Forum focusing on Asean was a first

Ambassadors and diplomats of the Asean member states, as well as corporate executives and ASEAN experts attend the Korea-ASEAN RCEP Forum at the Westin Josun Seoul on Tuesday. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Ambassadors and executives that attended the Korea JoongAng Daily’s Tuesday forum described the event as “stimulating” and “timely.”

The Korea JoongAng Daily held a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) forum at the Westin Josun Seoul in central Seoul.

Ambassadors from the RCEP member countries and executives from companies conducting business in them attended the event.

“I think this forum is a very good opportunity [for] public and business sectors to gain a first-hand understanding of RCEP,” said Chring Botumrangsay, Ambassador of Cambodia to Korea. “Through events such as this, we can share information about the agreement and showcase the concepts of free trade and regional cooperation behind it."

She described the RCEP as being meant to “open up our country, which has a small but young population, and promote job opportunities for our ambitious populace.”

The RCEP “takes into account the diversity of the economic development of the members,” said Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega , the Philippine ambassador to Korea. “You would have very highly developed members like Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, China and then you would also have some of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries like Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, so there’s flexibility there.”

She added that RCEP covers areas that have not been fully covered by other free trade agreements before, especially e-commerce, government procurement, innovation and sustainable development.

“I found it so stimulating to listen to other views from other Asean ambassadors,” said Witchu Vejjajiva, ambassador of Thailand to Korea.

Corporate executives said the forum was an opportunity to hear the thoughts of the ambassadors.

“It was a rare opportunity to hear from the ambassadors of Asean countries,” said Ha Seok, Vice President at SK. “We hope that the forum will grow into a leading platform to foster cooperation among the nations.”

Others pledged to expand business in the RCEP nations.

“Kakao Entertainment plans to actively review expanding the Korean content business within Asean countries and seek bigger opportunities for the webtoon business in Southeast Asian countries that we have already entered, like Indonesia and Thailand, following the effectiveness of the RCEP,” said Kang Ki-joo, General Manager of the Global Contents Center at Kakao Entertainment.

Naver, which runs a webtoon business in Southeast Asian countries including Thailand, plans to strengthen partnerships with local firms.

“We’re seeking opportunities for new growth through strengthened partnership with local partners in Asean countries,” said Kim Chi-hyun, leader of public relations at Naver. “The forum was very helpful in that we were able to learn the interests of each country, where economic partnerships with Korea have grown.”

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]