Selection Background: Why 30 Export Projects, Why Now
As the global trade landscape undergoes radical restructuring in 2026, the Korean government has selected and announced the "Strategic Industry 30 Export Projects," mobilizing full resources to strengthen the competitiveness of its flagship export industries. With multiple external shocks arriving simultaneously — U.S. reciprocal tariffs, deepening technology rivalry with China, and the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entering full enforcement — a consensus emerged that the situation demands national-level, industry-specific export project selection that goes far beyond conventional export support.
Led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the selection process evaluated projects across four criteria: export ripple effects, Korea's competitive advantages within global supply chains, the scale of importing countries' demand, and public-private cooperation potential. The resulting 30 projects span nine strategic industries — semiconductors, automobiles, shipbuilding, secondary batteries, bio/health, ICT, defense, nuclear power, and construction/plant engineering — and will receive concentrated support over the next three years.
Project Selection Results by Sector
The 30 projects are distributed across nine strategic industries, with each selected based on cross-analysis of global demand forecasts and Korean firms' competitive positioning to maximize export spillover effects. The following table summarizes the number of projects and export targets by sector.
| Strategic Industry | No. of Projects | Export Target (Cumulative) | Key Target Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductors & Displays | 5 | $28B | U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia |
| Automobiles & Parts | 5 | $22B | U.S., Middle East, ASEAN |
| Shipbuilding & Offshore Plant | 4 | $18B | Europe, Middle East, Africa |
| Secondary Batteries & Materials | 4 | $15B | U.S., EU, India |
| Bio & Health | 3 | $9B | SE Asia, Middle East, Central Asia |
| ICT & Software | 3 | $8B | SE Asia, South Asia, Middle East |
| Defense | 3 | $11B | Middle East, Eastern Europe, SE Asia |
| Nuclear & Energy | 2 | $5.5B | Eastern Europe, Middle East, Asia |
| Construction & Plant | 1 | $3.5B | Middle East, Africa, South Asia |
Semiconductors and automobiles account for the most projects at five each, and these two industries represent 41% of the total export target. Notably, defense and nuclear power generate very large per-project export volumes despite their relatively small project counts — the defense sector's three projects target $11 billion, reflecting the sheer scale of individual contracts. Additionally, two of the three ICT/software projects designate Southeast Asia and South Asia as primary markets, indicating high linkage potential with Bangladesh and the broader region.
Support Scale and Delivery Methods
The government will invest a total of KRW 2.4 trillion over three years (2026–2028) in the 30 projects. Support delivery moves beyond simple subsidy models to a package format combining financing, customs facilitation, certification, and marketing. For large-scale order projects, the core instrument is "package financing" that bundles Export-Import Bank ECA (export credit agency) facilities, EDCF (Economic Development Cooperation Fund) concessional loans, and K-sure trade insurance guarantees.
Projected Export Effects and Sector Outlook
If the 30 projects proceed as planned, their impact on Korean exports by 2028 is expected to far exceed the direct target of $120 billion. Including indirect export stimulation in components, materials, and services, related industry employment creation, and import substitution effects, the total economic ripple effect could reach up to $200 billion according to some analyses.
| Strategic Industry | Direct Export Target | Indirect Spillover | Projected Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductors & Displays | $28B | $35B+ | 25,000 |
| Automobiles & Parts | $22B | $28B+ | 30,000 |
| Shipbuilding & Offshore | $18B | $21B+ | 18,000 |
| Secondary Batteries | $15B | $20B+ | 15,000 |
| Defense | $11B | $8B+ | 8,000 |
| Bio & Health | $9B | $6B+ | 7,000 |
| Nuclear & Energy | $5.5B | $4B+ | 4,000 |
| ICT & Software | $8B | $5B+ | 9,000 |
| Construction & Plant | $3.5B | $2.5B+ | 4,000 |
Secondary batteries are considered the sector most likely to exceed its export target, buoyed by surging global EV demand and supply chain localization regulations such as the U.S. IRA and EU CRMA. Conversely, construction and plant engineering faces high volatility depending on ordering countries' fiscal conditions and intense price competition from China, making the completeness of financial packages the decisive factor in winning orders.
Implications for Bangladesh-Related Projects
Among the 30 export projects, those directly or indirectly linked to Bangladesh span four sectors: ICT/software, construction/plant, bio/health, and secondary battery materials. With its 170 million consumer market and rapid emergence as a manufacturing hub replacing China, Bangladesh is positioned to serve as both a key target market and a supply chain connection point for these projects.
In ICT and software, the key synergy lies with the Bangladesh government's "Smart Bangladesh 2041" vision. Korea's e-government experience and smart city solutions align precisely with Bangladesh's digitization demand. The KOTRA Dhaka Trade Office is already facilitating Korean corporate consortium formation for smart city pilot projects and pursuing public procurement entry through KOTRA-EDCF linked packages.
In construction and plant engineering, Bangladesh's infrastructure demand is estimated to exceed $20 billion annually over the next decade. For Korean firms to participate in ODA-linked infrastructure projects, "tied aid" structures connecting EDCF concessional loans with Korean construction companies are particularly effective. The Dhaka Trade Office provides dedicated support for bid information collection and domestic constructor matching.
Implementation Timeline and Enterprise Participation
Following selection, the 30 export projects transition immediately into execution mode. Each project has a designated lead ministry (MOTIE, MOFA, Ministry of National Defense, etc.) and implementing agency (KOTRA, KEXIM, K-sure, etc.) that form project teams and begin recruiting participating firms. SMEs and mid-tier companies can apply through KOTRA Export Support Centers or the dedicated project-specific application windows.
| Industry | Lead Ministry | Implementing Agency | Application Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductors & Displays | MOTIE | KOTRA, Semiconductor Association | KOTRA Export Support Center |
| Automobiles & Parts | MOTIE | KOTRA, Auto Research Institute | Auto Parts Association |
| Shipbuilding & Offshore | MOTIE | KEXIM, KOTRA | Shipbuilding & Marine Industry Assoc. |
| Secondary Batteries | MOTIE | KEXIM, K-sure | Battery Industry Association |
| Defense | DAPA, MOFA | DAPA | Defense Export Support Group |
| Nuclear Power | MOTIE, MOFA | KEPCO, KEXIM | Nuclear Export Industry Association |
| Bio & Health | MOHW, MOTIE | KOTRA, KHIDI | KoHEA Export Team |
| ICT & Software | MSIT | KOTRA, NIPA | NIPA Global Business Team |
| Construction & Plant | MOLIT, MOFA | ICAK, EDCF | Int'l Contractors Association of Korea |
The 30 Export Projects are not designed for short-term wins alone — they mark the starting point of a long-term strategy to upgrade Korea's export structure and strengthen trade cooperation with emerging markets. South Asia, with Bangladesh at its center, is established as one of the primary target markets for these projects in ICT, construction, and bio sectors. Korean firms should actively participate through sector-specific application channels and combine this with KOTRA Dhaka Trade Office's local support to maximize export performance in the Bangladesh market.