[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Jisun] Chey Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and SK Group, has been appointed as the chair of the 2025 APEC CEO Summit, to be held in Gyeongju, South Korea.
On November 15 (local time), Chey received the ceremonial gavel from Fernando Zavala, the outgoing chair, during the 2024 APEC CEO Summit at the National Grand Theater in Lima, Peru.
In his acceptance speech, Chey announced that the 2025 summit will center around the theme “BBB,” which stands for Bridge, Business, and Beyond. This theme emphasizes the role of businesses in bridging governments, reality, and ideals, leading innovation, and fostering a better future for the APEC community.
Chey also highlighted his vision of transforming the CEO Summit into a platform where business leaders collaborate to address global challenges. He aims to create an open forum for sharing goals, technological agendas, and innovation strategies among leaders from the 21 member economies of APEC.
With the theme “People, Business, Prosperity,” the 2024 summit featured over 20 sessions on pressing topics such as climate change, artificial intelligence, digital health, and inclusive finance.
The APEC CEO Summit is an annual business forum held alongside the APEC Leaders’ Summit. Next year’s event, scheduled for October in Gyeongju, will coincide with South Korea hosting the APEC Leaders’ Summit. The KCCI, serving as the APEC Korea Secretariat, launched a dedicated task force in October 2024 to organize the event.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun([email protected])
Interviewer: Thank you, Mr. Chey. Mr. Lee, how do you believe the APEC CEO Summit can foster stronger international trade relationships, especially in light of current global economic challenges?
Interviewer: Welcome to our special edition of World Today News. We have with us today, two esteemed guests to discuss the recent appointments and the upcoming 2025 APEC CEO Summit. First, we have Mr. Chey Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and SK Group, who was recently appointed as the chair of the 2025 APEC CEO Summit. Joining us from South Korea is Mr. Lee Jong-woo, President of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).
Mr. Lee, let’s start with you. You have a unique perspective as the head of one of the largest trade associations in South Korea. How do you see the appointment of Chey Tae-won as the chair of the 2025 APEC CEO Summit, and what role do you think his background in both business and the public sector will play in organizing this significant event?
Mr. Lee: Thank you for having me on the show. I believe the appointment of Mr. Chey Tae-won as the chair of the 2025 APEC CEO Summit is a significant milestone for both South Korea and the APEC region. As the head of the KCCI and SK Group, he brings with him a wealth of experience in business leadership and innovation. His vision for the summit, centered around the theme “BBB,” is ambitious but timely, as it highlights the crucial role businesses must play in addressing global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and inclusive growth. His background in both the public and private sectors also signals an understanding of the complexities involved in bridging government and industry leaders. I’m confident that he will lead the 2025 CEO Summit towards making meaningful progress towards the shared goals of the APEC community.
Interviewer: That’s a great perspective. Chey Tae-won, as the incoming chair of the 2025 APEC CEO Summit, can you tell us more about the “BBB” theme and how you plan to transform the summit into a platform for collaboration?
Chey Tae-won: Thank you for having me. The “BBB” theme, which stands
