Korea Photonics Industry Promotion Association Opens 'Export Path' by Supporting Joint Booths at Overseas Exhibitions

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] The Korea Photonics Industry Promotion Association is accelerating the overseas market entry of small and medium-sized enterprises, which had been sluggish due to COVID-19, by operating joint pavilions at promising overseas exhibitions such as the Dubai Medical Devices Exhibition and the U.S. Optical Exhibition to support the marketing of domestic photonics convergence companies.

From the 24th to the 27th of last month, the Promotion Association organized a joint pavilion with 13 domestic photomedical industry companies at the Dubai Medical Devices Exhibition, one of the world's top three medical device exhibitions, achieving a total performance of 10.3 million USD through marketing activities focused on quarantine and beauty & healthcare products, which are of high interest to overseas buyers in the Middle East region.

At the Dubai Medical Devices Exhibition joint pavilion, participating company 'The Intact' signed a business agreement worth approximately 10 million USD on-site with QLICKHEALTH, a Qatari medical company, to supply the spatial disinfection system 'Doctor Rain' during the Qatar World Cup period.

A company representative stated, “Ahead of the Qatar World Cup, there has been a flood of product inquiries in the Middle East market due to the successful K-quarantine marketing effect,” adding, “We are pleased to have found a breakthrough for entering the Middle East market through the Dubai Medical Devices Exhibition.”

At the Arab Health joint pavilion, participating company 'Otom' invited buyers from Iran and France to the pavilion and signed supply contracts totaling 200,000 USD, while LinkOptics also signed a supply contract worth 100,000 USD with a Russian buyer company.

The Promotion Association operated a joint pavilion with 12 domestic optical and optical communication companies at the United States' largest optical exhibition, the U.S. Optical Exhibition, concluding export contracts totaling 4.59 million USD with overseas buyers from the Americas and Europe who showed high interest in optical lenses and laser-related products.

RMI Tech received supply requests for more than 3 million USD worth of infrared optical material ZnSe (zinc selenide) products from overseas laser and infrared optical lens manufacturers, including ULO Optic in the UK, a buyer linked by the Promotion Association.

Philophos achieved tangible results by receiving cooperation inquiries from major overseas companies such as Topcon, Nidek, and Alcon, as well as supply requests for optical coherence tomography (OCT) components from several universities and developers, including Washington State University.

Due to COVID-19 quarantine measures, the exhibition organizers prioritized the safety of visitors and participants by implementing vaccine pass checks inside the exhibition hall, mandatory mask-wearing, provision of hand sanitizers, continuous disinfection of the exhibition hall, and social distancing.

The Promotion Association provided COVID-19 antigen self-test kits and masks for daily checks, supported pre-booking and testing fees for PCR tests before entry, and strictly adhered to quarantine guidelines such as self-isolation after entry.

The Promotion Association operates more than five joint pavilions annually at overseas exhibitions in fields such as optical communication, photomedical, and optical materials & components. Going forward, it plans to continue supporting the overseas expansion and market growth of domestic photonics convergence companies through exhibitions such as the U.S. Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) in March, Singapore's Communic Asia in June, Europe's ECOC in September, and Germany's Light & Building architectural lighting fair in October.

Additionally, through the '365 Non-face-to-face Comprehensive Situation Room' operated by the Promotion Association since last year, continuous post-management of consultation connections and export contract achievements between joint pavilion participating companies and overseas buyers is conducted. Promising overseas buyers discovered at each exhibition will be invited to the 2022 International Photonics Convergence Business Fair (August) and the 20th International Photonics Convergence Industry Exhibition and Conference (November), both held domestically.

Cho Yong-jin, the full-time vice chairman, stated, “We have laid the groundwork for domestic companies' overseas expansion through customized overseas marketing support in preparation for the upcoming post-COVID era,” adding, “We will further encourage the overseas expansion of stagnant domestic companies and strive to secure global competitiveness and increase sales for domestic photonics convergence companies.”

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