'Supports FTA Activities'... Gyeonggi-do Supports Export Competitiveness of SMEs

Expanded to 4,970 Companies This Year... Targeting Companies with Sales Under 150 Billion Won

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gyeonggi Province is stepping up to support export competitiveness by assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the province that face difficulties utilizing FTAs.

According to the province on the 18th, the 'FTA Utilization Support' project helps SMEs develop overseas sales channels and competitiveness by providing various FTA-related agreements and practical consulting through the Gyeonggi FTA Support Center.

This year, a total of over 700 million KRW will be invested to support approximately 4,970 companies. The scope has been expanded from companies with average annual sales under 30 billion KRW to those under 150 billion KRW (based on manufacturing), allowing more SMEs to benefit.

As non-face-to-face B2C (Business-to-Customer) marketing is expected to strengthen, support will be provided for online platform entry training focused on advancing into countries with FTAs.

Additionally, 570 companies will receive demand-oriented 'FTA Utilization 1:1 Customized Consulting' to resolve specialized and diversified export-related difficulties such as import-export customs duties and certificates of origin.

In particular, the FTA utilization rate of 60 companies that have not used FTAs will be increased, and trade promotion delegations targeting India, Vietnam, China, North America, and the ASEAN region will be held five times.

In cases where export contracts are actually concluded, support will be provided up to the issuance of certificates of origin and acquisition of certified exporters.

Ryu Gwang-yeol, Director of the Economic Office, stated, "In the rapidly changing trade environment such as the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and the activation of non-face-to-face trade, the role of the Gyeonggi FTA Center is becoming increasingly important," adding, "We will strengthen systematic and customized support for SMEs in the province with new FTA enactments."

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