KOTRA to Foster 1,000 Local Companies... Expanding Export Base Using AI

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) is intensifying its efforts to strengthen the export capabilities and support the overseas market entry of 1,000 local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The strategy is to expand the export base of local companies through customized support, such as content production assistance using AI technology and verification of overseas buyers.

SMEs account for 16.7% of exports... Closing the information gap is key

Currently, while SMEs account for 96% of the approximately 101,000 domestic exporting companies, their share of total export value remains at the 16.7% level. Unlike large corporations that perform market research, tariff analysis, and buyer verification through global branches and dedicated teams, SMEs face structural limitations where representatives must personally handle the entire process.

KOTRA Vice President Ahn Young-joo explained in a video, "Since companies cannot go around searching for and verifying information themselves, KOTRA goes to where the companies are." To this end, KOTRA is operating 'AI Trade Support Centers' in 20 locations nationwide to increase information accessibility. By using these centers, companies can quickly check import conditions of specific countries, tariff benefits, and lists of buyers with a history of importing Korean products.

Expanding export performance through AI Export Assistant and region-specific support

KOTRA is operating various support programs for small local businesses and micro-enterprises that lack manpower and resources. Export specialists are matched one-on-one to provide practical training, and services are provided where AI produces product introduction documents in three languages. Additionally, customized consultations are being conducted through regional consultation meetings and 'Mobile KOTRA,' which visits companies directly.

In fact, KOTRA's support achievements are reflected in numbers. According to a KOTRA TV video, the number of companies supported by the 20 centers last year reached approximately 8,000, and 4,701 contracts were made through buyKOREA, recording 400 million dollars in export performance. Notably, 1,354 of these were companies that previously only sold products in the domestic market.

Looking at regional cases, the number of companies that succeeded in their first export through the support of the Gyeongbuk AI Trade Support Center increased significantly from 11 companies in 2023 to 62 companies in 2025. This is also a result of the linked overseas trade offices expanding from 5 to 16.

KOTRA is advancing its AI technology based on vast data collected through a global network of 300,000 in 86 countries. Currently, a more sophisticated version of the 'AI Export Assistant' is being built through pilot projects, and the agency plans to create an environment where all SMEs can easily challenge exporting.