President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a state visit to Mexico, presided over a business roundtable to discuss ways to boost investment and exchanges between South Korean and Mexican enterprises.

The roundtable, co-hosted by President Lee and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace on the afternoon of September 24 (local time), was attended by nine South Korean business leaders—including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also serves as chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo—alongside about 30 high-ranking officials from both nations.

At the meeting, President Lee stressed that the two countries are "vital and indispensable strategic partners," stating, "Amid deepening global economic uncertainties and rapid shifts in global supply chains, now is the opportune time to further advance bilateral economic cooperation," according to a written briefing by Sung Ki-hong, senior presidential secretary for public communication.

President Lee expressed South Korea's intent to contribute as a partner toward the success of "Plan Mexico," a vision aimed at enhancing industrial competitiveness and expanding infrastructure that President Sheinbaum announced last year.

The South Korean business leaders emphasized that Korean companies have fostered high-value-added manufacturing through decades of consistent investment in Mexico and contributed to cultivating the local industrial ecosystem by strengthening regional supply chains.

They also noted that bilateral economic cooperation is expanding beyond traditional sectors such as automobiles and consumer electronics into areas including electric power and energy, mobility, advanced materials, food, and beauty.

In particular, the South Korean business leaders underscored that Mexico serves not merely as a production base, but as a critical bridgehead for entering the North and Latin American markets. They expressed hope for the swift conclusion of a bilateral economic agreement between South Korea and Mexico to institutionally bolster economic cooperation.

The business leaders also pointed out that the ongoing review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is increasing business uncertainties in Mexico, requesting that the Mexican government pay special attention to ensuring stability for corporate operations.

(Photo: Yonhap News)