BIE delegation arrives in Korea to evaluate Busan's bid

Industry

Published: 03 Apr. 2023, 00:00

BIE delegation arrives in Korea to evaluate Busan's bid

Busan flies 1,500 drones, a record number of drones deployed for a drone light show in Korea, displaying a 2030 Busan World Expo logo above Gwangalli Beach Saturday to welcome the enquiry mission delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions and rally support. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

A Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) delegation arrived in Seoul Sunday for a six-day on-site inspection to evaluate Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo.

The eight-member delegation, led by Patrick Specht, president of the BIE's Administration and Budget Committee, includes Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the BIE, Kevin Isaac, a representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Manuel Salchli, representing Switzerland, Ferdinand Nagy, representing Romania and three BIE staff members.

The on-site inquiry is expected to be a pivotal point in the bidding competition.

The delegation will complete a report on Busan's proposal in May and share the result with the 171 BIE member countries during the first biannual general assembly in June. The final decision will be made in November by a secret ballot.

The BIE inspection team arrived in Korea Sunday through Incheon International Airport and plans to kick off the official schedule Monday with a meeting with Lee Chang-yang, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.

A luncheon with Korean business leaders is to follow, presided by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. Chey, who also chairs the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is leading the Busan World Expo bid promotion committee along with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

The delegation will meet Han, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and Foreign Minister Park Jin. The final destination in their schedule in Seoul will be Gwanghwamun Square, where an outdoor exhibition to promote the Busan bid is installed.

The BIE inspection team will head to Busan on a KTX train Tuesday and visit the North Port, a proposed venue for the World Expo 2030, Eulsukdo and UN Memorial Cemetery through Thursday.

The delegation will stay in Signiel Busan, a hotel Lotte Hotels & Resort runs in Haeundae's landmark LCT, a seaside skyscraper. The company, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the Busan Metropolitan City to support its expo bid, provided the accommodation.

Hyundai Motor is providing eight Electrified G80 sedans and four buses for the delegation.

Korea plans to deliver four presentations on Busan's proposal during the delegation's visit, focusing on political unity, the expo theme, the site, people, and money.

"We created momentum for turning the tide in our favor during the third competition presentation in November last year," Yoon Sang-jik, secretary general of the bidding committee, said.

"During the on-site inquiry mission, we are going to turn the tables for the final win."

The fourth competition presentation is slated for June.

The BIE delegation visited Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Ukraine's Odesa in March before arriving in Busan. Rome is the last city the team will visit 10 days after leaving Busan.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]