Five-Year Project Bears Fruit After Overcoming the Pandemic
Korea Multicultural Foundation Plays a Decisive Role in Cooperation
Sungwon Co., Ltd. (Sungwon Microorganisms), a leading domestic company specializing in agricultural microorganisms, has recently secured its first official order from the VFARM Agricultural - High - Tech - Geo - Ecological Cooperative in Vietnam. With this achievement, the company has taken its first significant step toward the ambitious goal of exporting over 100 tons within two years.
At the local site in Vietnam, Kwon Yul, CEO of Sungwon Co., Ltd., is explaining the business related to Korean Sungwon microorganisms. Korea Multicultural Foundation
This contract is the result of five years of effort since the Vietnamese government granted product registration approval in 2019. Although exports were repeatedly thwarted due to a combination of external factors, including the pandemic, delays in establishing a local distribution network, and cultural barriers, the company finally succeeded in concluding an official supply contract through strategic negotiations after product re-approval in 2024.
The first order consists of 10 tons of natural complex microorganisms for agricultural use, as well as approximately 30,000 pieces of equipment needed for local cultivation and operation, such as bottles, containers, and aeration kits. The full payment for the supply has already been completed, and the shipped products are expected to arrive at Hai Phong Port in Vietnam within about seven weeks.
The Korea Multicultural Foundation played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in securing this contract. By providing multifaceted consulting and support in administration, culture, and distribution within Vietnam, the foundation served as a decisive bridge in building a trust-based partnership between Sungwon Microorganisms and VFARM. This public-private cooperation model is also noteworthy as a case of a domestic small and medium-sized enterprise expanding overseas.
VFARM is a state-run agricultural cooperative headquartered in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and is pursuing eco-friendly, high-tech, and sustainable agriculture as its core vision.
Sungwon Microorganisms’ natural complex strains have been recognized for their ability to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides while restoring soil and improving crop productivity. As such, they are seen as a perfect fit for Vietnam’s eco-friendly agricultural policies.
Sungwon is currently expanding its market research for its products throughout Vietnam and is also upgrading its production infrastructure and logistics system with the goal of exporting 100 tons of microbial powder within the next two years.
This move is more than a simple export; it serves as a “testbed” to gauge the potential for Korean agricultural biotechnology to spread throughout Southeast Asia.
Kwon Yul, CEO of Sungwon Co., Ltd., stated, “This export is a meaningful achievement that comes after long patience and preparation. It will serve as a collaborative model for transitioning to sustainable agriculture, going beyond mere product sales.” He added, “Based on the trust established with the Vietnamese government and partner organizations, we will seek to expand throughout Southeast Asia in the future.”
He further emphasized, “This export would have been absolutely impossible without the administrative and cultural mediation of the Korea Multicultural Foundation. We will do our utmost to ensure responsible follow-up so that this can serve as a model case of public-private cooperation.”
Meanwhile, Sungwon Microorganisms is using this achievement as a foothold to pursue supply agreements in Indonesia, Thailand, and other countries, further strengthening its position as a key company leading the spread of microorganism-based eco-friendly agricultural materials in the ASEAN market.
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