> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.wwconemedia.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Seoul to Host 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business as Germany Deepens Its Asia-Pacific Push - URL: https://www.wwconemedia.com/seoul-to-host-19th-asia-pacific-conference-of-german-business-as-germany-deepens-its-asia-pacific-push/ - Published: 2026-09-07T08:04:10.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-07T08:04:10.000Z - Author: WWC NEWSDESK - Tags: LIFESTYLE SEOUL — Seoul is preparing to become a major meeting point for German and Asia-Pacific business leaders as the **19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2026)** arrives in the South Korean capital from **October 29 to 31, 2026**. The high-level conference will be held at the **Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas**, bringing together senior executives, policymakers, business representatives and experts from Germany and across the Asia-Pacific region. Organizers describe the APK as the leading biennial platform for German business in the Asia-Pacific, with the 2026 edition expected to focus heavily on the forces reshaping global commerce — from geopolitical tensions and supply-chain resilience to artificial intelligence and industrial transformation. ## Seoul takes center stage in Germany's Asia strategy The choice of Seoul is significant. The APK has been held every two years in different Asia-Pacific locations since 1986\. South Korea previously hosted the conference in **1992 and 2007**, making the 2026 gathering the third time the event has returned to the country. This year's conference comes as South Korea occupies an increasingly important position in sectors that are central to Germany's industrial strategy, including **semiconductors, batteries, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence**. Organizers say the Seoul conference will provide German and Korean companies with an opportunity to identify new partnerships and explore opportunities in one of the world's most technologically advanced markets. ## AI, geopolitics and supply chains move to the top of the agenda The conference is expected to go well beyond traditional trade discussions. According to Germany Trade & Invest, major themes will include **innovation, digitalization, artificial intelligence, resilient supply chains and sustainable growth**. The broader program is also expected to examine geopolitical and trade shifts, industrial AI and manufacturing, raw materials, the circular economy, industrial policy and corporate financing in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. That combination reflects a wider transformation in the global economy. Companies operating across Europe and Asia are facing growing pressure to secure critical supplies, diversify production networks and invest in technologies that can make factories and supply chains more competitive. For German manufacturers in particular, deeper engagement with Asia-Pacific markets could become increasingly important as companies navigate those changes. ## High-level political and business figures expected The 2026 conference will feature senior figures from government and industry. The current program lists **German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz** as a scheduled keynote speaker. **Katherina Reiche**, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, and **Roland Busch**, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business and president and CEO of Siemens, are serving as conference co-chairs. The presence of senior political and corporate leaders underlines the conference's role as more than a conventional business networking event. It is designed as a platform where government officials and executives can discuss the economic and strategic issues affecting Germany's relationship with the wider Asia-Pacific region. ## Around 800 delegates expected Conference materials estimate attendance at approximately **800 delegates**, primarily from Germany and the Asia-Pacific region. Participants are expected to include corporate executives, government representatives, industry specialists and academics, creating opportunities for business networking as well as policy discussions. The conference is jointly organized by the **Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA)**, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and the network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad, with the **Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI/AHK Korea)** serving as the local host. ## Korea-Germany business ties in the spotlight The timing is particularly relevant for South Korea. Korea has become a key technology and manufacturing partner for German companies, while German firms remain active in areas including industrial technology, automotive manufacturing, chemicals, machinery and other advanced industries. The conference therefore offers an opportunity to move the relationship beyond traditional trade and toward cooperation in emerging technologies and new industrial strategies. The organizers specifically highlight Korea's strengths in **semiconductors, battery technology and AI** as reasons Seoul provides a compelling setting for the 2026 conference. ## A conference shaped by a changing global economy The APK's central question is increasingly relevant for both Europe and Asia: how can companies remain competitive while global trade, technology and geopolitical relationships are rapidly changing? For Germany, Asia-Pacific remains a critical region for investment, manufacturing, innovation and market access. For South Korea, deeper ties with Europe's largest economy could create additional opportunities for cooperation in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, energy and technology. The 2026 Seoul conference is therefore expected to serve as a meeting point between two industrial powerhouses at a moment when businesses are being forced to rethink everything from supply chains to technological competitiveness. ## When and where is APK 2026? **Event:** 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2026) **Dates:** October 29–31, 2026 **Location:** Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, Seoul, South Korea **Welcome reception:** October 29 **Main conference:** October 30–31 **Key themes:** Geopolitics, trade, industrial AI, innovation, resilient supply chains, sustainable growth, industrial policy and economic cooperation. The conference's official organizers are already positioning Seoul as a place where German and Asia-Pacific decision-makers can build partnerships and shape responses to the next phase of the global economy. And with hundreds of executives and policymakers expected to converge on Seoul, **the biggest story may not be what happens on the conference stage — but which new deals, partnerships and strategic alliances emerge behind closed doors.** ### WWC ONE MEDIA G.A