KITA trade fair in Paris draws 168 global buyers to Korean goods

Participants pose during the opening ceremony of Korea EXPO in Paris 2025 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Friday. Starting at fourth from left are Korean Ambassador to France Moon Seoung-hyun, Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Honorary Chairman Koo Ja-yeol, actor Kim Dong-wook and KITA Vice Chairman Lee In-ho. Courtesy of KITA

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said Monday its recent trade fair in Paris was a success, generating export inquires worth $22.76 million from 168 buyers across the world.

According to the trade organization, it hosted Korea EXPO in Paris 2025 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from Friday to Sunday. The event was designed to showcase Korea’s increasingly popular consumer goods directly to local buyers and consumers, with the goal of facilitating export contracts.

KITA has held this event in Paris, Osaka, Ho Chi Minh City and other major cities across the world every year to support exports of Korean small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This year’s Paris event marked its third edition.

During the event, 144 Korean SMEs showcased cosmetics, foods, daily necessities, education content and other consumer goods, drawing more than 20,000 audiences during its three-day run. A total of 168 buyers from 29 countries also attended the event to engage in 540 export inquires worth $22.76 million, and 15 deals were signed during the event.

To reflect the growing interests in Europe, this year’s show focused on cosmetics and food by setting up two separate zones.

At the K-beauty zone, visitors were introduced to a wide range of beauty products including skincare items, color cosmetics and hair care products through makeup classes and scalp care device demonstrations.

At the K-food zone, products such as seafood, ready-to-eat meals and traditional alcoholic beverages were showcased through events like cuisine introductions, cooking classes and traditional liquor tastings.

“Amid trade headwinds including the growing protectionist measures and U.S. tariffs, firms are finding it more important to expand into high-purchasing-power markets like Europe,” KITA Vice Chairman Lee In-ho said.

“Following events in Osaka, Ho Chi Minh City and Paris in the first half of the year, we plan to continue hosting K-premium consumer goods expos in promising markets, such as Jakarta in September and Dubai in November, to actively support small and mid-sized exporters.”