KOTRA Offices in 82 Countries Open Free of Charge to Small and Medium Enterprises

127 Offices with 1,537 Open Seats
Utilizing the Overseas Expansion Complex Support Center

KOTRA announced on the 7th that it will open its 127 overseas trade offices in 82 countries worldwide as free offices for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies.

KOTRA Jakarta Trade Center Seminar Room. [Photo by KOTRA]

According to KOTRA, the decision to open all trade offices was made reflecting overseas demand from companies under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 'Global Export One Team Korea' support policy.

The total office space to be opened amounts to 4,725㎡ (approximately 1,430 pyeong). A total of 1,537 seats can be used simultaneously.

With this measure, companies will be able to conduct not only work but also buyer consultations, showcases, and other marketing events at their overseas business trip destinations.

Trade offices in Iraq and Ukraine, designated as travel-restricted countries and where it is difficult to find office space, will also be opened to companies that have received government travel approval. Syria and Lebanon are excluded from the opening.

KOTRA began by opening six trade offices including Hanoi, Vietnam, and Jakarta, Indonesia in 2018, and has established separate office spaces and completed interior work in a total of 12 trade offices.

This year, eight additional cities including Silicon Valley in the United States, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Singapore will be added to create shared office spaces similar to WeWork.

Companies can use the open trade office facilities as well as the Overseas Marketing One Loop. Through this, they can receive export support services such as local market information, financial and legal advice, and startup-related consulting.

The Overseas Marketing One Loop refers to a system where export support organizations dispatch staff to trade offices and combine the trade office infrastructure, network, and the expertise of the dispatched organizations to support export companies.

Applications to use the trade offices can be made through the KOTRA website and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Gongu Nuri platform.

Yoo Jung-yeol, President of KOTRA, said, "Although Korea ranks 8th in the world in export volume as of last year, the overseas on-site infrastructure for exports is relatively limited, so we will continue to expand the opening of trade offices."