BTG Incentive: The Core Mechanism for Boom Up Korea 2025 Buyer Attraction
BTG (Buyer Travel Grant) is KOTRA's buyer incentive program that subsidizes the cost (airfare and accommodation) of overseas buyers visiting Korea. For Boom Up Korea 2025, BTG supports the Korea visits of 3,000+ buyers worldwide, with 150+ buyers from Bangladesh and other South Asian markets expected to receive approval.
From the perspective of participating companies, BTG lowers the barrier to buyer visits, enabling direct meetings with buyers who have genuine purchasing intent. By checking the status of BTG-approved buyers in advance and recommending your own overseas partners for BTG, you can simultaneously strengthen existing relationships and secure new buyers.
3,000+
BTG Target Buyers
2025 overall approval target
Airfare + Hotel
Coverage
Regional ceiling basis
$800–1,200
South Asia Ceiling
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan
150+
Bangladesh Buyers
KOTRA Dhaka recommendation basis
500+
VIP Buyers
Fortune/Forbes firms — Platinum & Gold
Approx. 60%
Approval Rate
Approved vs. total applicants
80+
Eligible Countries
KOTRA trade office countries
Event -6 weeks
Recommendation Deadline
Early recommendation advised
BTG Tier System and Support Details
BTG Support Details by Tier
| Tier | Eligibility Criteria | Airfare Support | Accommodation Support | Additional Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum | Fortune 500 procurement executives | Business class — full | 5-star, 4 nights — full | VIP lounge, dedicated car, summit-level meetings |
| Gold | Forbes 2000 and large distributors ($5M+ imports) | Economy + upgrade support | 4-star, 3 nights — full | VIP lounge, 1:1 premium matching |
| Silver | Verified buyers with $1M+ import record | Economy — full | 3-star, 3 nights | On-site interpretation, priority consultation assignment |
| Bronze | New promising buyers and trade agents | Economy (70% of ceiling) | 3-star, 2 nights | On-site consultation assignment, trade office follow-up |
| Online | Buyers unable to visit Korea (visa, schedule) | Not supported | Not supported | Video consultation-only track, interpretation support |
Airfare Ceiling by Region
BTG airfare support applies regional airfare ceilings. KOTRA sets the ceiling based on the average one-way economy fare on direct routes from each region to Seoul; actual support equals the lower of the actual airfare or the ceiling. For Bangladesh (Dhaka–Incheon), the South Asia ceiling applies, with a one-way level of approximately $400–600.
Boom Up Korea 2025 Regional Airfare Ceiling (One-Way Basis)
| Region | Representative Countries | One-Way Ceiling | Round-Trip Total Cap | Accommodation Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Asia | Japan, China, Taiwan | $200–300 | $400–600 | 3–4 nights |
| Southeast Asia | Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia | $400–600 | $800–1,200 | 3 nights |
| South Asia | Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka | $400–600 | $800–1,200 | 3 nights |
| Middle East | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran | $600–900 | $1,200–1,800 | 3–4 nights |
| Africa | Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia | $900–1,500 | $1,800–3,000 | 4 nights |
| Americas | US, Canada, Mexico | $800–1,200 | $1,600–2,400 | 4 nights |
| Europe | Germany, France, UK, Poland | $700–1,000 | $1,400–2,000 | 3–4 nights |
Bangladesh Buyer Overview and Profile
Bangladesh BTG Buyer Sector Breakdown
Garments & Textile Inputs35% (55+) — largest segment
Machinery & Industrial Equipment25% (38+) — smart factory
ICT & Electronics15% (23+) — Digital Bangladesh
Food & Cosmetics15% (23+) — K-beauty, K-food
Bangladesh Buyer Profile
Key CitiesDhaka (70%) + Chittagong (30%)
Primary TiersBronze 45% + Silver 40%
Avg. Consultations6–8 per person (3 days)
LanguageEnglish (no interpreter needed)
Buyer BTG Approval Process
BTG Application → Approval → Korea Visit Flow
Trade Office Sourcing
KOTRA Dhaka discovers and recommends promising Bangladeshi buyer candidates
→↓
BoomUP Online Application
Buyer applies directly in BoomUP (enters trade office recommendation code)
→↓
KOTRA Screening
Import record, purchasing capacity, and sector fit reviewed (approx. 2 weeks)
→↓
Tier Assignment and Notification
Bronze–Platinum tier assigned; approval letter sent by email
→↓
Flight and Hotel Booking
Airfare and hotel booked through KOTRA-designated travel agency
→↓
Korea Visit and Consultation
Attend Boom Up Korea on-site 1:1 matching consultations and VIP events
→↓
Post-Event Follow-up
KOTRA Dhaka supports follow-on transactions for 3 months after return
BTG Utilization Maximization Strategy
01
Recommend Your Own Overseas Partners for BTG
Participating companies can directly recommend their existing overseas partners or potential buyers as BTG candidates. Enter the buyer's company name, contact details, and import record in BoomUP's "Buyer Recommendation" menu, and KOTRA will review and issue BTG support. Matching consultations with self-recommended buyers receive priority assignment, allowing you to simultaneously strengthen existing relationships and expand contracts. The recommendation deadline is 6 weeks before the main event.
