KOTRA Declares the Inaugural Year of Digital Trade, Making Export Accessible to Everyone

Digital Trade Workforce, 1st Cohort Launch Ceremony for Corporate Training Program

[Asia Economy Reporter Sunmi Park] KOTRA held the launch ceremony for the Digital Trade Workforce and Enterprise Development Project at its headquarters in Yeomgok-dong on the 6th, expressing its commitment to creating an era where anyone can export.

Over 150 young job seekers, entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will participate in the 8-week program. KOTRA plans to expand the project this year with the goal of nurturing 800 digital trade professionals and enterprises. Recruitment for the second phase of the development project (April-May) is scheduled to be announced in March. Any young job seekers, entrepreneurs, or SMEs interested in digital trade can participate.

At the launch ceremony, KOTRA declared the inaugural year of "Digital Trade Where Anyone Can Export." In his opening remarks, KOTRA President Jung-Yeol Yoo stated, "If we build an export ecosystem where companies and buyers can conduct transactions independently through digital trade, we can open a shortcut to an era where anyone can export. Through DEXTER, we will strive to enable all citizens to engage in digital trade and develop DEXTER as the central axis of digital trade."

DEXTER refers to the "Digital Trade Comprehensive Support Center" operated by KOTRA. Since last year, it has been operating in Seoul (headquarters), Daejeon (DCC 2nd Exhibition Hall), and Gyeongbuk (Gumi Chamber of Commerce and Industry). DEXTER consists of ▲ K-Studio, which produces digital content ▲ Digital Marketing Room, which provides marketing education and practice ▲ Digital Trade Consultation Room, where sellers and buyers conduct business consultations ▲ Open Space, where DEXTER users can network for business. By 2027, 30 centers will be established nationwide.

To enable digital trade accessible to all citizens, KOTRA also operates four major platforms: ▲ Trade-Investment 24 ▲ Overseas Market Information Dream ▲ BuyKorea ▲ TryBig. These platforms support SMEs in essential trade processes such as selecting export items and targeting countries, creating digital content and online product pages, and discovering and communicating with potential overseas buyers through digital marketing practice, helping them build their capabilities.