Support for Korean Products in Oceania Linked to Martial Arts and K-Pop Concerts... Including Australian Companies

B2B Meeting in Sydney on the 11th... Audience Promotion Event on the 13th and 14th

Buyers Including Australian Hotel Lifestyle Convenience Company 'Eokeom' Participate

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea International Trade Association (KITA), together with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, MBC, and the Foundation for Cooperation between Large, Small Enterprises and Agriculture & Fisheries, announced on the 14th that they held the 'Sydney Hallyu Town' event in Sydney, Australia.

KITA stated that the event, held over four days starting from the 11th, helped domestic excellent small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) enter the Oceania market. The event featured a B2B (business-to-business) export consultation meeting inviting local buyers and a promotional fair targeting consumers.

On the first day, at the Novotel Sydney Olympic Park Hotel, 25 domestic SMEs from sectors such as beauty, household goods, and food participated in the B2B consultation meeting, conducting about 130 export consultations with 60 buyers from Australia and New Zealand. Major buyers participating in the consultations included 'Accom,' which supplies amenities to hotels across Australia, and 'Upcycle,' a comprehensive import and distribution company in New Zealand.

On the 13th and 14th, a B2C (business-to-consumer) promotional fair was held jointly with MBC at the Sydney Qudos Bank Arena. Notably, about 12,000 spectators who came to watch the K-POP concert 'Hallyu Pop Fest Sydney 2022,' held on the same day, visited the promotional fair venue. For products difficult to sell on-site, KITA supported direct purchase through its B2C direct overseas shopping mall 'Kmall24.' A shipping fee discount promotion was also provided.

Kim Hyuncheol, head of KITA's Global Cooperation Division, said, "Since Australia simplified its strict entry procedures last July, the path for our companies to enter the Oceania market has opened." He added, "With the rising popularity of K-pop, K-drama, and more, interest in Korean products is increasing, and we will help Korean companies actively expand overseas through this event." Kim also stated, "In the second half of the year, we plan to continue supporting companies' overseas expansion by holding consultation meetings and promotional fairs in various regions such as Vietnam (Hanoi), Japan (Tokyo), and Indonesia (Jakarta)."