Trade Promotion Agency Hosts Regional Heads Meeting
By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
A group of 70 KOTRA regional heads around the world met Sunday at the trade investment and promotion agency's headquarters in Seoul to discuss ways to expand Asia's fourth-largest economy's exports this year.
The meeting was the first of its kind since the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, according to KOTRA.
The regional chiefs have escorted foreign participants and potential buyers in their attendance at the Buy Korea 2009 event scheduled for Wednesday.
KOTRA says officials dispatched globally have mapped out ways to differentiate South Korean products' competitiveness in eight regions amid the global financial crisis.
South Korea's export target for 2009 is $450 billion, up $20 billion from last year.
KOTRA, which is the government's chief arm promoting foreign trade, currently has over 95 offices in 70 different countries.