KOTRA "Introducing Korea's Excellent Aviation Technology"

Operating a Promotional Booth and Hosting Consultation Sessions at the US Heli Expo

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA operated a Korean promotional pavilion and held consultation meetings between our defense companies and major buyers at the 'HAI Heli-Expo 2024,' held for three days from the 27th of last month at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, USA.

KOTRA Headquarters Exterior. Photo by Asia Economy DB

Heli-Expo is a global exhibition leading the market for helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle-related materials, parts, equipment, and solutions. This year, more than 600 companies from over 90 countries, including Boeing, Bell, and Lockheed Martin, participated.

At this exhibition, KOTRA selected 10 small and medium-sized enterprises with high technological capabilities in aircraft parts, materials, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles to operate the promotional pavilion. Approximately 160 prominent buyers, including major system companies, were identified and pre-matched. As a result, a total of 147 one-on-one consultations took place on-site.

Kim Ho-sung, head of KOTRA's Defense Materials Trade Support Center, stated, "To target the U.S. market, which accounts for about 40% of global defense spending, we will actively support the entry of our small and medium-sized enterprises into the global supply chain in the aviation sector."

After operating the Korean promotional pavilion, KOTRA plans to continuously monitor the consultation results of participating companies to ensure they lead to tangible contract outcomes. Additionally, through invitations to the Korea Defense & Security Export Comprehensive Consultation Meeting (KODAS) and other events, KOTRA will actively support follow-up consultations.