South Korean President Moon Jae-in, kicking off a three-day state visit to Vietnam on Thursday, will attend the biggest-ever business forum organized there timed with his state summit in the Southeast Asian country set to become Korea’s biggest export destination after China in near future.

According to multiple industry sources, 650 business leaders from Korea and Vietnam will attend a business forum on Friday and discuss measures to boost bilateral economic ties.

President Moon and his counterpart Tran Dai Quang will co-host the meeting.

Exports to Vietnam surged 60.5 percent over the last two years. The country is expected to become Korea’s second-largest export country after China in 2020.

About 340 business leaders from Korea will attend the forum including Chung Yong-jin, vice chairman of Shinsegae Group, Yoon Boo-keun, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., Chung Jin-haeng, president of Hyundai Motor Co., Cho Kyung-mok, president of SK Energy Co., Lee Woo-jong, president of LG Electronics Inc., Kim Young-sang, president of Posco Daewoo Corp., Huh Myung-soo, vice chairman of GS Engineering & Construction Corp., Koo Ja-yeol, chairman of LS Group, and Song Yong-dok, vice chairman of Lotte Group. Along with those from 31 large companies, leaders from 21 mid-size and 88 small- and mid-size companies will join the forum including Kwak Wie-jong, president of Samil Pharmaceutical Co., Choi Jin-yong, president of Taihan Electric Wire Co., and Sung Ki-hak, chairman of Youngone Corporation.

Heads of business lobby groups including Park Yong-maan, chairman of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of Korea Employers Federation, Kim Young-joo, chairman of Korea International Trade Association, and Park Sung-taek, chairman of Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, will also be present, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance and Strategy Minister Kim Dong-yeon and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha from the government among others.

About 250 Vietnamese business leaders and government officials will be at the forum including Dang Hoang An, president of Electricity of Vietnam Group, Nguyen Vu Troung Son, president of PetroVietnam Oil Corporation, Dang Thanh Hai, president of Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group, and Duong Tri Thanh, president of Vietnam Airlines Corp.

By Kang Gye-man and Lee Eun-joo

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