The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) jointly held the Korea-Brazil Business Roundtable with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) in São Paulo on July 28, local time. On this occasion, the participants agreed to build on the Korea-Brazil strategic partnership, joining forces to strengthen cooperation across investment, production, and supply chains.

Korea joins forces with Brazil—a resource-rich country with a domestic market of 200 million people—to build stronger cooperative momentum in key industrial areas

  The business roundtable event was held on the occasion of the state visit to Brazil, which reciprocated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s state visit to Korea in February. The event carries particular significance as it builds further momentum behind economic cooperation, already accelerated by the two countries’ leaders elevating the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.

  Brazil—South America’s largest economy, rich in natural resources and home to a vast domestic market of 200 million people—is a key economic hub seeking to revitalize its manufacturing sector. Participants discussed ways to broaden bilateral economic cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including critical minerals; advanced industries of the future, such as AI, biotechnology and aerospace; and consumer goods, particularly K-beauty.

Leaders from major corporations, including Hyundai Motor Group, POSCO, and Hanjin Group, join discussions spanning manufacturing, advanced industries, and consumer goods

  The Korean participants at the roundtable included government officials, including Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, Jeong-Kwan Kim, and heads of major Korean business groups, including Euisun Chung, Chair, Hyundai Motor Group; In Hwa Chang, Chairman & CEO, POSCO Holdings; Won Tae Cho, Chairman & CEO, Hanjin Group and Korean Air. Other senior business executives from major Korean companies included Seung Hee Park, President, Samsung Electronics; Jaecheol Lyu, CEO, LG Electronics; Dong Hoon Lee, President, SK Biopharmaceuticals; In Sub Jung, President, Hanwha Ocean; Jae Young Moon, CEO, HD Construction Equipment; Soo-yeon Choi, CEO, NAVER; and Jong Chool Kim, President, Korea Aerospace Industries. Also, key representatives from the K-beauty industry joined the roundtable, including Sang Mok Lee, President, Amorepacific; Byung-Hoon Kim, Founder & CEO, APR; Juhyck Cheun, CEO, Goodai Global (Beauty of Joseon); and Sungwoon Kim, CEO, Silicon2.

  The Brazilian participants at the roundtable included senior government officials, including Vice President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services of Brazil (MDIC), Márcio Elias Rosa, and leaders of Brazil’s top corporations, including Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto, a global top-3 commercial aircraft manufacturer); JBS Chairman Jeremiah O’Callaghan, the world’s largest meat processor; Suzano CEO Beto Abreu, the world’s largest pulp producer; EuroFarma Global CEO Marco Billi, Latin America’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer; and Inpasa CEO Eder Lopes, Latin America’s largest biofuel producer.

FKI Chairman Jin Roy Ryu, "From investment to building supply chains, let us join forces and advance into global markets"

  FKI Chairman Jin Roy Ryu, speaking on behalf of the Korean business community stated that with Brazil being a leading force in global supply chains and Korea having accumulated experience in advanced manufacturing and innovation, “we need each other and are natural partners—I hope that we can join forces across investment, production, and building supply chains and advance into global markets.”

  Business leaders from both countries discussed specific, company-level avenues for  cooperation in three areas: ▲Manufacturing and infrastructure; ▲Advanced industries; and ▲Consumer goods and distribution. They agreed on the need to build stable supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals essential to future industries. Discussions also focused on improving the bilateral trade and investment environment, including streamlining licensing and approval procedures to facilitate entry into the Brazilian market and resuming negotiations on the Korea-MERCOSUR Trade Agreement (TA). K-beauty companies identified Brazil as a strategic hub for expansion into Latin America and emphasized their commitment to laying the groundwork for sustainable growth.

Six MOUs Signed Across Biohealth, Food and Aerospace

  Following the roundtable, six MOUs were concluded between companies and institutions from the two countries, with both ministers of industry in attendance. The MOUs laid a foundation for broad cooperation, spanning strategic partnerships in the food industry, exchanges in advanced technologies such as aerospace, and biohealth cooperation.

  Bong Man Kim, Chief International Network Officer of FKI noted, "More than half of the Brazilian participants at this BRT represent manufacturing companies. Brazil has advanced far beyond being simply a market for products or a source of raw materials and is a key strategic partner in shaping future industries." He added, "We expect this event to further accelerate cooperation between the two countries’ business communities, not only in manufacturing but also consumer goods.”

※ [Attachment] Overview: 2026 Korea-Brazil Business Roundtable (BRT)