Government Provides Close Support to Resolve Difficulties for Korean Companies Entering the Middle East Market

Kukpyowon Holds Middle East Technical Regulations and Overseas Certification Briefing
Additional Briefings Planned for Halal Food, Cosmetics, and More

The government is stepping up support for Korean companies' exports to the Middle East following high-level diplomatic exchanges between Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On the 26th, the Overseas Certification Support Team of the National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it held a briefing session to provide regulatory information such as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) certifications and to resolve difficulties faced by companies in exporting to the Middle East. The number of items that can obtain overseas certification domestically will also be expanded to more than 30.

An official from the National Institute of Technology and Standards stated, “Korean export companies have faced many challenges entering the Middle East due to a lack of information on technical regulations in the region, language barriers, and complex certification systems. To address these issues, the briefing introduced key certification systems essential for exporting electrical and electronic products to Middle Eastern countries, in cooperation with certification experts such as the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) and TUV.”

Major overseas certifications for Middle Eastern countries include the mandatory ‘GSO Certification,’ which is jointly operated for safety and quality management of products in six GCC countries including Saudi Arabia and Yemen; the ‘ECAS Certification’ aimed at safety and quality management of electrical, electronic products, and food in the UAE; the UAE quality mark ‘EQM Certification’; and Saudi Arabia’s product safety program called the ‘Saleem Program.’

The Overseas Certification Support Team operated consultation booths at the briefing to provide customized consulting for companies struggling with exports to the Middle East. Starting with this briefing on the electrical and electronic sector, additional sessions on halal food, cosmetics, and other products for the Middle East will be held.

Jin Jong-wook, Director of the National Institute of Technology and Standards, said, “We plan to expand the number of items that can obtain overseas certification domestically to more than 30 and provide close support to resolve companies’ difficulties related to overseas certification at export sites through various activities, including operating a ‘Comprehensive Overseas Certification Support Portal.’”

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