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Busan Metropolitan City Establishes and Launches the 2026 Trade Promotion Plan: Tailored Support for Companies Responding to Trade Crises

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it has prepared and will fully implement the “2026 Trade Promotion Plan” to respond to rapid changes in the domestic and global export and trade environment and to strengthen the export competitiveness of local SMEs.

Last year, to proactively respond to export crises, the city pursued 12 tasks across four key areas—aiming to “establish Busan’s status as a trade hub city”—including operating an export crisis management system and simultaneously driving stability and growth. The city also continued to promote trade policies such as providing policy funds to SMEs facing difficulties due to the strong exchange rate and U.S. tariff measures.

These efforts led to the city receiving the top award from the central government as the best metropolitan local government for contributions to export promotion and trade activation. In addition, export revenues by SME exporters in Busan (97.3% of all local exporting companies) reached an all-time high of USD 8.44 billion last year.

The “2026 Trade Promotion Plan” established this time aims to “reinforce Busan’s status as a trade hub city through tailored support to respond to trade crises.” Under this plan, the city selected 12 tasks across four key areas—tailored support to respond to trade crises, diversification of export markets, expansion of exports in core markets and items, and strengthening of export safety nets and infrastructure—and will invest and support approximately KRW 105.2 billion, including support for special exchange-rate care funds and special funds for companies affected by tariffs.

[Tailored support to respond to trade crises] The city will strengthen customized support to enhance export competitiveness by 추진ing projects such as ▲strengthening cooperation with related organizations ▲resolving practical export difficulties related to trade risks ▲strengthening tailored export support.

This year, as it did last year, the city will organize a joint “Trade Countermeasures Task Force for Crisis Response” with 13 export-support organizations to strengthen the support system for responding to the trade environment.

The city will provide vouchers to SMEs facing difficulties related to overseas logistics costs and export/import issues, and will newly establish an overseas logistics-cost support program for companies participating in joint purchasing of raw and subsidiary materials to reduce cost burdens.

In addition, the city will expand and reorganize support for obtaining standards certifications and intellectual property rights, as well as the Export Star Company Jump-Up support program, to strengthen companies’ export foundations.

[Diversification of export markets] The city will open up various export channels by ▲expanding overseas entry bases ▲targeting new markets centered on potential markets (CIS, the Middle East, etc.) ▲supporting enhanced digital trade competitiveness.

The city will continue its trade mission support program and will newly establish projects to support new-market strategies, including ▲opening export channels to India for women-owned companies in Busan ▲a Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan consumer goods trade mission ▲a Middle East–Africa AI–energy industry trade mission and a comprehensive trade mission to Russia.

The city will also provide stable support for marketing projects using Amazon.com onboarding and public digital trade infrastructure, while expanding support for onboarding to Alibaba.com to strengthen digital trade competitiveness.

[Expansion of exports in core markets and items] The city will promote export activation in core markets through ▲expanding sales channels for key items such as shipbuilding equipment, machinery, and fisheries products ▲revitalizing exports to existing markets such as the United States and China ▲strategic overseas marketing support projects leveraging the Korean Wave (ASEAN, etc.).

The city will newly support participation in six exhibitions, including ▲the Turkey MAKTEK Eurasia Machinery Fair ▲the Hamburg Shipbuilding Exhibition in Germany, to expand sales channels for core items. It will also newly 추진 support for participation in the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair and the ASD consumer goods trade show in Las Vegas to promote export activation in existing markets.

Amid the “K-food” boom, the city plans to strengthen entry into the ASEAN market through strategic overseas marketing support leveraging the Korean Wave, including a promising franchise trade mission and participation in food fairs/expos to support overseas expansion of local Busan franchise brands.

[Strengthening export safety nets and infrastructure] The city will substantively 추진 ▲expanded support for export insurance and credit guarantee fees ▲nurturing exporting companies and developing trade professionals ▲projects integrating use of trade networks and consultation events.

The city will further strengthen export safety nets by expanding support programs for SME export insurance premiums and export credit guarantee fees, respectively, and will continue its international marketing professional training program to foster local talent and nurture exporting companies.

In addition, the city will integrate and hold the consultation meeting inviting overseas trade advisory committee members and the trade consultation meeting inviting overseas buyers, supporting local companies’ efforts to open up sales channels by leveraging overseas networks.

Mayor Park Heong-joon said, “Even amid the global economic crisis, exports by SMEs in Busan reached an all-time high last year,” adding, “Busan Metropolitan City will continue to actively identify policies that companies can truly feel—such as support for overseas marketing and sales channel development, as well as support for new-market strategies—so that local SME import and export companies can grow steadily and sustainably.”