Yoon Boo-keun, one of three CEOs at Samsung Electronics, on Monday gave a speech on the Korean tech giant’s innovation efforts at the Government Summit, one of the largest business gatherings in the Middle East.

The annual forum, held in Dubai, was hosted by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai.

Yoon, Samsung’s consumer electronics division chief, became the first Korean CEO to be invited to the annual event, a gathering of where some 3,000 government officials and opinion leaders in the region. 

According to Samsung, the CEO opened his speech by pointing out that both Samsung and Arab names have made progress through challenges and innovations over the past decades.

He introduced diverse innovation efforts for products, management and people at Samsung.

In particular, he cited Samsung’s strong will to get out of the safe zone and eagerness to find solutions as the key factors for innovation.

Yoon also stressed the role of the Internet of Things technology in creating future opportunities, urging partnership among industries and governments.

“I myself was greatly inspired by the innovation efforts of Dubai,” Yoon said in a statement. “Samsung will continue to share experience and vision with Arab nations and to expand ties among us.”

He added that Samsung will secure more business clients for new products like system air conditioners in the region, which has a population of 370 million people.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)