The Spain-Korea Tribune constitutes a platform for dialogue and cooperation whose main objective is to enhance bilateral relations in the economic, academic and cultural spheres, in addition to exploring opportunities for collaboration and promoting relations between the respective civil societies.
This forum is organized by Casa Asia, the Korea Foundation and the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies with the collaboration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the embassies in Madrid and Seoul.
The Spanish delegation is headed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC), Ildefonso Castro, who will be accompanied by the general director for North America, Asia and the Pacific, Fidel Sendagorta, and will be attended by representatives of the CEOE, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Turespaña, the Malaga Provincial Council, the Ibero-American General Secretariat, the Cervantes Institute, and three universities (Castilla-La Mancha, Malaga and Valladolid), among others. It is also worth highlighting the participation of the writer and Language Academic, José María Merino, National Narrative Award, 2013.
This year's Tribune is structured around 4 sessions: 1) Public Diplomacy and Country Image; 2) Economic and technological cooperation; 3) International trade. Current challenges and responses; and 4) Cultural diversity and Literature. Each session will have two presentations, both by the Spanish and Korean sides, which will be followed by analysis and debate among all participants.
The Spain-Korea Tribune also has an inaugural session in which the president of the Korea Foundation, Sihyung Lee, the president of the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Inchul Kim, and the general director of Casa Asia, Ramón Mª Moreno. The president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Korea will also speak in this first session, Shim Jae-kwon, and the president of the Korean Chamber of Commerce, Youngman Park.
Spain-Republic of Korea, 67 years of bilateral relations
This year marks the 67th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and the Republic of Korea. South Korea, Asia's fourth largest economy and a country with a strong export-oriented industrial base, is one of the main Asian investors in Spain. It also has a population (just over 51 million) and a size in GDP and per capita income similar to that of the Spanish economy.
The best opportunities for Spanish companies are in luxury consumer products. Imports of wine, olive oil, gourmet products, fashion, footwear, furniture and jewelry have grown at high rates since 2012.
The European Union signed a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea that came into force in July 2011. It is the only Agreement of its kind with Asia and means the virtual disappearance of tariffs for most of our export products.
South Korea is in 5th place out of the 190 that make up the Doing Business ranking, which classifies countries according to the ease they offer to do business.
