Gumi SMEs Achieve USD 14.06 Million in Export Consultations at Thailand Expo

Accelerating Entry into the Southeast Asian Market

USD 350,000 in Contracts and MOUs Signed at the Bangkok Manufacturing Expo

USD 66.57 Million in Cumulative Export Consultations Over Three Years

Gumi City in North Gyeongsang Province is accelerating the development of export channels by achieving results in overseas marketing support aimed at expanding local small and medium-sized enterprises' entry into the Southeast Asian market.

Gumi City announced that from June 17 to 20, it participated in the 'Manufacturing Expo 2026' held in Bangkok, Thailand, alongside five local SMEs, achieving a total of USD 14.06 million in export consultations.

(Left) Commemorative photo for participating in the 'Manufacturing Expo 2026 Bangkok, Thailand' (Right) On-site consultation booth at the 'Manufacturing Expo 2026 Bangkok, Thailand'
[Photo by Gumi City]

Participating companies included API Co., Ltd., a specialist in plasma equipment, as well as Youngjin Astec Co., Ltd., Willbee, NPK Co., Ltd., and Npack Co., Ltd., all of which actively engaged in marketing activities targeting local buyers.

During the exhibition, the participating companies conducted a total of 63 export consultations and secured export contracts and MOUs worth USD 350,000 with five local companies.

Notably, API Co., Ltd. signed a direct export contract on-site with a global jewelry brand referred to as Company P, confirming its potential to expand in overseas markets.

The Manufacturing Expo in Bangkok, Thailand, is regarded as Southeast Asia’s largest specialized exhibition covering the entire manufacturing industry, including electrical and electronics, machinery, and automation equipment.

Since 2024, Gumi City has designated this exhibition as a strategic event and has supported local companies’ participation.

Gumi City and the Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Research Institute analyzed the product characteristics of participating companies and the demand of local industries to facilitate tailored buyer discovery and business matching.

Based on this support, from 2024 to this year, over the past three years, a total of 200 export consultations worth USD 66.57 million and 14 export contracts and MOUs amounting to USD 780,000 have been achieved.

Going forward, the city plans to continue reducing companies’ overseas marketing costs through joint participation in international exhibitions, support the establishment of buyer networks, and help companies explore new markets to strengthen global competitiveness.

Mayor Kim Jang-ho of Gumi stated, "Joint participation in overseas exhibitions is a crucial opportunity for local SMEs to meet foreign buyers directly and pioneer new markets," adding, "We will enhance the global competitiveness of local companies by expanding support for strategic market development and overseas marketing initiatives that companies can truly benefit from."

As securing overseas sales channels for local manufacturers becomes increasingly important, Gumi City’s strategic support for exhibitions is translating into tangible export results.

It is evaluated that the support system, which goes beyond simple participation to include tailored buyer discovery and business matching, is serving as a bridgehead for targeting the Southeast Asian market.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.