In a dynamic display of regional collaboration and global ambition, the Honam region of South Korea is making bold strides to position its agricultural and manufacturing companies on the world stage. Over the past week, two major events—the pre-export training for the Jeonnam International Agricultural Expo and the 2025 Gwangju-Jeonnam Export Festival—have underscored the area’s commitment to boosting exports, sharpening negotiation skills, and fostering international partnerships. These efforts, led by local governments and innovation centers, are not just about handshakes and photo ops; they’re about real business, tangible contracts, and a vision for sustainable economic growth.
The Jeonnam International Agricultural Expo Foundation is taking a hands-on approach to export readiness, conducting intensive pre-export training for participating companies from September 18 to 19, 2025, at the Youth Start-up Town of the Jeonnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services. According to The Asia Business Daily, this isn’t just a run-of-the-mill seminar. Instead, it’s a practical training ground designed to simulate the high-stakes environment of actual consultations with overseas buyers. Through one-on-one mock consultations, export readiness assessments, and overseas market strategy education, participants are expected to walk away with sharpened negotiation and marketing skills—tools they can immediately put to use on the global stage.
What sets this program apart is the caliber of mentorship on offer. Seven seasoned experts, including trade practitioners, overseas marketing consultants, and members of a global mentor group, are participating directly. Their mission? To deliver tailored export strategies for each company, providing guidance on consultation techniques, etiquette, and the art of product promotion. Intensive one-on-one or one-on-two mentoring sessions ensure that advice isn’t generic but customized to the unique needs and strengths of each business.
Myung Changhwan, Chairman of the Jeonnam International Agricultural Expo Foundation, summed up the spirit of the initiative: “The export consultation at the International Agricultural Expo is distinguished by being a venue that delivers tangible results, not just a meeting,” he said, emphasizing the practical outcomes expected from the training. “I expect that companies who complete this pre-training will achieve clear outcomes in overseas market development at the main consultation in October.”
This main event—the 2025 International Agricultural Expo Overseas Buyer Invitation Export Consultation—is set for October 23 to 24. It’s a collaborative effort, jointly organized by Jeonnam Province, the Jeonnam Center for Creative Economy and Innovation Foundation, and the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Office of SMEs and Startups. The consultation is poised to be the largest hands-on export event in the region, serving as a key platform for the global expansion of Jeonnam’s agricultural and marine products. Here, promising domestic companies, including those from Jeonnam, will meet directly with overseas buyers, aiming to ink deals that could open new markets and boost the regional economy.
But the momentum isn’t limited to agriculture. Just days earlier, the 2025 Gwangju-Jeonnam Export Festival concluded at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, marking its fourth successful year. According to Maeil Business Newspaper, the two-day event, held from September 16 to 17, was a vibrant showcase of the region’s export potential. Sixty-nine companies took part—including 36 from Gwangju and 33 from Jeonnam—demonstrating the breadth of local industry across food, cosmetics, technology, and more.
The festival attracted the heads of 27 overseas business centers from 23 countries, including Japan, Australia, and China. These international representatives participated in product exhibitions, one-on-one export consultations, and contract signings, serving as vital links between local businesses and global demand. The overseas business centers, in particular, play a crucial role as on-the-ground outposts, helping to bridge cultural and logistical gaps and lay the foundation for market entry.
What were the results? Over two days of intensive consultations, a total of 11 export contracts were signed—six by Gwangju companies and five by Jeonnam companies—amounting to a staggering $18.48 million (about 258.7 billion won). The contracts were diverse: Gwangju companies secured $10.18 million across six deals involving organic food, battery facilities, and LED beauty devices, while Jeonnam companies landed $8.3 million through five deals for cosmetics, ship windows, and LED products. For many businesses, these agreements represent more than just numbers; they’re a ticket to new markets, expanded production, and the promise of future growth.
Supporting these efforts were a host of export-related organizations, including Gwangju Headquarters Customs, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, and the Gwangju International Exchange Center. These groups offered counseling booths and customized consulting, listening to trade difficulties and guiding companies through the maze of export regulations, insurance, and support projects. It’s a reminder that successful exporting isn’t just about having a good product—it’s about navigating paperwork, managing risk, and building relationships.
Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung, who attended the festival’s opening alongside other local dignitaries, addressed the challenges facing exporters. “U.S. tariff policy uncertainty and geopolitical risks are burdensome for exports, but we will actively support them at the local government level,” he said. He went on to express hope that the event would serve as a turning point, expanding overseas opportunities and increasing global competitiveness for Honam companies.
The timing of these initiatives is no accident. With shifting global trade dynamics, uncertain tariff policies, and ongoing geopolitical tensions, South Korea’s regional exporters face a landscape filled with both risk and opportunity. Local governments and innovation agencies are stepping up, recognizing that proactive support—whether through export training, international matchmaking, or hands-on consulting—can make all the difference in helping small and medium-sized enterprises not just survive, but thrive.
For companies in the Honam region, the message is clear: the world is open for business, but success requires preparation, adaptability, and a willingness to engage beyond borders. As the region looks ahead to the main export consultation in October, the groundwork laid at these September events offers a blueprint for how local initiative, expert guidance, and international partnership can come together to drive meaningful economic progress.
In the end, the flurry of contracts and the buzz of activity at these events point to a simple truth: when local ambition meets global opportunity, remarkable things can happen.