India has gained recognition as a significant player in the global economy and international diplomacy. It has recently emerged as the world's fifth-largest economy, with projections to become the third-largest economy within the next decade.

India actively expresses its views in multilateral organizations such as the Quad and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. As India assumes the G20 presidency in 2023, it is expected to play a central role in setting the international agenda. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and India.

The symposium aimed to comprehensively analyze various perspectives on Korea-India economic relations and policy challenges in the 

Indo-Pacific era. The goal was to derive policy implications for strengthening bilateral exchanges.

During his opening remarks, President Heungchong Kim highlighted Korea's perception of India as a core partner in the Indo-Pacific era. He also attributed significance to the establishment of KIEP's second overseas office in Delhi last year, following the establishment of the KIEP Beijing Office in 1995.

President Kim mentioned that the Delhi office would improve the research network between Korea and India, increase Korea’s understanding of India, and ultimately enhance economic exchanges between the two countries.

The keynote session featured President Heungchong Kim and Dean and Professor Mohan Kumar of O.P. Jindal Global University, Former Chairman of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) in India. The two speakers held a special discussion on "India's Role in the India-Pacific Era."

During the first session, Deputy President Dr. Kwon Hyung Lee of the Center for Area Studies at KIEP chaired a panel on "India's Rise in the India-Pacific Era: Opportunities and Challenges."

Head Dr. Jeong-gon Kim of the India and South Asia Team at KIEP, along with KIEP Associate research fellows Dr. Hyoungmin Han, Dr. Yoon Jae Ro, and Dr. Kyunghoon Kim, presented on India's diplomacy in South Asia, green energy revolution, structural changes in the labor force, and industrialization, respectively.

In the second session, Deputy President Dr. Choongjae Cho of the KIEP Delhi Office chaired a discussion on "Korea-India Cooperation: Evaluation and Direction." Indian scholars who had previously been visiting scholars at KIEP participated at the session, engaging in extensive discussions on Korea-India relations.

During the symposium, President Heungchong Kim of KIEP emphasized that analyzing the global economy and international order in the Indo-Pacific era from the perspectives of Korea and India had facilitated the identification of policy implications necessary for establishing bilateral relations. Furthermore, President Kim reaffirmed KIEP's commitment to continuing in-depth research on foreign economic policy and taking a leading role in disseminating research outcomes on Korea-India relations, with the Delhi office at the forefront.

- Title: KIEP Delhi Office Opening Commemoration Symposium & The 1st Visiting Scholar Workshop

- Theme: Korea-India Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Era: Opportunities and Challenges

- Date: March 6, 2023 (Mon), 10:00-18:00 (local time)

- Venue: The Grand New Delhi Hotel, New Delhi, India

- Organized by: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)

- Contact: Jonghun Pek (jhpek@kiep.go.kr)