South Korea Opens a Food Trade Office in the UAE, Targeting 10% Annual Growth

The South Korean government has established a regional office in the Middle East to accelerate the food industry's sales in the region, targeting growth of 10% per year.

The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation opened an office in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi earlier this year, with four employees at its inception, but according to office director Myung-Gu Seo, they plan to continue expanding, possibly on a regional scale.

'At present, the Abu Dhabi office manages the Middle East market, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and North Africa. If needed, we will open other offices in the region,' Seo said.

'The Halal food market has grown rapidly in recent years, and South Korea's ties with the Middle East are getting closer. As a government corporation, aT does not sell Korean food; we only promote the sales of Korean food in the Middle East - our goal is to grow 10% per year,' he added.

Pop Music and TV Shows Boost Food Sales

Seo said that, first, we want to use Korean culture - especially pop music - to promote Korean food sales: 'Compared with K-pop, Korean food is less well known.'

'In the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, with the help of embassy staff, a Korean cultural center has been set up. Korean cooking classes will be offered, and in this way we promote Korean food while helping the Middle East get to know it,' Seo said.