Hamyang County Governor Jin Byeongyeong Visits Canada to Expand Markets for Agricultural Specialties, Boost International Exchanges

Market development delegation, including County Governor Jin Byeongyeong, visits Vancouver and Calgary to discuss securing local distribution networks
Seeks to strengthen export foundations through a meeting at the KOTRA trade office and an MOU with the Korean Community Social Welfare Center
Also promotes the "2027 Year of Visiting Hamyang" and "2030 Hamyang Wild Ginseng Anti-Aging Expo" locally

Hamyang County in South Gyeongsang Province has set out to develop overseas sales channels by visiting local distributors and relevant organizations in Canada and strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the Korean community to expand exports of local agricultural and food products to the Canadian market.

The county said on November 7 that a market development delegation led by County Governor Jin Byeongyeong visited Vancouver and Calgary, Canada, from November 2 to 7 to promote agricultural and food exports and international exchanges.

[Photo provided by Hamyang County] Hamyang County Governor Jin Byeongyeong poses for a commemorative photo with Kim Youngin, the center's chairman, and other officials after signing a memorandum of understanding at the Korean Community Social Services Centre in Calgary, Canada, to promote agricultural and food exports and sales and strengthen mutual exchanges and cooperation.

The visit was organized to assess distribution structures and consumer trends in Canada’s agricultural and food market and expand the export potential of Hamyang’s agricultural specialties through cooperation with local organizations and distributors.

The delegation first visited the Vancouver office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to learn about trends in Canada’s agricultural and food market, import customs procedures, and local distribution conditions.

At the meeting, participants discussed ways to identify new buyers and connect with local distribution networks to help Hamyang’s agricultural and food products enter the Canadian market.

In particular, because expanding agricultural and food exports requires taking into account local consumer demand, distributors’ product-handling standards, and import regulations, the delegation gathered relevant information and explored opportunities for cooperation.

The delegation then signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Community Social Welfare Center in Calgary to promote agricultural and food exports and sales and foster mutual exchange and cooperation.

At the signing ceremony, Hamyang County Governor Jin Byeongyeong, Kim Youngin, chair of the Korean Community Social Welfare Center in Calgary, and other officials discussed ways to cooperate on promoting local agricultural and food products and expanding exchanges.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between Hamyang County and the local Korean community. Specific export figures and the impact on sales growth are expected to become clear based on the results of follow-up initiatives.

After the signing ceremony, the delegation also gave a presentation at the Calgary Korean Association Hall to local Korean residents, introducing Hamyang County’s natural environment, agricultural specialties, and wild-simulated ginseng industry.

The delegation also visited major retail stores and logistics facilities in Vancouver and Calgary to examine sales of local agricultural and food products and distribution structures.

Through its local market research, the county assessed the supply potential of Hamyang’s agricultural and food products and opportunities to work with distributors, while gathering information needed to expand export products and secure stable sales channels.

The delegation also introduced Hamyang’s agricultural specialties, major tourism resources, and local industries in interviews with local Korean-language media outlets This Time and C & Rim.

The market development program also included promoting Hamyang County’s tourism policies and international events alongside activities related to agricultural and food exports.

The county introduced its plans for “2027 Year of Visiting Hamyang” and the “2030 Hamyang Wild Ginseng Anti-Aging Expo” to local Korean residents and other stakeholders, as well as highlighting Hamyang’s natural environment and tourism resources.

The county plans to explore opportunities for tourism and cultural exchanges with the Korean community in Canada and expand the foundation for cooperation to attract visitors from overseas.

“During this visit to Canada, we assessed local distribution conditions for agricultural and food products and discussed ways to cooperate with relevant organizations and the Korean community,” said Hamyang County Governor Jin Byeongyeong. “We will strengthen cooperation with local distribution networks so that increased agricultural and food exports and tourism promotion can lead to tangible results.”

Meanwhile, Hamyang County plans to identify local buyers and expand export channels based on the cooperation initiatives discussed during the market development delegation’s visit.

The county also intends to continue exchanges with the Korean community in Canada and explore opportunities for cooperation in the economic, cultural, and tourism sectors, including promoting local agricultural specialties and attracting tourists.

For market development efforts in Canada to produce tangible results, the county will need to secure local buyers, conclude export contracts, and continuously monitor sales performance.

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