Korea-Italy Business Event Held in Rome; Lee Jae-yong Says, "We Must Work Harder"

Ryu Jin, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), emphasized the importance of economic cooperation between the two nations at the "Korea-Italy Business Roundtable" held in Rome, Italy.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Ryu stated, "All roads lead to Rome," adding, "We intend to open another path here. I hope this path, pioneered together by the business communities of both countries, will extend vigorously toward the future and the global market."

He continued, "South Korea and Italy are ideal partners. We already have solid supply chain cooperation in place and are strengthening security partnerships in the defense industry. Now, it is time to expand into cutting-edge industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, renewable energy, and robotics."

He further noted, "Recently, the entry of K-Beauty into Italy has been drawing attention. We look forward to creating global brand power in lifestyle sectors, including high fashion."

Chairman Ryu also mentioned South Korea's victory against the Czech Republic in the first match of the World Cup, which took place on the morning of this day (local time), saying, "Rome is not just a historic and beautiful city; it has become a city of good fortune for us overnight."

He added, "I would like to thank the President for joining this meaningful event with business leaders from both countries despite a busy schedule. I express my respect for elevating the bilateral relationship to a special strategic partnership and opening a new chapter for future cooperation."

Before the event, when asked by reporters if he could feel the growing interest in South Korean manufacturing technology abroad, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong replied, "We must work harder."

Regarding his relationship with Ferrari Chairman John Elkann, Chairman Lee mentioned, "We supply displays to them," adding, "(Chairman Elkann) is the chairman of not only Ferrari but also Stellantis, and we are currently building a joint battery plant with Stellantis through Samsung SDI."

Antonio Tajani, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who attended the event, promised, "I thank the large delegation for visiting from afar. We will always welcome Korean companies."

Giorgio Marsiaj, Vice President of the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria), also highlighted the commonalities, stating, "South Korea's industrial model is built on long-term vision and family values that lead and protect companies across generations. Italian capitalism also relies heavily on family-owned businesses. Our DNA is the same."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.