Jeollanam-do Accelerates Toward $1 Billion in Agri-Food Exports

Digital Trade Support Center "Dexter" Begins Operation
Supporting Export Product Content Creation and Overseas Market Expansion

Officials are taking a commemorative photo after the opening ceremony of Dexter. Provided by Jeonnam Province

On June 24, Jeollanam-do and KOTRA held the opening ceremony for the digital trade support center "Jeonnam Dexter (deXter)" in Naju Innovation City, marking the first step toward building a digital export ecosystem with the goal of achieving $1 billion in agri-food exports as soon as possible.

The ceremony was attended by Myung Changhwan, Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs of Jeollanam-do; Lee Junghoon, Vice President of KOTRA and Head of the Digital Trade and Investment Division; Ahn Sanghyun, Vice Mayor of Naju; Kim Kyungho, CEO of Namdo Marketplace Foundation; Lee Sunghui, President of Jeonnam Small and Medium Business and Job Economy Promotion Agency; Lee Wooseung, Director of Jeonnam Center for Creative Economy and Innovation; Han Mooncheol, President of Jeonnam Food Export Association; Woo Hyungyu, President of Namdo Agro-Fisheries Food Export Association; professors from Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University; and representatives of export companies, totaling about 50 participants.

Jeonnam Dexter is a digital-based trade support infrastructure jointly established by KOTRA and Jeollanam-do. Its services include: production of export product content (photos and videos) and registration on buyKOREA; support for discovering promising buyers through digital marketing; training of local digital trade professionals; and education on generative artificial intelligence (AI) and trade entrepreneurship.

Jeonnam Dexter will provide one-stop support services for all processes?including product photography, content production, entry into global platforms, buyer discovery, and export consultations?to producer organizations of agricultural and fishery products, agricultural and fishery corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and companies registered on Namdo Marketplace (about 2,000 companies).

In addition, by collaborating with local universities, Jeonnam Dexter will foster young digital trade talent and serve as a trade entrepreneurship hub by providing office space and consulting to those seeking employment or starting a business.

Jeollanam-do expects that, through Jeonnam Dexter, the province will emerge as a leading region in digital trade and establish a turning point in its export support strategy. In particular, the province plans to strengthen connections with global online markets (such as Amazon and Alibaba) and pursue diversification of exports based on both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions.

Vice President Lee Junghoon stated, "Jeonnam Dexter will be a solid platform for companies to strengthen their export capabilities in the era of digital transformation," and added, "We will establish an integrated support system at Jeonnam Dexter that connects various regional export support programs to encompass both exports and entrepreneurship."

Vice Governor Myung Changhwan said, "I hope Dexter will become the digital hub of Jeonnam's exports and a new trade platform where both young people and companies can grow together," and continued, "Jeollanam-do will actively support companies' global digital export challenges and establish a comprehensive support system for aspiring entrepreneurs to enter overseas markets."

Jeollanam-do has set a goal of achieving $1 billion in agricultural and fishery food exports by 2026. In 2024, export volume reached $778.83 million, a 23.3% increase from the previous year and the highest figure ever recorded.