Daegu-Gyeongbuk Trade Promotion Agency Council Held... Strengthening Export Support for Local Companies

Discussion of Local Companies' Challenges Amid Global Economic Uncertainty
Policy Suggestions to Include Customized Consulting and Financial Support

The 2025 first quarter Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Trade Promotion Agency Council was held on the 2nd at the Gumi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The quarterly council, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, aims to revitalize exports and strengthen the competitiveness of local companies. It serves as a forum to discuss ways to discover export support projects and resolve difficulties faced by businesses.

This meeting was jointly hosted by the Gyeongbuk FTA Trade Promotion Center (Gumi Chamber of Commerce and Industry), the Daegu FTA Trade Promotion Center (Daegu Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and the Gyeongbuk Eastern FTA Trade Promotion Center (Pohang Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

Organized quarterly by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, this council aims to revitalize exports and enhance the competitiveness of local companies, serving as a venue to discuss ways to discover export support projects and resolve difficulties faced by businesses.

This meeting drew significant attention from companies as it was held amid a worsening external environment, such as the global economic slowdown and the spread of protectionism.

During the meeting, the Gyeongbuk FTA Trade Promotion Center presented "Current Status of Export Companies in Gyeongsangbuk-do and Trade Risk Analysis," and Han Eunjeong, Team Leader of the Export-Import Company Support Center at Daegu Main Customs, explained the "2025 Export-Import Company Support Plan."

Following this, Lee Areum, Deputy Director of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Branch of the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, presented "Strategies for Entering the Global Market Using Trade Insurance" and introduced support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The meeting also shared major difficulties faced by companies in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, and discussed ways to cooperate among institutions to resolve these issues.

Companies emphasized the need for "expanded support for overseas market development," "alleviation of logistics costs," and "consulting to respond to protectionism," and also requested increased financial support such as "corporate tax reduction," "interest rate cuts," and "wage subsidies."

These opinions will be actively submitted to be reflected in government policies through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association FTA Integrated Support Center.

Yoon Jaeho, Chairman of the Gyeongbuk Chamber of Commerce and Industry Council and the Gumi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized, "Practical support measures must be established so that local companies can enhance their export competitiveness," while Kim Jaehyun, Director of the Gyeongbuk FTA Trade Promotion Center, stated, "We will continue to seek various cooperation measures to resolve business difficulties."