02
Build Tier-Specific Consultation Strategies
Platinum and Gold tier buyers are mostly executives from Fortune and Forbes companies, enabling CEO/CPO-level discussions. For these buyers, long-term supply agreements and strategic partnership proposals are more effective than price negotiations. Silver and Bronze buyers are working-level procurement staff — prepare specific specs, lead times, and pricing conditions. Bangladesh buyers (primarily Bronze and Silver) are price-sensitive and place high value on delivery reliability.
03
Conduct Video Pre-Consultations Before the Korea Visit
Running a BoomUP video consultation with BTG-approved buyers before they travel to Korea significantly raises consultation efficiency. Understanding buyer needs and budgets in advance, and shipping samples beforehand if needed, makes it possible to finalize contracts on-site. Bangladesh buyers communicate naturally in English, so pre-visit video consultations can proceed smoothly without interpretation.
04
Use KOTRA Dhaka as a Follow-up Support Channel
Even if a contract is not finalized during on-site consultations at Boom Up Korea, KOTRA Dhaka supports follow-on transactions for 3 months after the buyer returns home. KOTRA Dhaka connects across the entire practical export process — sample shipment, additional negotiations, local buyer credit checks, and L/C payment support. Record consultation results in detail in BoomUP to enable trade office follow-up support.
BTG Program Year-on-Year Performance
| Year | Approved Buyers | Visit Realization Rate | Consultations | Contracts | Contract Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 (Boom Up Korea) | 2,400 | 72% | 12,000 | 1,800 | $420M |
| 2023 | 2,700 | 75% | 14,500 | 2,100 | $510M |
| 2024 | 2,900 | 78% | 16,000 | 2,400 | $580M |
| 2025 Target | 3,000+ | 80%+ | 18,000+ | 2,700+ | $700M+ |
Bangladesh Key Buyer Type and Matching Strategy
| Buyer Type | Items of Interest | Recommended Approach | BTG Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large RMG factories (5,000+ workers) | Sewing machines, automation equipment, fabric | Propose direct CEO meeting, factory visit invitation | Silver–Gold |
| Pharmaceutical importers | API, finished medicines, medical devices | Technical catalog + advance sample shipment | Silver–Bronze |
| ICT solution companies | Software, cybersecurity, cloud | Demo presentation + local partnership proposal | Bronze–Silver |
| Food & cosmetics distributors | K-beauty, ramen, health foods | Emphasize K-content-linked branding | Bronze |
| Construction & infrastructure firms | Building materials, environmental equipment, smart grid | Introduce government project linkage | Silver |
| Energy companies | Solar modules, ESS, inverters | Link to Bangladesh government RE policy | Bronze–Silver |
Boom Up Korea 2025 BoomUP System ManualHow to check BTG buyer status and apply for matching in the BoomUP platform
Boom Up Korea 2025 Invitation Letter GuideDetailed guide to sending official invitation letters and visa support procedures
Boom Up Korea 2025 Fortune & Forbes Buyer TargetingPlatinum and Gold VIP buyer attraction strategy and company list utilization
The BTG incentive is the core driver of buyer attraction for Boom Up Korea. Participating companies should check the status of BTG-approved buyers in advance and build tier-specific strategies. Recommending your own overseas partners for BTG will secure priority matching assignment. If you need to invite Bangladeshi buyers, contact KOTRA Dhaka in advance for integrated support covering local sourcing, recommendation, and Korea visit coordination.
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