Agency invites ideas for new export voucher services

Open to the general public, not just businesses and service providers

Proposals judged on effectiveness, creativity and feasibility

Strong ideas to be incorporated into future support programs

KOTRA is accepting public submissions for its export voucher idea contest through Oct. 13. [KOTRA]
KOTRA is accepting public submissions for its export voucher idea contest through Oct. 13. [KOTRA]

As the rapid spread of AI and the reshaping of global supply chains transform the export landscape, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) is turning to the public for fresh ideas. The agency plans to solicit proposals for services not currently offered under its existing support framework and incorporate the best submissions into its export voucher program.

KOTRA announced Monday it will hold a public idea contest for its export voucher program through Oct. 13.

The export voucher program allows small and midsize companies preparing to enter overseas markets or expand their exports to select the services they need using government subsidies.

Participating companies can choose from a range of support services — including overseas trade fair participation, promotional marketing, international shipping, foreign certification and design development — tailored to their individual needs. Rather than prescribing a fixed package, the program lets companies mix and match services as they see fit.

This contest focuses on ideas for new services that companies enrolled in the export voucher program could use. There are no restrictions on field or format, as long as the proposed service would help businesses expand overseas.

The contest is open not only to current export voucher users and service providers but to the general public as well.

KOTRA will evaluate submissions on how well they reflect real-world demand, their creativity, their potential to boost exports, and whether they can be put into practice as actual services. Selected ideas will be used to develop new support services or improve existing procedures.

KOTRA Executive Vice President and Head of the Small and Midsize Enterprise Division Kang Sang-yeop said support for export companies must evolve as quickly as the global trade environment changes. "Through this contest, we will gather diverse ideas from the public and from the export scene and incorporate them into the design of export support services that companies can genuinely feel the benefit of," he said.

Details on contest categories, how to apply, and prizes are available on the KOTRA and export voucher websites.

Meanwhile, KOTRA has recently been expanding its on-the-ground support overseas. The agency helped 59 South Korean companies in the K-beauty, food and culture sectors participate in a Korean products showcase in Mexico City, and launched an initiative in Hangzhou, China, to help Korean consumer goods companies break into local online distribution networks.


kwater@heraldcorp.com