Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Recruiting Companies for the “2025 Middle East Trade Mission”… Establishing Export Gateways in Dubai and Abu Dhabi!

내용

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) and the Busan Economic Promotion Agency (President Song Bok-chul) announced that they are accepting applications until September 17 from companies wishing to join the “2025 Middle East Trade Mission,” organized to support local SMEs in entering the Middle Eastern market.

The “2025 Middle East Trade Mission” will dispatch local SMEs to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from November 3 to 7. The program has been designed to support entry into emerging markets of the Global South by leveraging the Middle East—where demand for both industrial and consumer goods is robust—as a strategic hub.

*Global South: Newly emerging developing countries located in the lower latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and in the Southern Hemisphere, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

The Middle Eastern market has emerged as a key pillar for diversifying Korea’s exports since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Korea and the United Arab Emirates in 2024, which improved export conditions for domestic companies.

Demand is expanding in the Middle East not only in traditional industries such as energy and construction, but also in consumer goods including K-beauty and K-food. Combined with the effects of the CEPA, this is expected to further expand opportunities for Korean companies.

Meanwhile, last year Busan Metropolitan City dispatched a trade mission to Dubai, achieving an average of USD 8.03 million (approximately KRW 11 billion) in contracts promoted per company, marking a 110% increase compared to the previous year. In particular, the Busan-based dental implant exporter “DenQ” achieved the highest single-company result with USD 3.35 million in contracts promoted.

The “2025 Middle East Trade Mission” will focus on a comprehensive portfolio of both industrial and consumer goods. Companies wishing to participate must apply by September 17 via the city’s Integrated Overseas Marketing System (trade.bepa.kr).

Selected companies will participate in programs centered on tangible results, such as ▲one-on-one export consultations ▲buyer matchmaking ▲individual business visits ▲seminars. Support will also be provided for ▲50% of round-trip airfare and ▲expenses related to operating the consultation program.

Through this trade mission, Busan Metropolitan City expects to diversify the export base of local companies and create a foothold for mid- to long-term expansion into overseas markets.

Furthermore, the mission aligns with the city’s trade policy direction of actively pursuing export diversification, and is expected to play an important role in expanding supply chains into emerging markets of the Global South and enhancing the export competitiveness of SMEs.

Kim Bong-chul, Assistant Mayor of Digital Economy Office, stated, “Amid the restructuring of global supply chains and rapidly changing international circumstances, strengthening cooperation with strategically emerging Middle Eastern countries is a highly important task. Busan Metropolitan City will continue to serve as a solid gateway for local exporters to connect with diverse overseas customers.”