Suwon hosts the ‘2015 G-TRADE ASEAN MEETING’ on September 3

138 companies from Gyeonggi Province participate in 264 export consultations worth USD 37 million

◇ On September 3, Gyeonggi Province held the ‘2015 G-TRADE ASEAN MEETING’ at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Suwon. According to the provincial government, this event – hosted by the Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Support Center – facilitated 264 export consultations worth USD 37 million. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

Gyeonggi Province has achieved USD 37 million in exports to the 600 million consumer-strong Southeast Asian market.

On September 3, Gyeonggi Province held the ‘2015 G-TRADE ASEAN MEETING’ at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Suwon. According to the provincial government, this event – hosted by the Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Support Center – facilitated 264 export consultations worth USD 37 million.

With the ASEAN Economic Community set to launch by the end of 2015, this meeting sought to gain a head start in the new 600 million consumer-strong export market of Southeast Asia. The event particularly focused on Malaysia, the chair country for this year’s ASEAN meeting.

Headlined by CSL Manufacturing, one of the largest IT corporations in Malaysia, 35 Korean and ASEAN buyers with business interests in products favored by the Korea-ASEAN FTA – including daily necessities, beauty and products, and electrical·electronic goods – attended the meeting. Also participating in the event were 350 companies providing support for export activities across Gyeonggi Province, thus making the 2015 G-TRADE ASEAN MEETING a great success.

Apart from export consultations, participants were gratified to have the opportunity to consult with licensed customs agents over product export issues, business items with lower tariffs per the FTA, and other subjects.

One representative from company A, an LED display business from Ansan, said, “We held positive talks with a buyer hosting a large project in Malaysia”. He continued, “Given the characteristics of small and medium businesses, we face many obstacles when we try to enter foreign markets. This export consultation event in Korea was a great opportunity to acquire the know-how for expanding overseas and increasing our sales revenues.”

In his congratulatory address, Gyeonggi Province Administrative Vice Governor Kim Hee-kyeum said, “The ASEAN Economic Community will strengthen cooperative ties forged between Korea and ASEAN in the past and offer a chance to open a new chapter for economic cooperation.” Vice Governor Kim added, “I hope enterprises across Gyeonggi Province take advantage of the Korea-ASEAN FTA and lead the export market.”

ASEAN is a regional cooperative body that was launched in August 1967. Originally established with five countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, the list of member countries has grown to ten with Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia joining in. ASEAN plans to launch a single market (the ASEAN Economic Community) comprised of 600 million people by the end of this year. This has attracted global attention with speculation over the possibility of a Southeast Asian rendition of the European Union.

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Kim Jin-Kyoung jinkyoungkim@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201509041022457055C052&s_code=C052