G-Fair 2009, the nation's biggest trade fair for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will be held at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province for three days from Sept. 24.
The fair, designed to help SMEs introduce their advanced technologies, accelerate information exchange and explore new domestic and export markets, is hosted by Gyeonggi Province and organized by the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center (GSBC).
About 550 leading SMEs in IT, electric and electronics, living necessities, and other consumer goods sectors are to participate in the 2009 fair, a spokesman of GSBC said.
Meanwhile, more than 400 foreign buyers are expected to attend the international fair for SMEs in a bid to explore a new trade market with Korean SMEs.
At the same time, the fair will offer a good chance for large domestic companies, discount stores and retail-specialized companies to meet with leading SMEs, seeking new business partners.
During the trade fair, there are five major events to actively support SMEs seeking ways to explore both domestic and overseas markets, the spokesman said.
Firstly, the GSBC will organize a trade consultation meeting by inviting over 400 buyers from 20 countries. It will also hold a seminar to advance overseas markets where domestic and foreign experts on overseas markets will introduce effective strategies to explore foreign markets.
Along with this, it will invite buyers from large companies and distributors to a consultation meeting for buyers at both large and smaller companies.
In particular, universities and SMEs will announce their joint projects for the development of new technology through industrial-academic cooperation.
Besides, star managers will deliver special lectures on their successful management to deliver advanced managerial know-how to owners of SMEs.
Direction of G-Fair 2009
GSBC will exert all-out efforts to develop G-Fair 2009 into a trade-specialized international exhibition by inviting more foreign buyers and attracting more overseas enterprises, the spokesman said.
"By holding GP Show along with the G-Fair 2009 and attracting Germany's Ambiente 2009, we are planning to create synergy effects through the introduction of a show in show concept," he said.
"At the same time, we will double our efforts to maximize market exploration effects and satisfy both Korean SMEs and foreign buyers by upgrading the quality and quantity of domestic and foreign buyers and general visitors to the event," he added.
In particular, GSBC is pushing for organizing an experience event that participating companies, buyers and visitors can participate and watch.
It aims to attract 550 Korean SMEs, 35,000 Korean visitors and 600 foreign visitors to G-Fair 2009 this time. It also plans to invite 35,000 Korean buyers and 400 foreign buyers to the trade fair for export contracts of US$140 million.
G-Fair 2009 consists of seven major halls - an electric & electronics hall, IT hall, parts & materials hall, living necessities hall, idea hall, trade consultation place, and an Ambiente hall.
Invitation to G-Fair 2009
Leading SMEs armed with high technology and superior export competitiveness in the IT, living necessities, electric & electronics, industrial goods, idea, region-specialized sectors applied for the trade event through its homepage (www.gfair.or.kr).
About 300 companies based in Gyeonggi Province and 250 companies in the other regions in the country are expected to attend the trade fair.
Among participants are promising SMEs dealing with semiconductors, displays, electronics parts & materials, electric & electronics equipment, digital information equipment, PC & peripherals, communication broadcasting equipment, home appliances, beauty, health and ideas, the spokesman said.
During the fair period, about 400 foreign buyers, including those from Japan, the EU, and the US, are likely to visit Korea to engage in trade consultations with domestic SMEs.
To attract more foreign buyers from India, China, Russia, CIS, Latin America, the Middle East and Vietnam, GSBC will actively utilize its overseas network, while requesting help from relevant institutions armed with wide overseas network, including KOTRA and Korea Foreign Trade Association (KFTA), he said.
In addition, it aims to attract more than 35,000 business and general visitors to G-Fair 2009 by focusing its PR activities on business-related people, existing buyers, new buyers, relevant institutions, research centers and universities, he added.
