KOTRA Mid-Term Management Strategy: Responding to a Shifting Global Trade Environment
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) is proactively addressing the rapidly shifting global trade environment through its 2025–2027 mid-term management strategy. Against a backdrop of intensifying external uncertainty — including the US-China technology rivalry, supply chain reorganization, and the spread of protectionism — KOTRA is providing comprehensive support for Korean companies' overseas expansion under the vision of "Global Partner for Export Korea," organized around four core business pillars.
2025 is a year in which the US reciprocal tariff policy, the full implementation of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the imperative for emerging market diversification have all emerged simultaneously — making KOTRA's role more critical than ever. Leveraging a network of 129 overseas trade offices across 86 countries, KOTRA is building a comprehensive support infrastructure to help Korean companies secure new growth drivers in the global market.
Four Core Business Pillars
KOTRA's mid-term management strategy is organized around four core axes: export boom-up, investment attraction, overseas employment, and digital transformation. Each axis is independent yet interconnected — together forming a structure that comprehensively strengthens Korea's global competitiveness.
Dhaka Trade Office Direction: Bangladesh Market Strategy
The KOTRA Dhaka Trade Office is translating the four core pillars of the mid-term management strategy into specific initiatives suited to Bangladesh's local conditions. As the strategic value of Bangladesh has risen — a massive market of 170 million people, sustained growth of 6%+ annually, and its emergence as a China+1 alternative — the Dhaka Trade Office's role has correspondingly expanded.
Export Boom-Up Strategy: Bangladesh as an Emerging Market Opportunity
In KOTRA's export boom-up strategy, Bangladesh is classified as one of the key emerging markets. An annual import market worth approximately $58B, a rapidly growing middle class, and strong affinity for Korean Wave content together provide Korean companies with a wide range of export opportunities.
| Product Category | Market Scale | Growth Rate | Korean Competitive Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machinery and Equipment | ~$8B | 12% | Quality and technology advantage |
| Steel and Metals | ~$6B | 8% | Price competitiveness required |
| Chemicals and Plastics | ~$4.5B | 10% | Growing industrial materials demand |
| Electronics and IT | ~$3.5B | 15% | Korean Wave effect for appliances and devices |
| Cosmetics and Personal Care | ~$800M | 20%+ | K-beauty premium positioning |
| Medical Devices | ~$500M | 18% | Hospital modernization demand |
The Dhaka Trade Office is moving beyond its traditional focus on large company export support to operate the "Export Seedling Company Program," designed to help small and mid-sized enterprises make their first entry into the Bangladesh market. Barriers to entry are being lowered through local buyer database development, small-volume sample export support, and online video consultation events.
Investment Attraction and Digital Transformation: A New Horizon for Two-Way Cooperation
KOTRA's investment attraction strategy encompasses not only attracting foreign investment into Korea, but also supporting Korean companies' overseas investment expansion. For Bangladesh specifically, supporting Korean companies in local investment entry is the core task. Key services include manufacturing base establishment using EPZs (Export Processing Zones) and EZs (Economic Zones), joint venture partner matching, and investment incentive information provision.
In the digital transformation domain, significant synergy is anticipated with the Bangladeshi government's "Smart Bangladesh 2041" vision. KOTRA is pursuing a "Digital Bridge" program connecting Korean IT companies with local Bangladeshi partners, and bilateral technology cooperation is expanding across fintech, e-commerce, and smart manufacturing.
Implementation Roadmap and Expected Outcomes
KOTRA's mid-term management strategy is being executed systematically through a phased implementation roadmap. The three-phase approach — infrastructure building in 2025, scaled operations in 2026, and performance optimization in 2027 — is also guiding the Dhaka Trade Office's local business development.
| Indicator | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buyer Matching | 300 cases | 400 cases | 500 cases |
| Export Consultation Events | 4 events | 5 events | 6 events |
| Investment Entry Consultations | 50 cases | 70 cases | 100 cases |
| Market Research Reports | 12 reports | 15 reports | 18 reports |
| Exhibition Participation Support | 5 cases | 7 cases | 8 cases |
| Digital Consultations | 100 cases | 200 cases | 300 cases |
KOTRA's mid-term management strategy extends beyond simple export promotion — it is a comprehensive strategy for responding to the reorganization of Korea's position in global value chains. Bangladesh is a core emerging market where two strategic axes — "export diversification" and "manufacturing base development" — intersect within this strategy. Korean company interest and market entry are expected to accelerate accordingly. The Dhaka Trade Office, as the first point of contact on the ground, is providing end-to-end support from market intelligence through to investment entry.