Cooperation Strengthened in the Middle East... 'Smart Farm' Exports More Than Double

This year, exports of intelligent farms (smart farms) have more than doubled compared to last year. The government attributed this to strengthened intergovernmental cooperation, mainly in the Middle East region.

On the 26th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the cumulative export value of smart farms reached $283 million as of November this year, a 168% increase compared to the same period last year.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs evaluated, "The government identified the demand from the Middle East region, which prioritizes food security, and made multifaceted policy efforts to position the Middle East as a key market for smart farm exports. As a result, the overseas expansion base for our smart farm companies has greatly expanded."

Smart Farm Overview (Reference Photo)

In January this year, during President Yoon Seok-yeol's state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs promoted the pioneering of new markets in the Middle East by signing three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between smart farm companies. Subsequently, the third shuttle economic cooperation delegation was dispatched to Saudi Arabia, and the first smart farm-focused trade office was established (September 12) to provide local information needed by export companies and support the discovery of order projects, thereby creating a support system for export companies. In Qatar, a Korean Smart Agriculture Exhibition Hall was set up within the Doha International Horticultural Expo to disseminate Korea's excellent smart agriculture technology. Additionally, the intergovernmental smart farm cooperation MOU was revised to establish a working-level cooperation committee, laying the foundation for expanded cooperation between the two countries. The Ministry also held five brown bag meetings with Middle East experts to understand and strategize for targeting the Middle East region.

Based on these government efforts, tangible results were achieved with 13 corporate MOUs worth a total of $95 million signed. The Ministry explained that, supported by the government's strengthened Middle East diplomacy since the beginning of the year, large-scale contracts are being concluded mainly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Next year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to expand industry support by focusing on establishing smart farm export hubs in the Middle East, strengthening intergovernmental cooperation, and promoting new projects. In the first half of next year, as a follow-up to high-level diplomacy with Qatar, the first Smart Farm Cooperation Committee will be held to concretize Korea-Qatar agricultural technology cooperation plans, and MOUs with GCC countries will be pursued to lay the groundwork for revitalizing private investment.

Additionally, the smart farm-focused trade office currently established in Saudi Arabia will be further designated, and in cooperation with the Saudi government, a pilot greenhouse capable of demonstrating K-Smart Farm technology will be created locally. Beyond supporting the export industry, the Ministry plans to implement multifaceted policies to support export companies, including promoting preferential trade insurance for smart farm companies in collaboration with related agencies.

Yoon Won-seup, Director of Agricultural Innovation Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "This year, our companies actively entered the Middle East market, confirming the high interest and determination of Middle Eastern countries to overcome unfavorable climatic conditions through smart agriculture. Starting with the Middle East, we will spare no policy support to expand exports so that Korea's smart agriculture technology can spread worldwide."

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