Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea-Colombia FTA set to go into effect

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the Korea-Colombia FTA will go into effect at midnight on July 15, 2016 and Colombian tariffs on 4,390 Korean  products will be removed and 2,797 items will see lowered tariffs.    In addition, Colombia, not a signatory to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), agreed to open the government procurement, granting Korea access to the USD 42.6 billion (48.3  trillion  won ) market. The Korean government pla date2016-07-14

Korea, Saudi Arabia to host investment and cooperation committee meeting in 2nd half

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan met with his Saudi counterpart Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, in Seoul on July 1, 2016 to discuss issues of the global petroleum market and ways to expand economic and business cooperation between the two countries.   During the meeting, Minister Joo stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia for the country’s economic development and trade growth. Saudi Arabia is the largest oil suppl date2016-07-12

Korea to invest 42 trillion won in new energy businesses by 2020

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the government will invest a total of 42 trillion won (USD 36.6 billion) into the new energy sector by 2020 as part of efforts to expand the environmentally friendly power supply system in the country.    Under the plan, the government will not only invest 33 trillion won into renewable energy sector but 4.5 trillion won into energy storage system (ESS), 2.5 trillion won into smart meter and 2 trillion won into environmentally f date2016-07-06

Korea's foreign direct investment hits record high of $10.52 billion in 1st half

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on July 4 announced that foreign direct investment newly pledged in the first six months of this year has reached a record high of USD 10.52 billion.   This is the largest amount of FDI committed in history for a six-month period, and an 18.6 percent jump from $8.87 billion a year ago, which bodes well for Korea's annual FDI attraction goal to reach $20 billion. Also, this is the first time that pledged FDI has exceeded $10 billion date2016-07-04

Export fall rate in June was the smallest in a year

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has announced that South Korean exports fell 2.7 percent to USD 45.3 billion and imports decreased by 8.0 percent to USD 33.7 billion in June from a year earlier, resulting in a trade surplus, for the 53rd consecutive month, of USD 11.6 billion. This was the largest trade surplus on record in terms of monthly surplus.   The export decrease rate in June has recorded the lowest since June 2015 and also a reduced decrease rate for two consecutive mont date2016-07-01

'Brexit’ Likely to Have Minimal Impact on Korean Economy

'Brexit’ Likely to Have Minimal Impact on Korean Economy   Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, better known as Brexit, is expected to have little impact on the Korean economy.   On June 24, the Ministry held an emergency conference on the impact of Brexit on the Korean economy. Vice Minister Lee Kwan-sup hosted the conference to examine how Britain’s withdrawal from the EU could affect Korea’s real economy and to di date2016-06-24

Korea to Woo Int’l Shoppers with `FESTA’ Festival in Fall

Korea to Woo Int’l Shoppers with `FESTA’ Festival in Fall   The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced it would kick off the Korean version of ``Black Friday” festival under the name of the ``Korea Sale FESTA’’ for international shoppers between September 29 to October 31 with cooperation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other related public and private agencies.   The word ‘FESTA’ is formed by taking the initia date2016-06-21

Second Ministerial-Level Joint Committee to be Held on Korea-India CEPA

Second Ministerial-Level Joint Committee to be Held on Korea-India CEPA    Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Joo Hyunghwan will attend the Korea-India infrastructure industry cooperation forum, the Korea Plus opening ceremony and the second ministerial-level joint committee on the Korea-India CEPA in New Delhi, India, on June 17 and 18. * CEPA: Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.   The upcoming events, including the joint committee, will be held to examine the imple date2016-06-16