The provincial office decided to start exporting grapes produced in the province as part of the effort to help fruit farmers enhance their income with a competitive farming system in connection with the difficulty experienced by them following the effectuation of the Korea-Chile FTA. 

On August 16, an export shipment of grapes produced in Songsan, Hwaseong was shipped out for the U.S. as the first export of grapes of the Korean origin to that country. This was an action taken following the very encouraging response to the grape exports shown by consumers in a country of export destination. The Gyeonggi Provincial Office will export about 100 tons of grapes to the U.S. and about 200 tons to Southeast Asian countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Guam in August, September and October 2005. The volume is five times as larges as that of last year. 

Grapes produced in Songsan, Hwaseong are known for their good quality with a high sugar content thanks to the soil rich in calcium/minerals, the mild oceanic climate, and a high percentage of sunny days. 

As well, the provincial office has done its best to attain the target of $170 million worth of grape export, including being engaged in sales promotion activities toward large-sized distribution businesses in the countries of export destination. 

For example, the provincial office signed an MOU with Carrefour, a multinational distribution business, for cooperation in export of produce (i.e. 2,000 tons/year) produced in the province until 2014. In the first half of 2005, forty-three businesses participated in nine overseas expos, including FOODEX Japan held in Tokyo, winning a total of $25.884 million worth of supply contracts with the help of the provincial office. It appears that there will be no problem in attaining the target of $170 million worth of grape exports set for the year. 

The provincial office will make more positive efforts for marketing of the province’s specialty agricultural products, keeping in mind that export of high-quality products is the only way of survival for the local farming in the ever-fiercer international competition.