South Korea will host a global forum of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2012 that will discuss ways to improve the world economy, officials said Wednesday.

The OECD Forum on Knowledge Economy will be held in September 2012, involving some 300 government officials, experts and business representatives from around the world, according to the country’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

“The 2012 forum to be held in the country will focus on industrial development of Asian countries, including China and South Korea, that are showing steady growth despite a global economic crisis while also discussing ways to ensure improvement of people’s quality of life and global economic development,” it said in a press release.

The inaugural meeting of the OECD forum comes at a proposal from the Seoul government, which was endorsed earlier this month by the OECD Committee on Industry, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“Hosting of the forum will provide a valuable opportunity for South Korea to further improve its image and role in the international community and also lead the shift in the global economic paradigm by promoting its successful policies,” the ministry said. (Yonhap News)