Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) had a meeting with major companies and announced the the goal of achieving $15 billion exports in 2025, beyond this year’s $13.5 billion target, at aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, on Oct. 29.
The latest meeting was attended by 13 companies, including those representing pear, sweet persimmon and other fresh agricultural produce, to ginseng, rice processed items and pet foods.
The participants shared export trends for the main export items and year-end export plans. They also proposed diverse tasks to boost exports.
Despite hard times, such as climateflation — the phenomenon of rising food prices due to declining crop yields, caused by abnormal climate conditions, the nation made a feat of achieving $10 billion in agro-food exports in the shortest-ever period this year, thanks to aggressive efforts to address field grievances and problems and diverse export support.
In particular, the fourth quarter of the year is a high season of fresh agricultural produce, such as strawberries, pears, apples and sweet persimmons, whose exports are directly related to agricultural household incomes.
Mindful of the high season, aT plans to accelerate efforts to expand year-end exports by implementing diverse marketing activities focusing on promoting K-food, in connection with hallyu (Korean Wave) and online and off-line marketing campaigns.
aT President & CEO Hong Moon-pyo said, “Exporting agro-food items produced in Korea is compared to expanding Korea’s food presence to consumers around the world, and we will make Korea a nation with affluent agricultural villages as well as rich farmers and fishermen by lending an ear to the pending issues of the export field and addressing them and spurring K-food export growth trend.”
Meanwhile, prior to the meeting, aT President Hong is spearheading change and innovation so that aT can carry out support projects more effective to the export field, as he reorganized aT’s overseas network and held experts’ consultation meeting for innovation of diverse projects.
‘K-food Universe’ Opens in New Delhi for 24-Day Run on Occasion of Diwali 2024
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) are opening a multi-purpose pop-up store “K-food Universe” in New Delhi from Oct. 25 until Nov. 17 on the occasion of Diwali 2024, India’s festival of lights.
K-food Universe, making its debut this year, is operating for a 24-day run at an outside plaza of DLF Mall in Saket, an affluent housing district south of New Delhi.
The pop-up store plans to promote K-food sales, and export field tastings and B2B negotiation programs.
The event is showcasing diverse things to see, to eat and to enjoy according to a concept of Korea’s hot places — Namdaemun (South Gate) Market, Hankang Picnic Zone, Hongdae Zone, Songsu Street and Naju Station.
In particular, Naju Station will feature cooking classes with local buyers in attendance and online consultation programs on top of consumer’s experience events.
Visitors at the Hangang Picnic Zone are given the chance to cook Hangang Ramyeon (instant noodles), similar to scenes in K-drama programs. Kimchi items, making a perfect match to ramyeon, are promoted there.
Market tasting of 40-odd export items, including candies and beverages, and on-the-spot sales are conducted to look into the feasibility of entering the Indian market and supporting sales of Korean-made products.
Kwon Oh-yup, director in charge of export food at aT, said, “India with a population of 1.4 billion people is a nation with a high growth potential, and the market is where sustainable growth of K-food is expected, and from now on, we will expand exports to new markets, including India, by implementing diverse export support projects.”
Ex-Lawmaker Hong Moon-pyo Takes Helm of Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade
Former lawmaker Hong Moon-pyo took office as the 20th president of Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., at aT headquarters in Naju, Jeollanam-do, on Aug. 20. His term is three years.
aT President Hong served as a four-time lawmaker - serving as a lawmaker for the 17th, 19th, 20th and 21st National Assembly.
He held major positions, including a member of the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, chairman of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts and president of Korea Rural Community Corp.
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