Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won on July 16 delivers the opening speech of the KCCI Summer Forum at the hotel Lahan Select Gyeongju in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. (KCCI)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

The Summer Forum of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the country's largest economic forum, on July 16 started in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

The KCCI on July 16 announced the opening of the four-day event at the hotel Lahan Select Gyeongju.

Gyeongju putting on the forum is meant to support the city's successful hosting of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in October some 100 days ahead of the latter.

KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won attended the opening event, and the forum had over 500 participants including heads of commerce chambers nationwide and leading business figures from major Korean companies.

In his opening speech, Chairman Chey called the upcoming APEC CEO Summit (Oct. 28-31) being organized by the KCCI as "the largest business event in the Asia-Pacific" to attract leaders from 21 APEC member economies accounting for 60% of global GDP as well as over 1,700 global CEOs.

"The KCCI will work closely with the government to turn the APEC CEO Summit into a platform for connection and cooperation among global companies," he added. "We will use this event as an opportunity to promote the innovative capacities and sustainability of Korean companies through organizing side events such as the Future-Tech Forum and K-Tech Showcase."

"If the APEC Summit is a historic event that heralds the restoration of Korean democracy, the APEC CEO Summit will be a massive showcase for the strength of the Korean economy."

dusrud21@korea.kr