Korean-German Climate & Environment Conference 2024: Paving the Way for Greener Supply Chains
(Seoul, October 10, 2024) The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) and the German Embassy in South Korea, in collaboration with SAP, co-hosted the "Korean-German Climate & Environment Conference 2024" on October 8 at Conrad Hotel Seoul, South Korea.
Focusing on the theme of ‘Advancing Climate-Friendly Supply Chains,’ the conference brought together over 90 government officials, business leaders, and climate experts from both countries. Participants explored strategies to combat climate change, foster collaboration between Germany and South Korea, and build resilient supply chains that align with national carbon neutrality targets.
The event commenced with welcome remarks from H.E. Georg Schmidt, German Ambassador to Korea, and Dr. Martin Henkelmann, President and CEO of KGCCI, followed by a congratulatory speech by Sang-Hyup Kim, Co-Chairperson of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth. Austin Menyasz, SAP Head of Government Affairs SEA, delivered a keynote address on ‘Navigating Sustainability Regulations: Impacts and how technology can support Korean expert industries,’ highlighting the role of digital solutions in meeting new regulatory demands.
“Geopolitical developments have made clear how important resilient supply chains are. Supply chain management also plays a key role in making our economies green, sustainable and CO2-neutral. These are the issues we have discussed at the 2024 Korean-German Climate & Environment Conference,” stated Ambassador Schmidt.
The conference featured two key sessions. Session 1, titled ‘Role of Government in Advancing Climate-friendly Supply Chains’, featured presentation by Jörn Beissert, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Korea, along with Jongmin Park, Deputy Director from Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Session 2 included a panel presentation and discussions on ‘Cooperation Potential between Korean and German Companies’. Starting with a presentation by Nam Hee Kim, Office Director of Office of ESG Management Support in Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI), Dr. Dschun Song, Managing Director of BASF Korea, Jinwan Hyun, Sustainability Lead of SAP Korea, Kyoungwon Kim, Vice President and Head of Sustainability Group in POSCO E&C, and Kyungseok Oh, Executive Managing Director of Sustainability Management Division in Pulmuone shared their insights and cooperation expertise in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies, sustainable management practices, and potential areas for collaboration.
Dr. Martin Henkelmann, President and CEO of KGCCI, emphasized the power of collaboration, stating, “By joining forces and sharing knowledge, the German and Korean governments and companies can make remarkable progress. This collaboration allows us to advance more swiftly, boldly, and comprehensively toward climate-friendly supply chains, further strengthening our economic and environmental partnerships.”