KITA Sets Up Largest-Ever Korea Pavilion at China Import Expo, Generates $170 Million in Export Consultations

Participating companies up 83% and exhibition area up 63% year on year
More than 80 local buyers invited, with export consultations arranged
Experiential events featuring K-beauty and K-food attract local consumers

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) set up its largest-ever Korea Pavilion at the 9th China International Import Expo in Shanghai, China, to help Korean companies enter the Chinese market.

KITA said on November 11 that it had participated in the China International Import Expo, held for six days from November 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai, China, with a Korea Pavilion organized jointly with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The China International Import Expo is the world’s largest import-focused trade fair, organized at the national level by the Chinese government to promote opening up and expand trade. This year’s event was the largest ever, with 162 countries and 4,142 companies participating. This was the ninth consecutive year KITA had organized a Korea Pavilion at the expo.

This year, KITA organized the Korea Pavilion in the Consumer Goods Pavilion and the Agricultural and Food Products Pavilion in cooperation with four local governments—Busan, Jeonbuk, Chungbuk and Gangnam-gu—and three related organizations: the Public Procurement Service and the Gyeonggi and Gyeongbuk Centers for Creative Economy and Innovation. A total of 88 companies participated, and the exhibition area covered 990 square meters. Compared with last year, when 48 companies occupied 608 square meters, the number of participating companies increased by 83% and the exhibition area expanded by 63%.

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) participated in the 9th China International Import Expo, held from the 5th to the 10th at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai, China, with a Korea Pavilion for the ninth consecutive year. The photo shows the Korea Pavilion. KITA.

KITA identified and invited more than 80 prominent Chinese buyers in advance and arranged business consultations with participating Korean companies. Including consultations with buyers who visited the venue, the event generated more than 1,200 export consultations worth approximately $170 million.

The expo also featured hands-on side events to attract local consumers and buyers. Activities included K-culture experiences such as photo booths and ddakji-flipping, as well as K-beauty makeup shows, K-food tastings, live home-shopping broadcasts and stamp tours, all aimed at raising awareness of Korean products.

Kim Jeong-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, who visited Shanghai for the opening of the expo, also toured the venue, viewed the Korea Pavilion and encouraged representatives of participating companies.

Lee In-ho, KITA’s Executive Vice Chairman, who led the organization of the Korea Pavilion, said, “As the competitiveness of Chinese consumer goods has improved significantly, Korean companies need to expand their presence in the Chinese market by building on differentiated quality and design, original ideas and a premium image. In line with the government’s policy direction, KITA will provide comprehensive support for Korean companies seeking to enter China’s consumer goods market and take the lead in expanding consumer goods exports to China.”

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