South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will visit the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland later this week in what will be his first overseas trip of the year to highlight the administration’s focus on the economy by boosting exports and forging business partnerships.

President Yoon will depart for UAE on Saturday for a four-day state visit at the invitation of President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said national security adviser Kim Sung-han during a press briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan on Tuesday.

Yoon will also attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 18 and 19, he added.

UAE is the first state visit destination for Yoon since he took office last year. It is also the first state visit by a Korean leader since the two countries established bilateral diplomatic relations in 1980. The visit underscores Yoon’s focus on the economy as he will be joined by a delegation from 100 companies.

“UAE is a new export engine and a key partner country for nuclear, defense and infrastructure sectors,” said Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs. “It is also the optimum partner for summit diplomacy.”

The visit to UAE will focus on four key economy sectors - nuclear, energy, investment and defense - but it will also highlight other areas like information and communications technology, game, smart farm, tourism service and consumer goods.

Yoon and the business delegation will also attend Korea-UAE Business Forum in Abu Dhabi and a one-on-one trade investment counselling session organized by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. In Dubai, there will be discussion with science technology and future experts on future vision.

The highlight of the UAE visit will be Yoon’s trip to the Barakah nuclear power plant, the first nuclear plant built by Korea.

Yoon will head to Switzerland on Jan. 17 to attend the two-day World Economic Forum, also known as Davos Forum. He is the first Korean president to attend the forum since former President Park Geun-hye in 2014.

By Park In-hye, Song Gwang-sup, and Lee Eun-joo

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