SaKong Il, chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as President Lee Myung-bak’s special envoy from Wednesday through Sunday, KITA said Tuesday.

Some 2,500 people from 90 countries including about 30 heads of states, 80 minister-level officials, 20 heads of international organizations, chief executives of private companies and academics are expected to attend the annual conference themed “the Great Transformation: Shaping New Models.”

SaKong will discuss global economic issues with other participants in an open session and three closed sessions of an Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders, KITA said.

In a session led by Mexican President Felipe Calderon on preparing the agenda of the upcoming G20 summit in Mexico, SaKong will take part as a discussion leader to share Seoul’s experience.

SaKong is also scheduled to give a congratulatory speech at a “Korea Night” event hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries on Thursday.

After the WEF, SaKong will visit Brussels and Paris to exchange views on the European financial crisis with the officials of the European Union and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to KITA.

(sophie@heraldcorp.com)