○ Promotes global outreach exhibition support project using smart glasses
– Supports exporters in province with access to online exhibition halls (joint and individual)
– Interpreters wearing smart glasses visit companies in-person for real-time video consultations
○ Contributes to overseas sales channel exploration and export growth for COVID-19-impacted SMEs in Gyeonggi

Gyeonggi Province announced on August 12 that it will promote a global outreach exhibition support project that allows product introductions and export consultations without requiring in-person meetings with overseas buyers through the utilization of smart glasses equipped with augmented reality (AR) features.

As the global COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to promote the existing “Individual Participation Support Project for Overseas Exhibitions” that enables companies in the province to participate in overseas exhibitions, this new initiative will facilitate the exploration of sales channels through the utilization of video infrastructure for export consultations.

Small and medium-sized exporters whose offices or factories are located in Gyeonggi Province and whose exports last year amounted to less than USD 20 million are eligible to apply for project participation.

Participating companies will be able to introduce their products via “online joint halls” in three areas: household and daily goods (B2C); IT, medical devices, and machinery (B2B); and consumer goods (medical products, sanitary products, health foods, etc.) related to COVID-19.

In addition, access to an “online individual hall” that allows buyers to view the details of each company will also be provided, enabling searches for buyers suitable for each company as well as the exchange of emails for export consultations.

The project also features in-person visits by interpreters equipped with smart glasses to participating companies. The interpreters serve as “avatars” for interactions with overseas buyers and help ensure that video consultations proceed smoothly.

Buyers can see products, meet personnel, and view the manufacturing processes of companies in real-time through the smart glasses worn by the interpreters, and can engage in export discussions through connected voice and chat features.

In addition, participating companies can immediately share information about their products with buyers by converting related materials into PDF, AVI, and JPG files through the AR feature of the smart glasses.

Assistant Governor for Economy Ryu Gwang-yeol said, “An era of extended reality (XR) based on AR is upon us as ‘untact’ technology receives more attention due to COVID-19.” He added, “We will rapidly integrate new technologies into video export consultations and provide full support for the exploration of sales channels for exporters in the province who have been hard-hit by COVID-19.”

Companies wishing to participate should apply online via Egbiz (www.egbiz.or.kr) by August 24. For more information, please refer to Egbiz and the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator website (www.gbsa.or.kr) or contact the Exhibition Team of the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator (031-259-6125).

Over the past three years (2017–2019), the provincial government has provided support amounting to KRW 2.2 billion to 488 companies, enabling their individual participation in overseas exhibitions. During the same period, the province aided the conclusion of 2,379 contracts worth a combined total of USD 99 million.