Following the ‘Export Hope 1000’ project for regional export expansion, an MOU was signed with the Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS)
Combining KOTRA’s global network with SEMAS’s expertise in nurturing small businesses to enhance regional export impact

As part of the initiative to expand regional exports centered on the "5 Mega-regions and 3 Special Zones," institutional cooperation to transform promising small businesses into exporters is now in full swing.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA, President Kang Kyung-sung) announced that, following the launch of the ‘Export Hope 1000’ project in February to support exports for local small and micro-enterprises in the 5 Mega-regions and 3 Special Zones, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS, Chairman In Tae-yeon) at KOTRA headquarters on April 14 to enhance the export performance of small businesses.

As of 2023, the number of domestic small businesses reached 6.13 million, accounting for approximately 74 percent of all SMEs; however, only 0.8 percent of these businesses were found to be engaged in exporting. Meanwhile, exporting SMEs are known to achieve 17.2 times higher revenue, 1.8 times higher operating profit, and 5.1 times higher employment compared to domestic-only SMEs. Thus, transforming local small businesses into exporters is expected to contribute significantly to the revitalization of regional economies.

This agreement was established to improve the outcomes of transforming regional small businesses possessing excellent products and ideas into exporting companies. The plan involves SEMAS identifying promising local small businesses, which will then be coupled with KOTRA’s overseas network and export support services to maximize export results.

As the first follow-up project to the MOU, the two organizations will cooperate on the implementation of the ‘Export Hope 1000’ project. ‘Export Hope 1000’ is a new regional small and micro-enterprise export support project launched by KOTRA this year, for which participants were recruited in collaboration with SEMAS. Following the February 1 deadline, over 650 companies applied, and 206 were selected in the first round. ‘Export Hope 1000’ is a program aimed at providing intensive export support to 1,000 local small and micro-enterprises over five years. The project provides comprehensive support including mentoring from export specialists, the establishment of entry strategies, AI-powered catalog creation, the utilization of AI Trade Support Centers, buyer discovery and consultations through overseas trade centers, entry into online distribution platforms, and export logistics and consulting. Online export consultations with interested buyers already discovered by KOTRA’s overseas trade centers have officially commenced.

KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung stated, “With the expansion of online distribution channels and the utilization of AI, opportunities for anyone with excellent ideas and products to export are broadening.” He added, “In cooperation with SEMAS and outstanding small businesses, we will strengthen systematic support so that more companies can achieve results in overseas markets and contribute to the revitalization of the regional economy.”



Source：KOTRA (2026.04.15.)