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About KOTRA

The Korean economy has seen a huge turn around in its economical growth since the establishment of KOTRA that started in 1962 which helped the country to emerge as one of the leaders of export oriented nation.

Korea saw a rapid economic growth and development between the period of 1960-1970 and it was during this time that KOTRA channelized all its efforts and developed great export channels all around the globe that finally resulted in making the Korea to become one of the few countries to be the leaders as trading nations in international market. During the era of Asian financial crisis in the year 1990 the national investment promotion agency of Korea was started and this drastically improved the systems with which they attracted the much-needed foreign investment that helped the nation out of the financial crisis it faced. The recent downturn in the global economic sector has had its ill effect on lots of countries but KOTRA headed and organized big trade shows which was tagged buy Korea and this breathed a new vitality of life into the Korean economic market.

The effort of KOTRA to support partnerships and cooperation between Korean and global companies is sure to be continued unchallenged into the future. In future KOTRA plans to increase its support activities towards the over seas to cooperate in growing business areas that includes the knowledge services, the medical, biotechnology and green industries, with government procurement. The also agency plans to increase skilled human resources the international exchange of the contact Korea devision that was set up recently in 2008. The KOTRA also gives proper support for the inbound and the outbound direct investment and is the major reason for the expansion of both exports and imports. Understanding the rapidly growing markets of China and Africa the KOTRA is soon to open 12 new Korean Business Centers in those locations and will provide direct support for all Korean companies that will enter the unexplored markets.

The KOTRA has been collecting skills and experience with its existence of over half a century with more than 100 Korea Business Centers around the globe and the agency will do every thing possible to support promising business projects with Korean companies and firms to give them success in every move of the entities.

Facilitation International Trade

Matchmaking of Business
The KOTRA on request introduces overseas buyers to the most efficient business partners in Korea with the wide range of inquiry network as well as business meetings that are to be held year round. KOTRA will also provide the buyers visiting Korea with the assistance in arranging their business meetings to the Korean companies with collecting information on Korean products and suppliers. The agency also dispatches different groups of Korean exporters abroad to explore the overseas markets with the help of local Korea Trade Centers.

International Exhibitions
The international exhibitions of large-scale Korean product are show-cased by KOTRA both in Korea and abroad to attract the overseas strategic markets. Further KOTRA also arranges the participation of domestic companies in similar events in the global market through its "Korea Pavilions". Even though international trade fairs are an effective way of displaying the nation's high-quality products and technologies but KOTRA is expected to step up its abilities to make the occasions more specialized and sophisticated.

E-Trade
The Cyber Business Center operated by KOTRA is at Seoul which is also its headquarters from where overseas buyers can hold online business meetings with the different domestic companies regardless of the time and location. The cyber business meetings not only create companies preparatory partner searching opportunities but it successfully bridges the communication of the different entities during difficult times such as the Iraqi war and the SARS epidemic when traveling is very hard.

IT and Cultural Industry Marketing
Today Korea is considered an IT powerhouse and has the best IT infrastructure in the world and also holds a competitive edge in the IT sector. The growing popularity of Korea's cultural contents in the Asian markets, like the creative industries of the modern age such as the music and movies that is sure be the driving force for national economic growth for a very long time to come. And further to keep up the conventional trade the KOTRA has taken the responsibility in promoting trade in software and service sector.

Promoting Foreign Investment

About Invest KOREA
The Korean national investment promotion agency started invest KOREA with a single purpose of facilitating the entry and successful establishment of overseas business into Korea and to give a perfect service to meet the foreign investors in every way to make it as a one-stop window. The Invest KOREA houses experts from different ministries and relevant sectors.
A collection of integrated professional services is delivered by various designated project managers in Invest KOREA. The various activities includes:

• Investment consultation
• Market research and partner search
• Administrative support
• Advice on legal, accounting and tax matters
• Settling in assistance
• Follow-up service

Office of the Investment Ombudsman (OIO)
A major section of Invest KOREA is the Office of the Investment Ombudsman, a troubleshooting service that helps foreign companies to solve any difficulties they may have while doing business in Korea. And for the successful establishment of foreign business in Korea, the OIO's "Home Doctors" gives a one-on-one service in areas like the construction, finance, tax, labor, law and matters of daily living including housing and visas it also extends to children's education.

Invest KOREA's Global Network
The network of invest KOREA operates with a huge connection of globally located branch offices with 35 Korea Trade Centers. And every branch is located in a major world business center and Invest KOREA can now claim to be on the doorstep of investors everywhere around the globe.