Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry Launches Full-Scale FTA Utilization Support Project

Published 13 Apr.2022 09:43(KST)

Updated 16 Aug.2025 17:41(KST)

Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry Launches Full-Scale FTA Utilization Support Project

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] The Gwangju FTA Utilization Support Center, operated by the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, announced on the 13th that it will officially launch export support projects to help local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized export companies enhance their competitiveness by utilizing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

In particular, this year’s projects will focus on supporting regional export companies regarding the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), which came into effect on February 1.

Established in February 2011 with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Gwangju Metropolitan City, the Gwangju FTA Utilization Support Center will promote 21 projects across 11 fields that companies need to develop overseas sales channels and improve competitiveness this year, including ▲ customized FTA consulting ▲ export-import related employee training ▲ operation of specialized consultation offices ▲ overseas market entry support ▲ issuance of certificates of origin ▲ and FTA professional manpower training projects for specialized high school students.

To this end, the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce plans to assign two resident customs brokers within the FTA Support Center this year and resolve various export-related difficulties faced by local export companies through four external professional customs brokers with extensive field experience.

In particular, to help SMEs and mid-sized companies develop overseas sales channels, the ‘OK FTA Consulting’ program, which has been implemented since last year, will continue this year. It will support 25 companies with the issuance of certificates of origin and acquisition of certified exporter status for each company, and will provide focused consulting separately for key local industries such as machinery, agriculture and fisheries, and food.

Additionally, to provide efficient support for export companies and companies not utilizing FTAs, the center plans to establish a cooperative system with local governments and related export organizations in the region, and conduct FTA investigations and research to devise solutions to export difficulties faced by companies.

Furthermore, the center will offer translation and interpretation services necessary for overseas market entry using FTAs free of charge up to 500,000 KRW per company, and expand catalog production support projects to assist market development for companies that have obtained certified exporter status.

Companies seeking support for FTA-related difficulties or export-import assistance can contact the Gwangju FTA Utilization Support Center.

A representative of the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce said, “This year, with the new enforcement of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), local export companies are facing new opportunities,” adding, “We will carefully carry out support projects such as consulting, education, and issuance of certificates of origin centered on the Gwangju FTA Utilization Support Center so that our export companies can actively utilize FTAs.”