SMEs say they expect a lot from Australia FTA

In a survey of Korean businessmen from small and medium enterprises, 80 percent of respondents said that Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA), once implemented, will help boost exports.

The survey was conducted by Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea. It polled 89 business people from small and medium enterprises.

The trade pact was signed on April 8 but awaits ratification in both parliaments.

As for the impact on the Korean economy, 77% of the respondents said KAFTA will be helpful for the Korean economy overall. Sixty-seven percent of the business people said that their companies could benefit from the accord.

In the survey that permitted multiple answers, the respondents cited a wide range of benefits including a boost in exports through price competitiveness (59%) and increased opportunities for investment (31%).

Asked which areas would benefit most, 66 percent chose the manufacturing sector and 45 percent chose energy and natural resources. Services sector, IT industry, consumer goods, education, tourism, etc. were also some areas mentioned.

Graham Dodds, Chairman of the Australian Chamber of Commerce, expressed his high expectations.

“Korea, whose main exports consist of diesel, automobiles, and steel products, share a complementary trade relationship with Australia, whose main exports are natural resources such as iron ore and coal,” he said in a statement.

“Thus, once KAFTA goes into force, it will expand trade for both countries in a mutually beneficial way.”

He also pledged to cooperate with the Australian government to expedite the ratification.

“AustCham will help contribute to achieving speedy ratification and implementation of KAFTA to address high expectations that the importers and exporters as well as other small and medium enterprises have toward KAFTA, as demonstrated by the survey results,” he said.

The trade organization said that Australia will be removing tariffs on most Korean goods -- 99.5% by product and 100% by value -- within 5 years.

The Korean government predicts that within 10 years of its implementation, KAFTA will increase each country’s GDP by $ 20 billion.

BY PARK EUN-JEE[ejpark@joongang.co.kr]