Invest KOREA

Invest KOREA Week 2022 (IKW 2022), is Korea’s largest foreign investment forum, which is held annually as a platform to gather investors, policymakers and business leaders from all over the world to promote Korea’s business environment. IKW 2022 was hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and organized by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and Arirang TV. This year, the event was held as an in-person event for the first time in two years on November 2-4, under the theme of “Invest in Open and Innovative Korea.”

First launched in 2006, Invest KOREA Week (IKW), formerly known as “Foreign Investment Week,” was held for the 18th time this year, proudly standing as Korea’s largest international investment promotion event. IKW brings together key players across industries from all around the globe, and serves as a platform for attendees to share insights on doing business in Korea and provides opportunities for future collaboration. The annual event connects global investors with Korean policymakers and entrepreneurs. This year, IKW was held both online and in person at Grand InterContinental Seoul PARNAS from November 2 to 4 under the theme, “Invest in Open and Innovative Korea.”

Last year, Korea witnessed foreign direct investment reached a record high and the country maintained a solid economic foundation despite various external difficulties such as the ongoing pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical risks. At the event, such topics were addressed and discussed by representatives in key sectors of government and economy. IKW 2022 kicked off with the opening ceremony, featuring speeches from YU Jeoung Yeol, President and CEO of KOTRA; Moon Dong-min, Deputy Minister for Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Andre Nothomb, Head of APAC at Solvay.

During the Global Investment Forum held under the topic of “Transition of Global Investment Environment and Korea,” Richard Baldwin, Professor of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, delivered his keynote speech on the recovery of the GVC through FDI expansion.

Shawn Chang, Commissioner of Invest KOREA, gave a presentation entitled, “Sustainable Growth with Innovative Korea,” highlighting the reasons why the country is an excellent investment destination.

In addition, Stephen Pierce, Global Manufacturing 4.0 Leader at IBM discussed the global semiconductor industry and future collaboration; Son Geon-seog, VP of Global R&D at Umicore covered the topic of rechargeable battery materials and investment in Korea; Ahn Jae-hoon, VP at SK bioscience discussed bio investment in Korea and the company’s activities; Shin Hoon-kyu, Vice Director at the National Institute for Nanomaterials Technology, POSTECH, spoke on power semiconductors in Korea and the opportunities and challenges to come.

Finally, Bernd Stenger, Head of Heraeus Epurio, detailed the company’s successes in doing business in Korea. Other events at IKW included a networking luncheon, specialized industry forums, foreign press conference, investor pitching event, offline and online business meetings, and more.