2023 GGHK Busan Exhibition Overview
This article analyzes the consultation outcomes involving Bangladesh at the 2023 GGHK (Global Gathering of Human Knowledge) Busan exhibition. GGHK is a global infrastructure and plant exhibition organized by KOTRA that matches project owners from developing countries with Korean companies.
GGHK 2023 was held at BEXCO in Busan and was the largest ever, with 50+ participating countries, 200+ exhibition booths, and 1,500+ total consultations. From Bangladesh, 5 major project owners and buyers were invited — including BPDB (procurement budget $2.1B), Rahimafrooz (annual revenue $300M+), Baraka Power (IPP 600MW), and PGCB ($1.5B+ investment pipeline) — and 45 consultations were held.
Key Project Owner Profiles
The Bangladeshi project owners at GGHK are each core institutions in Bangladesh's energy and infrastructure sectors and showed strong interest in Korean companies. BPDB is the largest project owner with $500M+ in annual power equipment procurement. Rahimafrooz, Bangladesh's largest battery and energy group, is proactive in adopting Korean technology. Baraka Power operates 5 power plants of up to 600MW capacity under the IPP (Independent Power Producer) model, while PGCB is pursuing ADB-financed transmission network investment of $1.5B+.
| Project Owner | Scale | Procurement Budget | Technologies of Interest | Opportunities for Korean Firms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPDB | Government SOE | $2.1B/yr | Power generation equipment, smart grid | Power EPC, equipment supply |
| Rahimafrooz | Private conglomerate $300M+ | $50M+/yr | Batteries, ESS, solar | JV, technology licensing, export |
| Baraka Power | IPP 600MW | $80M+/project | Power plant EPC, O&M | EPC, O&M partnership |
| PGCB | State transmission operator | $1.5B+ pipeline | Transmission/distribution, GIS, smart meters | Equipment supply, construction |
| BEZA | Economic Zone Authority | $500M+ | Infrastructure, utilities | Zone infrastructure contracts |
Detailed Consultation Results
| Project Owner / Buyer | Area of Interest | Consultations | Interest Level | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPDB | Power generation equipment, T&D | 12 | Very High | Tender participation guidance, e-GP registration |
| Rahimafrooz | Batteries, solar, ESS | 10 | High | Samples, quotation, JV review |
| Baraka Power | Power plant EPC | 8 | High | Technical meeting, NDA signing |
| PGCB | Transmission equipment, smart meters | 8 | Medium | Specifications, PQ guidance |
| BEZA | Economic zone infrastructure | 7 | Medium | Investment consultation link, site visit proposal |
Sector-by-Sector Consultation Analysis
Follow-Up Conversion Schedule Management
| Project Owner | Next Steps | Target Date | Responsible Party | Expected Contract Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPDB | e-GP registration + tender participation | 1 month after consultation | Trade office + company | $5M–$50M per contract |
| Rahimafrooz | JV LOI + technical specifications | 3 weeks after consultation | Company directly | $10M–$30M |
| Baraka Power | NDA + technical meeting | 2 weeks after consultation | Trade office mediation | $30M–$80M |
| PGCB | PQ documents + specifications | 1 month after consultation | Trade office + company | $5M–$20M per contract |
| BEZA | Investment briefing + site visit | 6 weeks after consultation | Trade office mediation | Long-term infrastructure |
Follow-Up Execution Strategy
Exhibition-to-Contract Flow
GGHK 2023 was the largest-ever matchmaking opportunity to meet Bangladesh's 5 key project owners in one place. To capture specific opportunities including BPDB procurement $2.1B, Rahimafrooz JV, and Baraka Power EPC, 2-week follow-up response and local meeting arrangement by the KOTRA Dhaka Trade Center are essential. Power and energy accounted for 67% of total consultations, confirming that Bangladesh's energy transition demand is the core driver of GGHK consultations. Plans are under discussion with KOTRA Dhaka to expand the number of Bangladeshi project owners to 8+ at GGHK 2024 and create a dedicated session for renewables and smart grid. To secure early-mover advantage on specific opportunities including BPDB procurement $2.1B, Rahimafrooz JV $10M–$30M, and Baraka Power EPC $30M–$80M, GGHK participation and advance buyer meeting requests through the trade office are essential. GGHK participation applications and advance buyer information can be confirmed through KOTRA's Dhaka Trade Center portal.