Every year, aT Korea Agro- Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT Corp.), organizes two Buy Korean Food events- one in spring and the other in autumn. The 2012 Autumn edition was a two-day event which provided opportunities for Korean exporters to meet new buyers importing Korean agricultural products, food processed or fishery products.The Buy Korean Food- Autumn 2012 (BKF- Autumn 2012) was held last Oct.9- Oct.10 at the aT Center Exhibition Hall and was organized by aT Corp.in Seoul, Korea.
The well-attended event was participated in by 165 Korean exporters and 102 trade buyers from 26 nations.
“The BKF is an important event for us where we can match Korean exporters to meet new buyers abroad and introduce our products. The BKF- Autumn is similar to BKF- Spring this year yet this time we have more new participating countries,” said Mr. Kim EuiJeong, Chief Organizer of the BKF 2012.
“Forty percent of the buyers are new, such as Egypt, Dubai, Ecuador, Brazil, Russia, Poland and Bulgaria while sixty percent are re-attending the BKF, that came from an emerging market such as China and Japan. With China alone, we already have forty- five (45) buyers,” he added.
The buyers were chosen through recommendations from the eleven aT Corp. branches abroad and South Korean embassies in foreign countries.
Strawberry, grape, melon, persimmon, bell pepper, pear and mushrooms are the common products being offered by the Korean exporters. The leading Korean exporters present in BKF- Autumn are Gyeongnam- Trading, Namsun GTL, Changrak Farms, Hansarang Co. Ltd. and Joy Farm.
Furthermore, 24 Korean fresh produce exporters attended the BKF and were given a 30-minute opportunity to offer and sell their products to the buyers. aT provided buyers a space of their own where they could entertain all Korean exporters for their 30-minute products presentation. After the allotted time, another Korean exporter came while the other one proceeds to the next buyer also arranged by aT Corp.
What is great about this meeting is that all Korean exporters will have the opportunity to offer their products with 100 % percent attention from the buyer.
aT Corp. also provides each buyer an interpreter so both parties can communicate effectively.
The BKF objective this year is to attract more agricultural buyers from abroad particularly from China, the Middle East and other European countries.
“Exporting Korean agricultural product is more challenging than the processed foods. Processed foods are easy to sell in the market and it doesn’t require import policies that much compare to agricultural products,” Mr. Kim added.
“Exporting Korean agricultural product is more challenging than the processed foods. Processed foods are easy to sell in the market and it doesn’t require import policies that much compare to agricultural products,” Mr. Kim added.
aT Corp. has also organized a Korean Food Trial Program for the buyers on the last day which included activities like visiting Nonghyup Hanaro Mart, one of Korea’s produce distribution centers and the Jongajip Kimchi World.
The BKF- Autumn has also the “Korean Franchise” category for those who are interested to venture into the restaurant industry offering Korean cuisine.
Contact details:
Ms. Grace
Korea Agro- Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT Corp.)
Tel: +82-263001686