About KOTRA

KOTRA, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, is a Korean government agency committed to promoting international trade and investment since its foundation in 1962. KOTRA operates 122 branch offices in 84 countries.The experts of KOTRA worldwide help Korean exporters meet local requirements and provide personal services to local business people considering doing business with Korean companies. KOTRA will be a competent partner in your search for new business opportunities with Korea.

What is KOTRA Global Brand?

KOTRA Global Brand, designed to replace the “Seal of Excellence”(a KOTRA endorsement logo that had been given out to Korean SMEs since 2008), is an endorsement program to add wings to Korean SMEs’ export-related activities, and raise their brand awareness around the globe.

About 50 Korean companies were newly selected to bear the KOTRA Global Brand logo in 2014, which is awarded as an accolade to Korean SMEs that are deemed capable of growing into major exporters.The selected companies are allowed to carry out overseas marketing activities with the KOTRA Global Brand logo attached to their business cards, promotional product catalogs, up to 4 years.

Each company and product awarded the KOTRA Global Brand is given a unique serial number(e.g. 2014-B-001).You can identify the authenticity of the seal by entering its number or company name at Korean-products.com or BuyKorea.org.

How to Select the Awarded Companies

KOTRA grants the KOTRA Global Brand to Korean companies carefully evaluated on the variety of criteria, that buyer considers most important in global sourcing: Product quality, Technological advancement, Marketing potential, Fiscal soundness, Capacity for Global business, and Intellectual properties.These criteria are highly cited by SCM(Supply Chain Management)experts and agents as the most important elements to decide global sourcing.

The selected SMEs are those who have already been accredited by domestic and international accreditors such as KS, UL, ISO, etc. On top of this, they hold relevant patents and industrial property rights under their belt.

Evaluation Committee awarding the KOTRA Global Brand consists of industrial experts and international trade specialists from such groups as KOTRA, K-Sure (Korea Trade Insurance Corporation), the Korea Testing Laboratory, scholars, etc.

The New Features of KOTRA Global Brand

KOTRA Global Brand, which was newly launched in 2012, has adopted a three-tier rating system (blue, silver, and gold) in order to classify exporters based on sales volume and provide them with differentiated support.

Under the “Seal of Excellence” system, there was no classification of companies, so it was difficult to offer companyspecific, systemic support. Those who fall into the entry-level “Blue” category are fledgling exporters posting below USD 10 million in exports, while companies record over USD 20 million in exports belong to the “Gold” category. Companies which stand between USD 10 million and 20 million in exports belong to the “Silver” category.

Once companies with a “Blue” rating advance to the gold rating group, the highest level of the group, under the auspices of KOTRA, they will graduate from the KOTRA Global Brand program. As of July 2014, 454 companies are selected to bear the KOTRA Global Brand(Classified: Blue – 369, Silver – 36 and Gold – 49).

Incentives & Supports

Online/Technical Magazine PR
KOTRA promotes the selected companies’ products through a global B2B e-market place(BuyKorea.org) and social network website such as Facebook. A technical magazine which is published for the potential foreign buyers in the world also contributes to the connection between the buyers and Korean suppliers. Moreover, KOTRA Global Brand directory, brochure, and leaflets support the international promotion of the selected companies and their excellent products.

Enhancing Overseas Marketing Competence
When participating in KOTRA marketing program, KOTRA Global Brand awarded companies can get 10% discount on the Branch-promotion project, Independent exhibitions organized by KOTRA. Also, KOTRA operates education program on Brand Management and Development.

Associated Institutions Support Program
K-SURE provides preferential insurance coverage and insurance fee discount, and gives preferences to Trade Claim Insurance. Also, Korea Testing Laboratory provides overseas instruction fee and test fee discount.

 
 
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