Yangju, Pocheon, Dongducheon Fostered as 'Global Textile Special Zone Hub'

Gyeonggi-do Enters Phase 2 of Textile, Leather, and Fashion Special Zones with Yangju, Pocheon, and Dongducheon
Linked with Yangpodong Special Zone Delay... 39 Billion Won Invested Over 5 Years

Aerial View of Yangju Textile Industrial Complex [Gyeonggi-do]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has approved a two-year extension of the operation period for the textile, leather, and fashion industry special zones (hereafter, textile special zones) in the three cities of Yangju, Pocheon, and Dongducheon (hereafter, Yangpo-dong). Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province will collaborate with these local governments to develop the area into a global textile special zone hub.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 3rd, "The approved second-phase textile special zone project includes the organization and promotion of specialized projects tailored to global conditions, enabling textile companies in Yangpo-dong to benefit from regulatory exemptions under the regional specialized development special zone."

The province and the Yangpo-dong local governments plan to select and operate 14 detailed projects across four specialized areas through the extension of the special zone: ▲expansion and operation of industrial infrastructure in the special zone ▲activation of export markets ▲advancement of production technology ▲strengthening of industrial support functions.

Previously, in September 2018, Gyeonggi Province and the cities of Yangju, Pocheon, and Dongducheon were designated as the first textile special zones in Korea. Since then, they have promoted support projects for textile manufacturing through an administrative council.

In the first year, last year, 239 jobs were created, and projects to advance technology and modernize aging facilities for textile manufacturers within the special zone were carried out, completing technical support and facility improvements for 20 companies.

Additionally, over the past five years, 173 policy-linked cases involving about 150 companies and 60 patents, including the 'processing device that simultaneously forms fabric wrinkles and patterns,' have been registered. During the Textile Fashion Week, over 200 importers and exporters engaged in consultations, opening overseas sales channels.

Gyeonggi Province and the cities of Yangju, Pocheon, and Dongducheon plan to support local companies in enhancing competitiveness through projects such as advanced and smart textile fashion industry initiatives and shared operation of fashion creative equipment as part of the special zone extension plan.

No Tae-jong, Director of the Specialized Enterprise Support Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Through the second-phase special zone project, we will focus intensive support on advanced upgrading fields to transform textile manufacturing into a carbon-neutral, eco-friendly, high value-added industry," adding, "We will nurture the Yangpo-dong textile special zone into a global textile and fashion brand hub."