KOTRA Targets 'Seven Strategic Industries' in Southeast Asia and Oceania... Expanding Supply Chains in Semiconductors, Shipbuilding, and AI

"KOTRA Trade and Investment Expansion Strategy Meeting" Held in Ho Chi Minh City
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As the paradigm of the global trade order shifts rapidly and the importance of diversifying export markets and supply chains grows, a strategic meeting was held to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asian and Oceania countries, which are core pillars of Korea's exports.

KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) held the "2026 Southeast Asia and Oceania Trade and Investment Expansion Strategy Meeting" on the 21st (local time) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, chaired by President Kyungseong Kang, with the participation of 15 trade center heads from the Southeast Asia and Oceania region. KOTRA

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) announced that on May 21 (local time), it held the "2026 Southeast Asia and Oceania Trade and Investment Expansion Strategy Meeting" in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, hosted by President Kyungseong Kang and attended by 15 heads of trade offices from the Southeast Asia and Oceania region.

During the meeting, participants reviewed export strategies for key industries under the core keyword "ABCDE+2S (AI, Bio, Culture, Defense, Energy + Semiconductors, Shipbuilding)," which encompasses advanced foundational industries and future growth engines. They also decided to expand performance-based initiatives to diversify export and supply chain cooperation.

Southeast Asia, which has risen as one of the world's four major economic blocs, and Oceania, a key region for energy and critical mineral supply chains, hold significant cooperative value for Korea in terms of exports and supply chain stabilization. In fact, exports to Southeast Asia and Oceania last year reached USD 139.7 billion, up 5% from the previous year, accounting for approximately 20% (19.7%) of Korea's total exports.

This year, exports to the region have continued on a solid upward trend. Notably, semiconductor exports—the largest export category—soared by 148% year-on-year in April, driving regional export growth. Southeast Asia is also a hub for Korean manufacturing investments, with 84% of exports to the region consisting of intermediate goods, indicating a closely connected manufacturing supply chain between Korea and these countries.

KOTRA plans to target the young consumer base in Southeast Asia and Oceania by pursuing a premiumization strategy for Korean consumer goods. As of last year, exports of the five major consumer goods categories (food, beauty, household goods, pharmaceuticals, and fashion) to the region reached USD 6.9 billion, accounting for 15% of Korea's total consumer goods exports.

KOTRA will implement a differentiated marketing strategy using halal certification and influencer-driven localization, in collaboration with domestic distribution companies. To continue the success of the "K-Consumer Goods & Distribution Network Showcase" held in April during the presidential visit, comprehensive cultural and industrial export marketing events, such as the "Korean Wave Expo," will be held in Hanoi in July and Melbourne in November, and "Seoul Food in Bangkok" is scheduled for December.

Kang Kyung-sung, President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), is speaking at the “2026 Southeast Asia-Oceania Trade and Investment Expansion Strategy Meeting” held on the 21st (local time) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. KOTRA

KOTRA also aims to actively leverage the demand for digital infrastructure using artificial intelligence (AI) in Southeast Asian and Oceania countries that are striving to become advanced manufacturing nations. For countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Laos—each facing climate and population congestion issues due to rapid growth and urbanization—KOTRA will promote businesses in smart cities, smart farms, M.AX (manufacturing AI transformation), and smart healthcare. To this end, the "Bangkok AI Tech & Smart City Day" will be held in June and the "Australia Smart Farm Roadshow" in August.

In Singapore and Thailand, KOTRA will work with local governments, public healthcare institutions, and vendors to expand entry into the medical public procurement market, tailored to the growing demand for personalized and preventative healthcare. KOTRA also plans to boost K-biohealth industry marketing by participating in local flagship exhibitions and conferences, such as the Singapore Medical Fair.

In line with the spread of geopolitical risks, KOTRA will also broaden exports and cooperation related to proven Korean defense products in Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Australia. The agency plans to strengthen participation in defense exhibitions and G2G cooperation through its regional defense trade offices in Jakarta, Hanoi, and other key locations.

KOTRA also emphasized supply chain cooperation for advanced foundational industries such as semiconductors and shipbuilding and marine, as discussed at summit meetings with countries like Vietnam. Malaysia, responsible for 13% of the world's semiconductor post-processing, and Vietnam, which aspires to become an advanced manufacturing powerhouse, will be key partners for manufacturing supply chain cooperation. Collaboration in shipbuilding and marine will be expanded with Indonesia and Singapore, which are coastal countries along the Strait of Malacca.

Southeast Asia and Oceania are also central to the supply chain for critical minerals and energy in advanced materials, components, and equipment industries. Additionally, demand for power and energy infrastructure investments is growing in Australia, Malaysia, and other countries as global companies establish data centers there. KOTRA plans to support cooperation for the stable supply of critical minerals and energy with these countries, and will also bolster support for Korean companies’ participation in eco-friendly and carbon reduction projects.

Kang Kyungseong, President of KOTRA, stated, "Southeast Asia and Oceania are increasingly valuable as regions where our companies' production bases are combined with vast consumer markets, and as key partners for energy and supply chain stabilization. We will do our utmost to provide on-site support so that export and economic cooperation flows can be connected to business collaboration, focusing on seven strategic industries that match local demand with the strengths of Korean companies."

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