First-ever hosting in China in its 45-year history... 7,700+ participants from some 70 countries
186 domestic companies, 3,100 export consultations, and $486 million...

The World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations (World-OKTA, Chairman Park Jong-bum) successfully wrapped up the "2026 Korea Business Expo (KBE) - Shenzhen" on the 10th at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in China, marking its first-ever hosting in China since its founding 45 years ago.

During the event, 186 South Korean companies achieved export consultation figures of $486 million (approx. 653 billion won) and secured a total of $100.2 million (approx. 1.346 billion won) across 10 actual contracts.

Co-hosted with the Shenzhen Commercial Association (Chairman Lin Hui), the event brought together approximately 7,700 participants, including World-OKTA members, overseas buyers, domestic and international corporate representatives, distinguished guests, and visitors from around 70 countries.

Attendees explored avenues for inter-corporate cooperation by participating in the two-day export exhibition and consultation sessions, the South Korea-China Investment Cooperation Forum, and the South Korea-China Young Entrepreneurs Exchange.

According to World-OKTA, a total of 290 companies participated in the expo, including 186 South Korean companies as well as member companies and Chinese enterprises. Statistics compiled specifically for South Korean companies recorded 3,100 export consultations amounting to $486 million.

In his closing remarks, Chairman Park Jong-bum stated, "This conference, held for the first time in China, is deeply meaningful as companies from South Korea and China exhibited and consulted together to find paths into each other's markets. Ahead of the APEC summit next month in Shenzhen, our private business leaders have also contributed to turning economic cooperation between the two nations into concrete projects."

He continued, "I hope that Korean business leaders from South Korea, China, and all around the globe will continue to expand cooperative ventures through steady exchange. Even though the conference is ending, our business continues. Please maintain contact and follow-up discussions after consultations so that more deals can be successfully concluded."

The expo also drew significant attention for its export contracts involving South Korean laver (seaweed). On the first day of the event, the 9th, eight companies—including two South Korean firms, two Japanese firms, and four Chinese firms—signed a joint export contract totaling $100 million centered around Gunsan laver. This initiative expands the overseas supply of South Korean laver by leveraging manufacturing and distribution networks in Japan and China, proving significant as a practical translation of the global Korean business network into tangible export performance.

The event gained further prominence for taking place in Shenzhen, a city symbolizing China's reform and opening-up and serving as a hub for artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, electronics, and automotive industries. It provided an opportunity for companies from both nations to find new business partners by connecting South Korea’s consumer goods sectors—such as K-food, K-beauty, and healthcare—with China's cutting-edge technology and manufacturing capabilities.

Especially noteworthy was the gathering of large-scale private business leaders to discuss corporate exchange and cooperation right ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Beyond government-to-government diplomacy, the event demonstrated the potential to build mutual trust and trade between corporations and leverage World-OKTA's global network to explore entry into third-country markets.

Building on this event, World-OKTA plans to broaden its cooperative foundation with local Chinese economic organizations and strengthen the network connecting Korean business leaders worldwide with China's industrial ecosystem. Through this, the organization aims to expand its role in supporting the overseas market expansion and export growth of South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

To sustain the momentum of this success, World-OKTA announced plans to hold the World Representatives Convention and Export Consultation in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, next April, followed by the World Overseas Korean Businessmen Convention and Korea Business Expo (KBE) in Prague, Czech Republic, in October.

The association intends to connect the foundation of corporate cooperation established in Shenzhen to future events, thereby amplifying practical business achievements for South Korean SMEs entering overseas markets and expanding the global Korean business network.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]