Opening of Sejong FTA Utilization Support Center... "Promoting FTA Use, Contributing to Export Recovery"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 26th that it will open the Sejong FTA Utilization Support Center (Sejong Center) to strengthen export competitiveness by promoting the use of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies.

The Sejong Center will play roles such as issuing certificates of origin necessary for companies to utilize FTAs, providing consultations and consulting related to third-party verification, offering FTA specialized training for current employees, holding briefings for CEOs, providing export-import information, and coordinating policies with related organizations.

In particular, the center will focus on support projects for vulnerable companies facing difficulties in utilizing FTAs. This year, it plans to actively identify companies not utilizing FTAs, especially in the chemical industry sector where FTA utilization is low.

Additionally, through a survey of export companies, the center will identify the actual status of FTA utilization, industry difficulties, and areas for improvement, provide related information to companies, and establish the center’s mid- to long-term operational direction.

Since 2011, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has designated and operated 18 FTA Utilization Support Centers in 16 metropolitan cities and provinces. With an annual budget of about 5 billion KRW, it has provided FTA certificate of origin and third-party verification consulting to approximately 4,000 companies annually, and conducted practical FTA training and CEO briefings for about 15,000 people each year.

Kim Hyung-joo, Director of Domestic Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "Amid the spread of COVID-19 and growing forecasts of a global economic crisis, with the reality of export sluggishness and contraction of the real economy, we expect the Sejong Center to contribute to export recovery by promoting FTA utilization as a partner for regional companies."

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