The Regional Specialized Youth Trade Expert Incubation Program (GTEP) team of Kangwon National University (President Jung Jae-yeon), led by Director Kim Tae-in, actively participated in the ‘FHA-Food & Beverage 2025’ exhibition held at Singapore Expo from April 8th to 11th.

The ‘Singapore Food & Beverage Exhibition’ stands as one of the top three exhibitions in Southeast Asia, boasting a 48-year history. This year’s event drew significant international participation, with over 1,500 companies and approximately 65,000 visitors from 45 countries across Asia, Europe, the United States, Australia, and South America.

Six students from the 19th cohort of Kangwon National University’s GTEP program played a crucial role in supporting the overseas export marketing efforts of local partner companies, including Kangwon Export, Gamzabyeot (Potato Field), and Seowondang.

The GTEP team undertook a comprehensive range of activities, directly managing processes such as preliminary buyer identification and consultation, online marketing leveraging social media platforms, in-house production of promotional materials, proactive promotion of the exhibition participation, on-site booth setup and operation, and conducting export consultations with potential buyers.

During the exhibition, the GTEP team successfully conducted a total of 256 export consultations. Notably, ‘Gamzabyeot’ achieved a significant milestone by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) valued at US$200,000. Additionally, ‘Kangwon Export’ demonstrated strong market appeal by achieving on-site sales totaling US$400.

Furthermore, the GTEP team proactively engaged in market research by visiting relevant organizations in Singapore, including the local Korean town and major supermarkets. This initiative allowed them to gather valuable insights into local market trends and export marketing strategies. The team will subsequently compile a comprehensive overseas market entry strategy report, which will be shared with each of the participating partner companies to guide their future international expansion endeavors.

Kim Tae-in, Director of the GTEP program, emphasized the educational significance of the event, stating, “This exhibition provided an invaluable opportunity for our students to gain firsthand experience in international trade practices within a real-world global market environment. Moving forward, we are committed to continuously fostering young trade experts and strengthening the regional export competitiveness through practical, field-oriented education in close collaboration with local enterprises.”

The ‘Regional Specialized Youth Trade Expert Incubation Program (GTEP)’ is a national initiative aimed at cultivating global trade professionals equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in international trade. The program is organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and managed by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and the International Trade Academy (ITA). With the support of local governments, 20 universities across the nation are currently participating in the GTEP program.