November 26, 2024

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Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is seen visiting a refinery plant construction site in the port of Dos Bocas in Tabasco, Mexico, on Saturday. (Samsung Electronics)

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has held talks with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Thursday and visited key locations of Samsung's business ranging from electronics to construction during the four-day Chuseok holiday in South Korea, the tech giant said Monday.

During the talks, the 54-year-old discussed Samsung Electronics' current business affairs in Mexico and the long-term partnership with Samsung and Mexican companies, while expressing an appreciation for the Mexican government's support for Samsung, according to the company.

Lee also sought Obrador's support for Busan's bid to host the Expo 2030, Samsung said in a statement. Busan is one of the candidates for the three-way competition involving Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Rome, Italy. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in August told reporters that Lee would embark on a trip to countries in Europe to win support for Busan's Expo bid.

Samsung's confirmation followed Obrador's Twitter post last week describing Lee and Samsung executives' visit to the National Palace in Mexico City to "talk about Samsung's construction, energy and telecommunication projects" in Mexico.

Joining the dialogue were Samsung Engineering President Choi Sung-an, Samsung Electronics Latin America President Cho Hong-sang and Samsung Engineering Mexico General Director Park Tae-joon.

Alongside the talks, the Samsung heir visited an automotive parts factory run by Samsung-owned Harman International Thursday, as well as Samsung's home appliance plant and a component supplier Daeyoung Electronics' plant in Queretaro, a city some 200 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, on Friday.

Also on Saturday, Lee went to a refinery plant construction site in Dos Bocas Harbor, a project jointly by Samsung Engineering and Mexican state-owned oil company Pemex in the place located 700 kilometers east of Mexico City. The $3.6 billion engineering, procurement and construction contract for Pemex's second-phase of Dos Bocas Refinery project was Samsung Engineering's largest deal of such kind in history.

Mexico was the de facto leader of Samsung's first overseas trip destination since Lee was granted a presidential pardon in August.

Lee's visit heralds a push for Samsung's expansion in Mexico. In July, Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-hee pledged a $500 million investment in Mexico in his talks with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard during his visit to Seoul.

Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong poses for a photo with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at the National Palace of Mexico on Thursday. (Samsung Electronics)

Mexico is home to a Samsung white goods plant, an auto parts plant, as well as a television manufacturing plant in Tijuana, a city bordering with the United States, largely targeting North American market.

Lee has often traveled abroad during Korean holidays like Seollal, a Lunar New Year holiday; and Chuseok, a Korean holiday similar to Thanksgiving. From 2014 until 2020, Lee has been to the US, India, China, Saudi Arabia and Brazil in seven trips.

But Lee has somewhat been away from the public eye, since Lee has been on trial for bribery and embezzlement in 2017. Lee was convicted in January 2021, was released parole in August 2021, and was pardoned a year later.

Following the pardon, Lee went on to visit major Samsung locations in Korea, including semiconductor fabs in Giheung and Hwaseong; Gyeonggi Province; Samsung Engineering Global Engineering Center in eastern Seoul; Samsung Electronics office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Samsung SDS office in southeastern Seoul, and Samsung Human Resources Development Institute in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

The row of Lee's public appearances raises the expectation for Lee's promotion to Chairman, as early as November this year.

Samsung did not confirm when Lee would return to Seoul, but he is to return later this week as the court trial resumes Thursday over his alleged involvement in the controversial merger of Samsung's key affiliates Samsung C＆T and Cheil Industries into a de facto holding company atop of Samsung Electronics.

By Son Ji-hyoung (consnow@heraldcorp.com)