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Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, delivers welcoming remarks at the Korea-Mexico Business Forum held with President Lee Jae-myung in attendance at the World Trade Center in Mexico City on the 25th (local time). / Yonhap

Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), characterized Mexico as a crucial economic hub with outstanding access to the global market, emphasizing cooperation in future industries that combines South Korea's technology and investment capabilities with Mexico's manufacturing base. His vision centers on expanding bilateral cooperation—traditionally focused on automobiles, electronics, and steel—into AI, energy, and aerospace to create new growth opportunities as North American supply chains reconfigure toward regionalized production.

According to the KCCI on the 27th, Chairman Chey remarked at the Korea-Mexico Business Forum held at the World Trade Center in Mexico City on the 25th local time that when South Korea's technology and investment capabilities meet Mexico's solid manufacturing base and talented workforce, the possibilities the two nations can create will grow even greater. Held on the occasion of President Lee Jae-myung's state visit, the forum drew some 300 government and business leaders from both nations, including about 150 South Korean business figures such as LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun, Samsung Electronics President TM Roh, and Kia President Song Ho-sung.

Chairman Chey emphasized the need to expand traditional manufacturing and trade ties into advanced industries. He noted that while people historically connected the two countries, corporations, technologies, investments, and culture are now crossing the Pacific, adding that the two nations will be able to create fresh opportunities in advanced industries and supply chains while growing together in future new industries and energy.

The forum explored cooperative measures across three key sectors: advanced industries and supply chains, new industries and energy, and creative cultural industries. In AI, participants presented plans to build sovereign AI and AI factories tailored to Mexico's language, data, and industrial profile. In content sectors including music, video, and gaming, discussions addressed local talent discovery, joint production, and linkages with intellectual property and platforms. Concrete local business initiatives by participating companies also took shape. POSCO International and Korea Aerospace Industries signed a business agreement with the Mexican Federation of Aerospace Industries to pursue entry into the local aerospace market. HS Hyosung Advanced Materials signed an investment MOU with the state of San Luis Potosi to construct an automotive carpet production facility.

Chairman Chey concluded that he hopes this forum will serve as a starting point to bring together the strengths of both countries and open a new path to growth.

                                                                                                          Lee Seo-yeon