The 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2026) opened its main conference programme in Seoul today, bringing together around 800 business and political leaders from Germany and the Asia-Pacific region to discuss trade, technological innovation and economic resilience. Hosted locally by the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI / AHK Korea), the event takes place at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas from 29 to 31 October and marks 40 years since the first APK in 1986.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Seongsook Han and German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered the opening keynotes. Kirsten Schoder-Steinmüller, Vice President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Roland Busch, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and President & CEO of Siemens, welcomed participants.
In her keynote address, Prime Minister Han highlighted the longstanding partnership between the two countries, stating: “Korea and Germany are trusted partners that build on each other’s strengths to enhance their competitiveness together.” She added, “I hope APK 2026 will go beyond serving as a forum for discussion and become a platform for action, one that builds new supply chains, drives technology and investment, and enables companies from Korea and Germany, as well as across Asia-Pacific and Europe, to achieve tangible results.”
Chancellor Merz welcomed the strengthening of bilateral technological cooperation, particularly following the signing of the Korean-German High-Tech Framework Agreement. “That is why I am particularly pleased that we were able to sign the Korean-German High-Tech Framework Agreement yesterday. This agreement sets the basis for cooperation in next-generation industries such as microelectronics, industrial AI and robotics.”
Emphasizing the importance of resilient and diversified economic partnerships, Chancellor Merz stated: “Diversification is the name of the game. Our goal is to preserve economic strength, stability and freedom of action.” He added, “When we increase trade and cooperation based on fair rules, we strengthen our sovereignty.”
An opening discussion on the impact of global power shifts on economic relations between Germany and the Indo-Pacific brought together Roland Busch; Jung-Kwan Kim, Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources; Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE); and Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group.
Trade and technology on the opening day
A scenario discussion explored German–Asia-Pacific trade in 2030, with perspectives from Patrick Bernau of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Rajiv Biswas of Asia-Pacific Economics and Cyn Young Park of the South-East Asian Central Banks Research and Training Centre. AHK Business Lunch Sessions offered country and regional perspectives, including a dedicated Korea session.
The afternoon programme turned to AI and manufacturing, featuring Hanno Blankenstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Unleash Live, and Shashank Deshpande, CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim. The session addressed a central theme of the conference: how technological innovation can support business across the Asia-Pacific.
At the 2nd AI Startup Award, ModigenceVision represented Korea alongside Oorja from India, MarinaChain from Singapore, Enfarm from Vietnam and YanYin from China. The five startups pitched to a challenger panel of Anna Maria Braun, CEO of B. Braun, and Busch. ModigenceVision won the Korea-Germany Connect: AI Startup Pitching Challenge 2026 hosted by KGCCI in July.
The opening day concludes this evening with the Korea Evening at The Westin Seoul Parnas.
Industrial AI and resilience on Saturday
The conference continues on 31 October with a Tech Dialogue on Industrial AI between NAVER CEO Soo-yeon Choi and Busch. Chang-Beom Kim, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, is scheduled to join a discussion on common security interests in the Indo-Pacific, while Bum Sik Jang, CEO of The Asia Business Daily, will take part in a session on corporate financing in Asia alongside thyssenkrupp CEO Miguel Ángel López Borrego.
Saturday’s programme also includes breakfast sessions on corporate strategies and the circular economy, an Oxford-style debate on industrial policy, and a panel on corporate resilience featuring leaders from Voith, the Federation of German Industries (BDI), TÜV SÜD and Toshiba.
