Applications open for 2026 Caucasus Consumer Goods Trade Mission

Open to Busan consumer goods firms with prior-year exports under $30 million

A promotional poster for the 2026 Caucasus Consumer Goods Trade Mission [Busan Economic Promotion Agency]
A promotional poster for the 2026 Caucasus Consumer Goods Trade Mission [Busan Economic Promotion Agency]

The city of Busan and the Busan Economic Promotion Agency are accepting applications for the 2026 Caucasus Consumer Goods Trade Mission through Sept. 28, the agency announced Monday, as part of efforts to help local small and medium-sized enterprises break into the Caucasus market and diversify their export destinations.

The trade mission will visit Baku, Azerbaijan, and Tbilisi, Georgia, from Nov. 8 to 14, where participating companies will hold one-on-one export consultations with local buyers to explore new overseas sales channels. About 10 Busan-based small and medium-sized enterprises with prior-year exports of $30 million or less are eligible to apply, and the mission is open to companies across the consumer goods sector.

The Caucasus region serves as a strategic trade hub connecting Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, and its heavy reliance on consumer goods imports makes it a market with strong potential for new entrants.

Azerbaijan, which has a limited manufacturing base, depends heavily on imports for most industrial and consumer products and offers a gateway to neighboring markets including Turkey, Georgia and the Middle East. Georgia similarly imports a significant share of its consumer and industrial goods, and rising income levels there have expanded a consumer segment that places growing emphasis on quality and brand. Hallyu content — including K-dramas and K-pop — along with Korean cosmetics and K-Food, has been drawing increasing attention in the region, raising expectations for Busan companies seeking to establish a foothold in new markets.

The Busan Economic Promotion Agency will support participating companies with local buyer identification, one-on-one meeting matching, interpretation services, in-country transportation and reimbursement of 50 percent of round-trip airfare for one representative per company. Interested companies can apply online through the Busan Export platform at trade.bepa.kr by Sept. 28.


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com