KOTRA, led by President Kang Kyung-sung, has initiated a "Trade Structure Innovation Task Force" to strategize for an era aimed at achieving $1 trillion in exports. The first plenary meeting of this task force took place on the 10th.
Directly overseen by President Kang, the task force was established to strategically respond to the evolving trade landscape and support the new administration's initiatives in trade and investment. President Kang outlined key strategic priorities: diversifying export markets and products, transforming domestic SMEs into export-oriented companies, addressing environmental and trade barriers, and stabilizing supply chains. He emphasized leveraging all available resources, including 131 overseas trade offices, to accomplish these objectives.
The focus on diversifying export markets and products includes enhancing K-culture, digital services, defense, shipbuilding, and AI as core export industries and targeting new markets such as the Global South. Special attention will be given to increasing exports in the cultural and service sectors, which are less susceptible to tariff conflicts.
Efforts will be made to nurture domestic SMEs into global exporters, establishing a foundation for Korea to rank among the top five exporting nations. This aims to create a positive cycle where exports stimulate domestic demand. The government plans to enhance its support systems to address logistical challenges, a significant hurdle for export companies.
Furthermore, the government will bolster capacity-building for SMEs to effectively navigate environmental trade barriers like RE100 and ESG standards and will focus on strengthening economic security by stabilizing essential material supply chains.
President Kang emphasized the urgency of innovating trade structures amidst rapid global trade shifts, committing KOTRA's full support to achieving the administration's trade and investment targets, including the $1 trillion export goal.
Additionally, in response to the new government’s inception, President Kang has reiterated three significant expectations for all KOTRA employees: maintaining strict work discipline, utilizing all organizational capabilities to fulfill the government’s trade and investment pledges, and enhancing communication with related government bodies, including the National Assembly. These expectations were reinforced during the meeting.
