Hyundai chief meets ambassadors to promote Busan's World Expo bid

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Hyundai chief meets ambassadors to promote Busan's World Expo bid

Published: 01 Mar. 2023, 14:39

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, sixth from right, and Cho Tae-yong, Korea's ambassador to the United States, fifth from right, take a photo with ambassadors from African and Caribbean nations to the United States after having a meeting to ask for their support for Busan's bid for the World Expo 2030. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung met with 12 ambassadors from African and Caribbean nations to the United States, to ask for their support for Busan’s bid to host the World Expo 2030.

The meetings were held Tuesday at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington D.C. Ambassadors from 12 countries including Malawi, Central African Republic and The Bahamas, held a meeting with Chung, Chang Jae-hoon, CEO of Hyundai Motor, along with Cho Tae-yong, Korea's ambassador to the United States.

"Korea, as a country that overcame various crises and achieved economic growth in short term, could serve as a bridge between emerging and developed countries," Chung told the ambassadors.

"I'm confident that Korea will play a pivotal role in world cooperation to solve global challenges by sharing our experience and technology."

Chung and the ambassadors also shared opinions about potential cooperation in climate change, as well as the future automobile industry that is quickly shifting to EVs.

"Busan is a prepared and highly experienced city that has hosted various large-size international events," Cho added.

Korea’s bidding committee matched large companies with countries with voting rights, and Hyundai was matched with 20 countries including Peru, Chile and the Bahamas. Hyundai formed a task force specializing in promotion in August 2021, the first of any Korean conglomerates to do so.

Chair Chung in October met with prime ministers of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic to ask for their support for Busan, while Hyundai Motor CEO Chang visited three Latin American countries — the Bahamas, Chile and Paraguay — to promote the city.

Hyundai operated 58 vehicles for Korean representatives participating in the World Economic Forum, held in January, also in an effort to promote Busan's bid.

The host of the 2030 World Expo will be selected by the 170 members of the Bureau International des Expositions in November 2023. Korea is competing against Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Italy's Rome and Ukraine’s Odesa.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]