KOTRA to Support First Exports of Domestic and Early-Stage Companies... Launches 'First Step in Export Week'

Focused Support for Four Major Export Markets: China, the US, Japan, and Vietnam

From Entry Seminars and One-on-One Consultations to Logistics Cost Assistance

Priority for Regional Companies, Small Businesses, Women-Led and Youth-Led Enterprises

Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) is launching a step-by-step support program to assist companies that have mostly focused on the domestic market with entering overseas markets, covering everything from export preparation and buyer consultations to logistics support.

On September 20, KOTRA announced that it will operate the “2026 First Step in Export Week” to support domestic and early-stage companies in their efforts to enter overseas markets. For companies with no export experience, it can be difficult to undertake their first export due to a lack of information on procedures such as certification and customs clearance, manpower shortages, and challenges in finding buyers. Through this initiative, KOTRA plans to help companies not only make their first entry into global markets but also continue to develop export markets on an ongoing basis.

First, on October 14, KOTRA will hold an online seminar with agencies related to exports, providing information on essential aspects of the export process such as certification, customs clearance, and logistics. In addition, KOTRA will utilize its 20 AI Trade Support Centers across the country to aid companies in preparing for digital export marketing, including support for creating AI-based promotional images.

Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) building. KOTRA.

Following this, KOTRA will conduct intensive one-on-one video consultations for three weeks starting from October 26. While focusing on key export markets such as China, the United States, Japan, and Vietnam, KOTRA will also flexibly leverage its global trade office network according to the needs of participating companies. For companies that achieve tangible export results through these consultations, export logistics costs will be supported through KOTRA's overseas joint logistics centers.

The primary beneficiaries of this program are domestic and early-stage companies with no export experience or those in the early stages of overseas expansion. Priority will be given to companies located in regional areas, as well as small business owners, social enterprises, social ventures, women-led companies, and youth-led companies. KOTRA intends to identify even more companies with strong export potential but limited opportunities for overseas advancement and thereby broaden the base of new export-oriented companies.

Company C, a youth-led business that produces processed foods using local agricultural products, stated, "We are confident in the competitiveness of our products, but it is not easy for a small-sized company to directly identify buyers. We hope there will be more opportunities to take on the challenge of global markets."

KOTRA plans to focus its concentrated support on consumer goods, such as food and cosmetics, where small and medium-sized enterprises in Korea have strong export competitiveness. The aim is to broaden the foundation of exports, which has so far been centered on a handful of major items, and also to encourage a greater variety of SMEs to enter overseas markets, thereby diversifying both export items and exporters.

Kang Kyungsung, President of KOTRA, commented, “It is crucial that beginner export companies grow into $1 million and $10 million exporters, thereby forming a strong middle-class among exporters. During this ‘First Step in Export Week,’ we will support domestic and early-stage companies in entering and growing in global markets, while also expanding participation from promising regional and youth-led companies, ultimately broadening both the range and foundation of Korean exports.”

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