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| Kim Young-joo, chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), speaks during a press conference at the COEX InterContinental Hotel in southern Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of KITA |
By Lee Hyo-sik
The new head of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) pledged Thursday to mobilize all resources to help small exporters bolster their overseas shipments, as demand grows for made-in-Korea products across the globe.
KITA Chairman Kim Young-joo also told reporters that the export promotion body will provide a bridge between the government and private sector, adding it will proactively advocate for the interests of its 70,000 member companies in the ongoing renegotiation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).
"While I was in the public sector, I worked with my KITA counterparts on various trade issues. It is good to be part of this wonderful, hardworking organization," Kim said. He served from 2007 to 2007 as the minister of commerce, industry and energy of the 2003-08 Roh Moo-hyun administration.
"KITA has to change to meet the needs of its members in accordance with the rapidly changing business conditions. It needs to find out what companies need to increase their exports, and work harder with government agencies and the National Assembly to create a more business-friendly environment," he said.
KITA board members held a meeting Thursday and voted unanimously to name Kim its 29th chairman, replacing his predecessor Kim In-ho who abruptly resigned on Oct. 24. Kim, appointed by President Park Geun-hye, later alleged he was forced out by the Moon Jae-in administration.
The new chairman dismissed media reports he was selected by Cheong Wa Dae, insisting KITA board members acted on their own and decided to appoint him.
"The board members chose me because they think I am the right person to play a bridging role between the government and the private sector," Kim said. "I will do my best to fulfill my duties and do many good things for business circles."
He said he will continue to implement KITA programs to strengthen the competitiveness of small exporters and encourage them to enter more foreign markets.
"It is not easy to generate meaningful growth within the country amid falling birthrates and aging population. To spur growth, Korea has no other choice but to look beyond its borders and make inroads into foreign markets," the chairman said. "KITA will also do its part in representing the voices of domestic companies in the KORUS FTA renegotiation process."
Kim is an economic bureaucrat who spent most of his career in trade and industry policymaking during the Roh administration. President Moon Jae-in was Roh's chief of staff.
Kim joined Cheong Wa Dae in 2003 and served as senior secretary for economic affairs, designing the liberal government's economic policies.
From 2006 to 2007, he served as the head of the Office of Government Policy Coordination. As commerce minister he gained credit for the signing of the KORUS FTA in 2007.
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