K-Smart Farms Expand to the Global South... Roadshow Held in Indonesia and Malaysia

Export Roadshow in Southeast Asia from September 15 to 19
Korean Delegation Formed for Collaboration with Local Companies
Strong Interest in Korean-Style AI and Digital-Based Solutions

Korean smart farms are expanding beyond the Middle East and Australia to enter the Global South region.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) will host the 'Southeast Asia Smart Farm Export Roadshow' in Indonesia and Malaysia from September 15 to 19, following a previous event in Toronto, Canada, on September 8.

Korea's exports to ASEAN have surpassed those to the United States during July and August, positioning the region as a key alternative market amid high tariff environments. KOTRA has organized this roadshow to foster smart farms as a new export industry in Indonesia and Malaysia, two major countries in the Global South.

During the roadshow, a delegation of ten domestic companies specializing in smart farm control, facilities, and equipment will participate in local smart farm cooperation seminars, one-on-one B2B meetings, and on-site visits. In Indonesia, Hotman Fajar, Director General of Agricultural High Value-Added Development under the Ministry of Agriculture, will attend, while in Malaysia, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Agricultural Development Authority will join to discuss project-based cooperation plans with Korean companies and the Rural Development Administration.

KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) building. Provided by KOTRA.

Malaysia and Indonesia are highly dependent on trade with the United States, with the U.S. ranking as their second-largest export destination. However, with mutual tariffs with the U.S. set at 19 percent, both countries are eager to diversify their trading partners. Given the significant contribution of agriculture to GDP and population, there is also strong interest in improving productivity through Korean-style AI and digital-based smart farms.

In particular, the Prabowo Subianto administration in Indonesia has established a National Nutrition Agency and is pursuing policies to expand self-sufficiency in major crops to strengthen food security. Similarly, Malaysia is expanding the adoption of smart farm technologies through its National Agro-Food Policy (NAP 2.0) to increase its food self-sufficiency rate by 2030, creating new opportunities for Korean companies.

KOTRA Vice President and Head of Innovation Growth Headquarters Kim Myunghee said, "The ASEAN region has emerged as a key alternative market following the U.S. high tariff measures, serving as a forward base for exports of new industries such as smart farms. We will work with domestic and international partners to connect policy demand to tangible export results through package marketing that combines technology and infrastructure."