A view of the 2015 Buy Korean Food, the 9th annual event, hosted by the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp.(aT) at its aT Center No. 2 Exhibition Hall in Seoul last year.

Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. (aT) will hold the 2016 Buy Korean Food (BKF), an export consultation mart, at aT Center No. 2 Exhibition Hall in Seoul on Aug. 31. 

aT was working to attract participants for the food show from July 18-29. 

BKF is a meeting place, the 10th annual event, for Korean food buyers, Korean food makers and traders to set down and negotiate deals.

President Kim Jae-su of aT said, “Having marked its 45th anniversary in 2012, the Corporation is committed to contributing to growth of agricultural product industry and promoting export of agricultural and fishery products while stabilizing food security.”

The international event is likely to attract some 160 buyers from 23 countries around the world including China and Japan with a sideline event on the revised U.S. laws on food and related products to provide new opportunities for Korean food exporters with information on how to cope with the safety laws and regulations for food abroad.

Those foreign buyers can choose the Korean food exporters they would like to meet for talks at BMS (bms.at.or.kr) and list the kinds of foods they want to buy at BKF. They can confirm the dates they can meet with Korean food exporters from Aug. 19 at the same Internet site.

President Kim Jae-su of aT said that food exporters will be able to expand food exports at BKF this year because more counties are expected to participate in the event this year aside from countries like the U.S., China and Japan, who usually send foreign food importers. Countries from the Middle East and Africa are expected to come to the event. Myanmar will send foreign food importers to the Seoul event for the first time this year.

He said he hoped many more Korean food and foodstuff exporters would come to the international food show this year.

Since its inception in 1967, Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) has been striving to establish a foundation for advancement of agricultural product industry and promote export of agricultural and fishery products over past decades by means of stabilizing prices, foreign trade promotion, marketing support and food processing support. 

Until 1986, aT had concentrated efforts to develop and support agricultural and fishery industries to narrow the gap between farming and manufacturing industries, and then it expanded its business activities to strengthen distribution structure and promote the export of products. Its major business activities include price stabilization, foreign trade promotion, marketing support and support for food processing industry as well as the reinforcement of food security. 

To stabilize prices of agro-fishery products, it provides financial support, such as loans, to agricultural and fishery processing companies specifically for procuring raw materials. It also offers storage spaces to these companies, operating such facilities in major cities across the country, including Seoul, Daegu, Gwangju, Jeonju, Incheon, Daejeon, Cheongju and Icheon. To promote trade of agro-fishery products, aT is currently operating agro-trade centers in Beijing, Qingdao, Shanghai and Hong Kong (China), Tokyo and Osaka (Japan), New York and Los Angeles (the United States), Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and Singapore. 

These overseas agro-trade centers play roles of collecting information on agricultural and fishery products in overseas markets, promoting sales and conducting public relations activities by participating in major international exhibitions and other events.

A view of aT Agro-Fisheries Trade Center in Seoul.(Photos: aT)