● State Visit to India

President Park Geun-hye is scheduled to make a state visit to the Republic of India January 15-18 at the invitation of the Indian Government. During the visit, President Park and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold a summit to discuss ways to promote substantive cooperation, including bolstering diplomatic and security relations and increasing trade and investment. The two leaders will also lay the foundation for working together in the fields of science and technology as well as information and communication technology, which are essential for a creative economy. They are also expected to have in-depth discussions on the latest developments related to the Korean Peninsula and other regions.

President Park’s state visit to India, the beginning of this year’s summit diplomacy toward emerging economies around the world, will serve as a catalyst for further cementing a trust-based partnership between the two countries on the bilateral, regional and international level. The visit is also anticipated to make it possible to continue sales diplomacy with India, a country with a huge domestic market and a population of 1.2 billion. It is a partner with Korea in working to realize a creative economy. The state visit will contribute to implementing Korea`s three-year economic innovation plan and achieving the goal of US$30,000 in per capita income and aiming higher to US$40,000.

● Visit to Switzerland

President Park will make a state visit to the Swiss Confederation January 18-21 at the invitation of the Swiss Government and hold a summit with President Didier Burkhalter. During the summit, the two leaders will exchange ideas in a variety of areas, including ways to boost trade and investments, strengthening of collaboration in vocational training as well as in science and technology and cooperation to address such global matters as climate change and developments surrounding the Korean Peninsula.

President Park’s upcoming visit, the first state visit by a Korean president since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1963, is expected to serve as an opportunity to bolster substantive, mutually beneficial collaboration with Switzerland in realizing a creative economy and nurturing SMEs. Small-yet-strong Switzerland is well known for its world-class competitiveness, advanced science and technology and effective vocational training system.

● World Economic Forum

Following her state visit, President Park will head to Davos to participate in the 44th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting from January 21-22. The theme of this year’s meeting, which will run until January 25, is “The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business.”

On January 22, the President will give a keynote address on the creative economy and the entrepreneurial spirit at a session attended by all forum participants. She will also attend the 2014 Korea Night event organized by the Federation of Korean Industries, hold a meeting with leaders of top global technology companies and meet several global CEOs individually as well. Through this and other opportunities, the President will explain Korea’s policies for economic innovation as well as their basis in the creative economy and help to promote Korea as an ideal location for economic activity and investment. In this way, she will continue to carry out a full-fledged economic and sales diplomacy.

*Source: CHEONG WA DAE(http://english.president.go.kr/)