KOTRA Achieves Consecutive Export Contracts Through Expanded Video Consultations

Local buyers in India are having video consultations with domestic companies at the South Asia Consumer Goods Online Consultation held over three days starting from the 18th. (Photo by KOTRA)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Cases of successful export contracts through video consultations, which KOTRA began expanding in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), are increasing.

According to KOTRA on the 23rd, diagnostic device manufacturer Company J participated in this video consultation support program and held four video consultations with a medical equipment specialized distributor met at last year's Dubai Medical Devices Exhibition. Subsequently, on the 18th, they signed an export contract for 109 COVID-19 diagnostic devices. They also secured an exclusive supply contract for 14 member countries of the Southern African Development Community, further expanding the scale of diagnostic equipment exports.

South Africa is responding urgently as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 240. KOTRA's Johannesburg Trade Center and Company J conducted several non-face-to-face consultations after preemptively understanding the local medical industry trends, leading to this achievement.

Son Byung-il, Head of KOTRA's Africa Regional Headquarters, said, "We were preparing by identifying local market demand in advance," and added, "This case, which achieved results solely through video consultations, deserves attention."

Daegu-based Company Y, which participated in the 'COVID-19 Overcome South Asia Consumer Goods Video Consultation' held over three days starting on the 18th, is visualizing entry into the Indian market through non-face-to-face consultations. Company Y developed its flagship product, instant tteokbokki, as Halal-certified as well. Company Y, which took part in the video consultation, said, "Being based in Daegu, we faced significant difficulties after COVID-19," and added, "The online pre-held Indian market entry strategy briefing was very helpful, and we want to widely promote our tteokbokki in the Indian market by utilizing KOTRA's emergency branch office service."

During the three-day South Asia consumer goods video consultation, 105 buyers and 265 domestic companies participated, conducting approximately 400 video consultations over three days. Kim Moon-young, Head of KOTRA's South Asia Regional Headquarters, stated, "We will focus on consumer goods items and increase non-face-to-face consultations with local online distribution networks and vendors to keep the export momentum alive."

Meanwhile, KOTRA has supported over 1,000 video consultations as of the 22nd. Moving forward, they plan to diversify supported items and industries by linking with the 'Industry-specific Online Product Halls' established on the B2B export support platform 'buyKOREA,' expanding to sectors such as power equipment, automotive parts, and service industries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.