One-on-One Business Meetings Between Companies
Over 40% of U.S. Manufacturing Output Concentrated in the Region
Export Contract Worth 20 Million Dollars Successfully Secured
A platform for Korea-US corporate cooperation has opened in Chicago, the heart of American manufacturing. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) announced on the 17th that they held a Korea-US supply chain cooperation business meeting and seminar as part of the "2025 Global Partnership USA" event program over two days, starting on the 15th (local time).
This event was organized as a large-scale business partnership forum and B2B (business-to-business) meeting, following the agreement between the leaders of both countries on August 25 to strengthen industrial and supply chain cooperation. The focus was on creating tangible opportunities for collaboration between companies.
The Chicago and Midwest region, where the Global Partnership event took place, is a hub for the U.S. machinery, heavy equipment, and automotive industries, accounting for over 40% of U.S. manufacturing output. The area is home to the headquarters and factories of many global companies. On this day, more than 20 leading global automotive, heavy equipment, and energy companies-including General Motors (GM) and CNH Industrial-participated in the business meeting alongside 48 Korean materials, parts, and equipment companies. Together, they conducted over 150 consultations, discussing ways to cooperate in industry and supply chains.
In practice, a Korean company, S, successfully secured a four-year export contract worth 20 million dollars (approximately 27 billion won) for high-precision forged parts with a first-tier supplier of a U.S. automaker. In addition, several Korean companies agreed to further specify future cooperation by signing NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) with potential American partners.
A representative from Yanmar USA, an American participant, said, "We attended the event to find Korean heavy equipment parts companies with outstanding technology and quality," expressing hope that "by identifying new partners, we aim to diversify our supply chain."
On-site, a help desk staffed with customs, legal, and accounting experts was set up to provide consulting support, helping companies respond to the rapidly changing U.S. market environment. At the "U.S. Market Entry Strategy Seminar" held on the 15th, local experts explained the latest information and response strategies regarding customs, investment, and legal matters, while a purchasing manager from a U.S. industrial equipment company, I, presented strategies for entering the global supply chain.
Lee Geumha, head of KOTRA's North America headquarters, stated, "This partnership event was organized to help Korean and American companies find new opportunities and develop industrial and supply chain alliances through mutual cooperation amid a rapidly changing trade environment." He added, "We will do our utmost to help small and medium-sized Korean companies overcome uncertainties and achieve results in the United States, our largest market."
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