KOTRA Strengthens On-Site Support to Foster Mid-Sized Companies as the "Regional Export Backbone"

Visited 40 Regional Companies Last Month
Export Briefings Held in Suwon, Busan, and Other Cities

Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) has launched on-site, hands-on export support initiatives for mid-sized companies, which are considered key drivers of regional economic growth. KOTRA announced on May 4 that, following the selection of 301 companies for its "Global Support Program for Mid-Sized Companies" in March, it has been intensively visiting mid-sized companies in local regions and holding a series of briefing sessions up until last month, all aimed at practically enhancing their export competitiveness.

KOTRA held a briefing session on supporting exports of medium-sized enterprises and current issues in Busan last April. KOTRA

Last month, in its bid to foster mid-sized companies as "global champions," KOTRA visited more than 40 such companies across various regions. The agency focused on identifying practical measures to maximize export outcomes based on on-the-ground feedback from these visits.

Among the companies visited were Company S in Busan, specializing in liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship systems, and Company H in Gwangju, a leader in machine tools. Leveraging KOTRA’s support services, both firms are accelerating their technological advancement. By adopting artificial intelligence (AI) optimization solutions and other innovations, they are expanding beyond their traditional core sectors into high value-added advanced industries such as defense, aerospace, and healthcare, thereby broadening their global market presence.

Three briefing sessions were also held in Suwon, Busan, and Seoul. More than 130 companies participated in these sessions, where topics included: an outlook and response strategies for the Middle East conflict; approaches to U.S. tariffs; and strategies for entering promising alternative markets. In addition, one-on-one customized consulting services were provided.

Kang Sangyeop, Vice President and Head of the SME Division at KOTRA, stated, "Some companies have found it challenging to engage in active overseas marketing and to maintain logistics and buyer relationships due to uncertainties such as the Middle East conflict and U.S. tariffs." He added, "We will reflect the feedback we've gathered in our support services, and by leveraging our overseas network, we are committed to not only supporting export marketing but also suggesting alternative markets by product, addressing export inquiries, and resolving challenges faced by exporters."

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