German Embassy in Korea and KGCCI co-hold 2nd Korean-German Conference on Circular Economy
(Seoul, July 21, 2022) The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI, President & CEO Martin Henkelmann) and Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Seoul (Ambassador Michael Reiffenstuel) held a joint conference under the subject of “Circular Economy in Korea and in Germany: Recycling and Reuse of EV Batteries”.
The event was the second conference of both institutions shining a light on bilateral cooperation between Korea and Germany in the sphere of circular economy. It focused on policies and strategies of Korea, Germany, and the EU, fields for collaboration through best practice cases as well as plans of companies and institutions.
The event was held at Conrad Hotel Seoul and was hosted both online and offline. It began with welcome messages by the German Ambassador Michael Reiffenstuel and KGCCI Chairperson Holger Gerrmann. Congratulatory remarks were made by Jae Jeong Ma, Director of Resource Circulation Bureau from the Korean Ministry of Environment, Resource Recycling Division. The keynote speech was given by Anika Neitz-Regett, Head of Resources and Climate Protection at Munich based “Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft (FfE)”.
The conference, offering a high level of expertise from Korean and German professionals, included presenters On-Gyun Na from Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco), Tim Schulze from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Flérida Regueira-Cortizo from Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), Carl-Ernst Forchert and Angela Blume from i-vector Innovationsmanagement GmbH, Hyung Kyung Kim from CORN Co. Ltd., Yum Kwanghyun from SungEel HiTech Co., Ltd., Kevin Krauß from ERLOS Produktion und Montagen GmbH, Federico Diaz Betancourt from Volkswagen Group, and Florian Kabitzke from Stöbich technology GmbH. It was led by moderator Youngkyoo Kim from Kyungpook National University.
According to Ambassador Reiffenstuel, “Resource efficiency and circular economy are indispensable tools for Korea and for Germany for achieving our climate and biodiversity targets.” “Simultaneously, circular economy will foster the competitiveness and resilience of our economies and communities,” he added.
KGCCI Chairperson Holger Gerrmann pointed out, “Both Korea and Germany are actively pursuing a transition towards a Circular Economy, and especially in the field of recycling and reuse of large traction and industrial batteries. While both countries will have their own transition speed, there is ample room for the two strong economies to mutually benefit from cooperation and transfer of knowledge.”