Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to the OECD hosted the “Korea-OECD Policy Forum” and a celebratory reception on Wednesday, 2nd of October, in commemoration of the 2024 National Day of Korea.

<Ambassador CHOI giving his welcoming remarks>

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Sangdae Choi, appreciated the deep and enduring partnership between the Republic of Korea and the OECD over the years. Ambassador Choi also emphasized that cooperation with the OECD is crucial to overcome challenges that Korea faces today, mentioning that the Korean government will continue its economic and foreign policies befitting to a “Global Pivotal State.”

<Secretary-General CORMANN giving his congratulatory speech>

The Secretary-General of the OECD, Mr. Mathias Cormann, in his congratulatory speech, congratulated the 4357th National Foundation Day of Korea and highlighted the significant contributions of Korea’s development experiences to the OECD’s development policy research. Secretary-General Cormann also expressed expectations for the continuous cooperation between the Korea and the OECD to achieve the goal of “Better Policies for Better Lives.”

As part of the National Day celebrations of the Delegation, the “Korea-OECD Policy Forum”, was held for the first time. At the Forum, cooperation between Korea and the OECD, including in the areas of global transportation and energy were explored. This included in-depth discussions on the subject of ‘Enhancing Transportation Connectivity in Africa’ and ‘Expanding Digital Energy Efficiency Systems in Developing Countries.’

The Forum was attended by the Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum (ITF), Mr. Young Tae Kim, the Acting Director of the OECD Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC), Mr. Sibiri Jean Zoundi, Dr. Raissa Ada Allogo from the African Union (AU), and by global business leaders and experts from various fields.

The evening reception welcomed more than 200 guests, offering a vibrant program that included a media art exhibition based on the artworks by Sin Yun-bok (aka. Heywon) and a promotional event showcasing Korean liquors and agricultural products. The event provided attendees with a unique cultural experience, highlighting Korea’s rich heritage through both its artistic expression and diverse agricultural offerings.