Naju Pear Special Zone Selected as 'Best Special Zone' in Regional Special Zone Evaluation

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Jeonnam’s ‘Naju Pear Industry Special Zone’ has been selected as the top regional special zone nationwide in the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ regional special zone evaluation.

The city announced on the 4th that the Naju Pear Special Zone was selected as the best special zone in the 2021 Regional Specialized Development Special Zone evaluation hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, receiving the Presidential Citation and a prize of 200 million KRW.

A regional special zone is a system where a basic local government designates a certain area as a special zone to apply regulatory exemptions while promoting specialized projects to revitalize the local economy.

Since 2010, the city has designated about 29 million square meters of pear orchard cultivation area in Geumcheon-myeon as a pear industry special zone, aiming to improve farmers’ income and revitalize the local economy through the advancement of the Naju pear industry.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups recently held the 51st Regional Specialized Development Special Zone Committee meeting to evaluate and announce the performance of 195 regional special zones nationwide.

In this evaluation, conducted in three stages?document review, on-site inspection, and presentation?the Naju Pear Special Zone achieved the great success of being designated the best special zone by receiving high scores in areas such as achievement of special zone goals, regulatory exemptions, specialized projects, and excellent cases of special zone operation.

In particular, this year’s evaluation included 50 public evaluators in addition to existing private special zone committee members, which is expected to further promote the excellence of the Naju pear industry.

Among the evaluation items, the special zone operation excellence cases such as ‘COVID-19 response efforts and achievements,’ ‘export activation,’ and ‘R&D and processed food development’ received favorable reviews across the board.

In March last year, the city supported 2,200 boxes of pear juice, which is highly effective for respiratory health, as consolation goods for residents in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions where COVID-19 cases surged, in cooperation with local agricultural cooperatives, civic groups, and the city council.

Additionally, through non-face-to-face initiatives such as the ‘drive-thru agricultural products market,’ ‘strengthening online sales activities on integrated shopping malls,’ ‘supporting delivery fees for Namdo Market tenants, the first in the province,’ and ‘introducing Naver live commerce,’ the annual sales of the shopping mall increased by 16.2% compared to the previous year.

As consumers’ choices expanded and trust with producers deepened, it is evaluated that the activation of Naju pear purchases and the recovery of the local economy were achieved even amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The ‘globalization of Naju pears,’ which began with overseas export market expansion from Taiwan in 1967, is also progressing smoothly.

Naju pears have expanded export routes to 11 countries including the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina, exporting an average of about 2,800 tons annually since 2018, achieving export profits worth 26.6 billion KRW.

‘Bae Juice,’ made from 100% Naju pears, has gained fame for its hangover relief effects and has been listed in 959 stores of ‘Woolworths,’ Australia’s largest distribution network, since last year, achieving export sales of 2.85 billion KRW with 76 tons shipped so far.

Additionally, with a 4 million USD MOU for Naju pear exports to the United States and production of 2,918 tons of gibberellin-free pears, large pears are supplied to the domestic market during the Lunar New Year holiday, while small pears are exported to the United States, Taiwan, and Vietnam, improving farmers’ income and restoring the reputation of high-quality Naju pears.

The city has started joint development of pear wine with Bohae Brewery Co., Ltd. and the Naju Natural Color Industry Support Center, preparing for commercialization, and supplies 165 tons of pear raw materials annually for processing, used as ingredients in McDonald’s ‘Pear Chiller’.

Focusing on creating added value through processed food development, the city has developed and launched four types of pear processed beverages (slush, ade, shaved ice with red beans, and yogurt) tailored to young consumers’ preferences.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “Taking the opportunity of being selected as the best special zone, we will strive to diversify Naju pear varieties, modernize production facilities, practice GAP production techniques, register Naju pears as a nationally important agricultural heritage, and create cultural value through the operation of the pear museum. We will do our best to enhance the reputation of the Naju Pear Industry Special Zone, the nation’s largest pear production area, and foster it as an industry leading the local economy.”

Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong bong2910@asiae.co.kr

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