KOTRA (Korea Trade Promotion Corporation initially, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency since 1995) was established in 1962 as a national trade promotion organization. Since then, it has facilitated Korea's export-led economic development through various trade promotion activities such as overseas market surveys, SME export promotion, trade info services, government-to-gov't export, foreign investment in Korea(FDI) promotion and business matchmaking.
KOTRA’s Main functions and roles including :
(1) Expanding medium and small-sized enterprises’ business in overseas markets;
(2) Supporting small-sized enterprises (SME) to extend their business abroad;
(3) Overseas market information production, spread and consulting;
(4) Attract foreign investment;
(5) SME Global Business Training and attracting foreign professionals;
(6) Improving national brand, supporting international development cooperation, supporting munitions trade;
(7) Performing projects accepted by the government.
KOTRA currently has several specialized programs including:
Invest in Korea
Invest KOREA (IK) provides customized services to support the entry and establishment of foreign businesses in Korea. It is composed of KOTRA employees, specialists and seconded officials from government ministries and agencies. As a Korean investment promotion organization established to support the entry and establishment of foreign businesses in Korea, it works closely with our network of 36 overseas branches, known as Korea Business Centers, to provide comprehensive services for foreign businesses. It provides comprehensive one-stop services to foreign-invested companies to help them develop into global companies and carry out various activities to attract foreign investment, including finding potential investors, supporting investment projects, providing after care services and building cooperation with related agencies.
Invest Korea Plaza (IKP)
Invest Korea Plaza is the first international business incubation center in Korea which offers business consultation, administration support, investment and efficient one-stop services to foreign investors.
KOTRA recently is participating in the K-beauty Expo 2018 which has started from October 11 at KINTEX in Gyeonggi-do to introduce Korean beauty industry. The Expo started from October 14 and was attended by 430 companies presenting great products and trends in the beauty industry, including cosmetics, hair & nail and medical services.
During the Expo period, about 250 buyers from 40 countries, including the U.S., China, Japan and France, had one-on-one business meetings with Korean firms. Gyeonggi-do has been hosting beauty-related exhibitions since 2009 to nurture beauty industry and support SMEs to enter the global market. K-beauty Expo was held in six Asian cities, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Taipei this year, and this Expo in KINTEX is wrapping up this year's Expo.
Nowadays, KOTRA has 10 regional headquarters and 126 overseas Trade Centers in 85 countries.
It has made great contribution in supporting newly exporting companies, fostering global partnership and growing overseas expansion-leading companies in the service industry. It has provide market information through foreign market research and has provided infrastructural support to strengthen global competitiveness of KOTRA brand project.
SOURCE: https://www.kotra.or.kr/foreign/main/KHEMUI010M.html