Invest KOREA

(SEOUL=NEWSIS) The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) held an investor relations (IR) session in Shenzhen, China for two days starting August 13 to help Korean startups attract investment from the city.

Shenzhen has emerged as a startup mecca since a visit there by Premier Li Keqiang last January. The city is proactive about attracting manufacturing startups: it bought an advertisement billboard in Times Square, New York in March and hosted the Maker Faire Shenzhen 2015 in June, the world’s largest hardware startup fair.

KOTRA will support Korean manufacturing startups entering the Chinese market through making the most of Korea's manufacturing infrastructure and abundant financial resources.

About 100 Chinese investors, accelerators and staff from the manufacturing industry, including those from Shenzhen Huaqiang Group, participated in the event to discuss opportunities for cooperation with Korean startups.

As part of the IR session, 10 Korean startups presented their products to participants. They included educational robot kits, theater ticket vendors and sound technology-based smart products.

KOTRA also signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Galaxy Group on August 13 to allow Korean startups to use space prepared by the Group for free for a year. It plans to run a communication program for Korean startups and Chinese investors on a regular basis and provide information on startups and investment.

jwshin@newsis.com