Trade association to help small, medium firms

This year the Korea International Trade Association is planning to assist small- and medium-sized companies to sell more than $500 million in products at overseas exhibitions, according to a report from the association.
The KITA exhibitions will take place in Tokyo, Osaka, New York and Los Angeles with more than 250 participating companies and 3,200 buyers from around the world.
The association wants Korean companies at the exhibitions to achieve sales of more than $250 million.
“With the recent drop of the Japanese yen, exporting companies are having trouble competing both globally and in the Japanese market,” read a press release from the association.
“The market share of Korean products in the United States is also shrinking. We hope the exhibitions give a boost to Korean products and the Korean cultural wave.”
The association is also assisting companies that want to participate in six exhibitions outside those held by KITA.
The support package includes direct financial aid.
The association is planning to help more than 150 companies to sell $250 million in products at exhibitions on shipbuilding and security devices held in Norway and Las Vegas.
Companies wanting to exhibit outdoor goods in Salt Lake City and jewelry and watches in Basel, Switzerland will also be supported.
There is a limit on the number of companies that can be helped, however.

By Hwang Young-jin Staff Writer [yhwang@joongang.co.kr]