KIAT Supports Developing Countries' Industrial Sites with Quarantine Supplies

Supporting Corporate Production Activities in New Southern and Northern Regions, Latin America, etc. through TASK Project

Seok Young-cheol, President of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology. (Photo by Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Support for quarantine supplies is being promoted for developing country companies facing difficulties such as facility closures due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) announced on the 24th that it will provide quarantine supplies to eight countries, including Cambodia and Ecuador, participating in the Developing Country Production Site Technical Guidance (TASK) project.

On the same day, KIAT shipped a total of about 100,000 health masks to Cambodia (New Southern Policy) and Ecuador (Central and South America), where customs clearance and tax exemption cooperation have been completed.

The supplies will be sent sequentially to the other six countries as soon as tax-exempt customs clearance negotiations are completed.

The masks provided were selected from products certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, produced by domestic small and medium-sized enterprises.

This is expected to serve as an opportunity to promote the excellence of Korean masks in emerging markets.

The TASK project involves Korean corporate technical experts visiting production sites of developing country companies to help resolve local technical difficulties and strengthen technical capabilities, as well as supporting the establishment of business networks between the two countries' companies.

Since 2016, 84 domestic companies have participated, providing technical guidance to 129 companies in 15 countries.

Currently, 51 domestic companies are transferring know-how related to various industrial technologies such as textiles, molds, and automobile parts to 76 companies in eight countries.

Seok Young-cheol, president of KIAT, said, "We decided to support quarantine supplies for the safety of developing country entrepreneurs who are struggling despite the difficult situation caused by COVID-19," adding, "We hope production sites stabilize quickly."

Kim Yong-hwan, CEO of Taehwan Automation Industry and a technical expert active in the TASK project, said, "A lot of trust has been built between companies during the process of directly transferring technology to developing countries," and added, "I hope the day comes soon when we can exchange again on site."

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