South Korea and Mexico are expanding their bilateral economic relationship beyond traditional manufacturing and supply chains into advanced industries, energy, and the creative sector. The two nations formally established this broader cooperative framework during an official business forum held on September 25 at the World Trade Center in Mexico City.
Bilateral Forum Draws Major Corporate Leaders
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), alongside the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade (COMCE) and the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), hosted the Korea-Mexico Business Forum. The event brought together approximately 300 government and business leaders from both countries, including South Korean officials and corporate executives.
The high-level Korean delegation featured prominent industry figures. KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won led the business group, which included LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, LS Chairman Koo Ja-eun, Samsung Electronics President Roh Tae-moon, Kia President Song Ho-sung, and POSCO International President Lee Kye-in. Other attendees included Doosan Bobcat Vice Chairman Park Sung-chul, LG Household & Health Care President Lee Sun-joo, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) CEO Kim Jong-chul, HS Hyosung Advanced Materials representative Sung Nak-young, and Korea Zinc Vice Chairman Kim Ki-soon. Institutional heads—such as Korea International Trade Association Chairman Yoon Jin-sik, KCCI Executive Vice Chairman Kim Jung-il, and Export-Import Bank of Korea President Hwang Ki-yeon—also participated.
The Mexican delegation included Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard, COMCE Vice President Francisco González, Mexico-Korea Economic Cooperation Committee Chairman Humberto Escobedo, and Mexican Aerospace Industry Organization Executive Director Luis Lizcano, alongside 150 local business representatives.
New Aerospace and Manufacturing Investments
Operating under the theme “Korea and Mexico, Building a New Path of Growth Together,” the forum served as a platform for signing multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) aimed at deepening industrial integration.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and POSCO International signed an MOU with the Mexican Aerospace Industry Organization to accelerate South Korea’s footprint in the region’s aerospace sector. Concurrently, HS Hyosung Advanced Materials finalized an agreement with the state government of San Luis Potosí to build a dedicated production plant for automotive carpets.
KCCI and COMCE updated their foundational institutional agreements—originally signed in 2010 and 2016—to widen enterprise-level cooperation into high-tech and digital industries.
Three Pillars of Future Cooperation
Discussions at the forum focused heavily on three strategic areas: advanced industries and supply chains, emerging industries and energy, and the creative culture sector.
During his opening remarks, KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won emphasized Mexico’s strategic position. He stated that Mexico functions as a key Latin American nation and an essential economic hub with strong global market access, expressing his hope that the forum would serve as a launching pad for shared growth.
Yoon Chul-min, head of international trade at KCCI, noted that the forum successfully demonstrated how bilateral ties built on traditional manufacturing can evolve into future growth sectors like energy and creative industries, adding that the organization will continue supporting practical business outcomes between enterprises from both nations.
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