KOIMA held the 29th CEO Summer Seminar from July 20 to 24 for five days and sent its import delegation (led by chairman Shin Myoung-jin) to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Under the slogan "KOIMA that promises, executes, and prospers" KOIMA invited 150 people that are the members and their family and successfully managed the schedule with the Malaysian government's welcome.
The first official schedule commenced on the second day with the Korea-Malaysia Business Forum and one on one business meetings sessions that accommodated over 200 Malaysian exporters.
Minister of International Trade and Industry, Dato' Seri Ong Ka Chuan, mentioned that KOIMA is one of the most important organizations in trade cooperation between the two countries and asked for continuous support and interest. MATRADE's Deputy Chief Executive Officer Madam Susila Devi and Korean Ambassador to Malaysia, Yu Hyun-seok, attended the business forum and graced the event.
Chairman Shin said that the demand for Korean products has increased in Malaysia thanks to Korean wave (or hallyu) along with an increase in exporting Malaysian products to Korea during the press conference. He also emphasized on the role of KOIMA as a bridge for the two countries' trade cooperation and asked to take advantage of KOIMA members as a way to export Korean products.
An opening ceremony for the seminar was held with opening speeches of Chairman Shin, welcoming remarks of Park Sung-seo, chief of the KOIMA training institute, and awarding members that have brought harmony to the KOIMA community by attending the seminar every year.
"I have been trying my best to increase the number of members, have balanced finance, and improve the status of the association to create the member-focused community since my inauguration. I appreciate your attendance to the seminar and the support you have given to KOIMA," said Chairman Shin during the opening speeches.
Park Sung-seo, chief of the KOIMA training institute said that he hopes the association promises, executes, and prospers just like the slogan created for the 20th seminar during his welcoming remarks. He also congratulated the increased number of attendants to the seminar and wished success of KOIMA.
Hong Kwang-hee, the vice chairman received an award for the most frequent participation by attending the seminar fifteen times while members Kang Young-joo, Kim Deok-yong, Kim Young-shin, and Park Sung-seo received the award by attending the seminar for ten times.
The one on one business meetings session followed the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. Around 65 Korean companies and 200 Malaysian companies participated in the session and discussed trade opportunities, across a wide range of products, mostly Malaysian products for export, such as food, computer hardware, construction materials, industrial electronic components, agricultural products, nonferrous metal, and fine chemical products.
The session followed a dinner reception hosted by MATRADE that included a Malaysian traditional performance.
On the third day, the members were separated into two groups: a golfing group and a tour group. The tour group visited Malacca City, a UNESCO World Heritage that used to be an important trading city back in the medieval times located on the route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Datuk Seri IR. HJ, Governor of Malacca specially welcomed the group himself.
On the same day, KOIMA held a dinner reception and invited Malaysian government officials that provided KOIMA with support in preparing the seminar and affiliated events.
On the fourth day, Seo Eui-suk, CEO of Standard Engineering (director of KOIMA) presented an address on "Innovative Engine, CEO Master!" and Jhon Kwang-jae, chairman of the Kuala Lumpur branch of the World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Association conducted a lecture on "Business in Malaysia".
In the afternoon the schedule continued with a downtown tour that included visits to Batu Caves, and KLCC Petronas Twin Towers, the landmark of Kuala Lumpur and was wrapped up with a dinner reception.
Chairman Shin thanked the members for their attendance to the seminar and their trust and support to the 20th KOIMA executives during his closing remarks. He also thanked the members of the KOIMA training institute including chief Park Sung-seo for their efforts in successfully hosting the seminar. He emphasized that he will strive to repay the support given by the members of the association.
Park Sung-seo, chief of the KOIMA training institute said that he saw improvements could be made as it was the first seminar he prepared since he became the chief during his speech. He thanked the members and the chairman of the association for providing him with warm support and that he will make the next year's event more fruitful.
The last official schedule was a lucky draw and members Lee Chang-ho and Yoon Tae-ho won the prize of round trip tickets to the UK.