, asking for their support and collaboration for Busan to host the World Expo 2030. On November 2, he traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and met with Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula and Trade, Supply, and Consumption Minister Jean-Lucien Bussa to explain the significance of the Busan World Expo 2030 and to request their support on behalf of SK Group and the Korean government.

“The theme of Busan World Expo 2030 is ‘Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future,’” accentuated Vice Chairman Kim at the meeting. “It is a platform of opportunities where we can discuss various challenges and issues that humanity is currently confronting, including the climate crisis, diseases, and inequality.” “Putting our heads together with countries who have similar concerns on a platform like the Expo will help each country find the solution to those problems.” “I hope this meeting will bring chances to all countries to collaborate and build a long-term relationship,” he added.

Furthermore, Vice Chairman Kim also explored the potential for cooperation between the two nations and the Republic of Korea, as well as the SK Group, while visiting each country. In May this year, President Touadera made his first visit to Korea as President of the Central African Republic in 18 years, expressing his desire to collaborate with Korea through projects such as the Saemaul Movement. Aside from the Saemaul Movement, Vice Chairman Kim stated that SK Group will actively study the prospect of cooperation with the two countries if it pertains to the company’s business fields such as energy, semiconductor, ICT, and bio/health care.

“We have great interest in the Busan World Expo 2030 and its theme, and would like to embrace the pursuit of humanistic ideals that underpin Korea’s progress,” said the Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera. “In particular, we anticipate that sharing breakthrough technologies can accelerate the growth of the Central African Republic.”

The Democratic Republic of the Congo Trade, Supply, and Consumption Minister Jean-Lucien Bussa share that, “We fully grasp the theme of Busan World Expo 2030 and share our deepest sympathies since it incorporates the aspiration to go farther.” “I believe that this visit will lay the groundwork for a win-win relationship for both countries,” he continued.

Prior to this, Vice Chairman Kim visited Poland in August with the same intention. He met Waldemar Grzegorz Buda, the Polish Minister of Development and Technology, to call for Polish interest and support for the Busan World Expo 2030, and discussed the cooperation in the field of future green energy with Polish government.

Meanwhile, SK Group has launched a ‘WE (World Expo) TF (Task Force)’ to promote Busan’s bid to host the World Expo 2030. Cho, Dae-sik, Chairman of the SK SUPEX Council, has been appointed Chairman of the TF, and top executives such as the Vice Chairman level are actively campaigning to back Busan World Expo 2030.

[Photo]

(Photo 1) SK Innovation Vice Chairman Kim Jun (left) and Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera take commemorative pictures after meeting in Bangui, Central African Republic on October 31 (local time).

SK Innovation Vice Chairman Kim Jun (left) and The Democratic Republic of the Congo Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula take commemorative pictures after meeting in Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo on November 2 (local time)