International Business: A Report on KOTRA's Operations and Services

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), a state-funded organization dedicated to promoting trade and investment in South Korea. It explores KOTRA's core activities, including creating new business opportunities, collecting market information, fostering global partnerships, and supporting overseas marketing and investment. The report highlights KOTRA's specialization in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and its focus on specific nations and regions. It also examines how companies like Samsung can utilize KOTRA's services, such as investment promotion and business consultation. Furthermore, the report discusses the benefits of Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) actions for both firms and countries/regions, emphasizing the positive impact on business growth, brand value, employment, and overall economic development. The conclusion summarizes KOTRA's significance in the international business landscape and its contributions to South Korea's economic prosperity.

Running Head: International Business
International Business

International Business 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Overview..........................................................................................................................................3
Main activities in which company is specialist...............................................................................3
Create new opportunities and discover new business areas........................................................3
Collecting information to serve business better...........................................................................4
Regional research or foreign research.........................................................................................4
Foster Global Partnership............................................................................................................4
Overseas marketing/ investments................................................................................................5
Global sourcing............................................................................................................................5
Nation’s/regions primary areas of focus around investment attraction...........................................5
Services can be utilized by Samsung new project...........................................................................7
Investment promotion agency actions benefits to firm and to country/ region...............................8
Firm benefits................................................................................................................................8
Country/ regions benefits.............................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
Kotra- Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency is a state funded trade and investment
promotion company operated by the South Korea government. The company came into existence
in the year 1962. In the year 1998, a company recognized center for foreign investment.
Currently, in the year 2016, the company attended global business research center (GBRC)
opening ceremony. The report throws light on the working of the Korea Trade-Investment
Promotion Agency. It shows how a company is attracting the foreign investment into their
countries. It also provides attractive additional services to the multinational firms. The report
includes the nations or regions where a company like to focus to attract FDI. Each and every
organization is formed for a specific purpose over here the goal of the company is to attract the
foreign investment. The report includes the description related to the benefits of the IPA and
IPA actions.

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Overview
Organization set up to add to the improvement of the national economy by performing work, for
example, exchange advancement, speculation amongst residential and outside organizations and
support of mechanical innovation collaboration and so on (Kotra, 2017). KOTRA operates more
than 111 Korean business centers in 74 countries across the world, and consist of approximately
13 offices in Korea. The company works for the well-being of the Korea.
The mission of the company: - The mission of the company is to contribute to the well-being of
the Korean people and to enhance the development opportunities within the country.
The vision of the company: - The vision of the company is to open up the future opportunities
of Korea through a global business platform.
Core values of the company: - Customers value and cooperation kept the company on the top
priority. The company believes in creating a sustainable management system (Kotra, 2017).
Main activities in which company is specialist
The company is a specialist in the fields in which it works. In other words, a company
specializes in the main activities of the company. Below given is a brief description of the
activities that company is operating.
Create new opportunities and discover new business areas
The company always try to create new opportunities that are required to enhance the growth of
overseas expansion in leading company who are engaged in a service industry. The Korean wave
Hallyu marketing strategies were classified by the KOTRA itself. In the year 2011, the company

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took a step to classified Hallyu industries into broadcast media, movies, music, animation and
character products. KOTRA discovered that character item, 45% of the whole business, included
the biggest offer of traded items among all Hallyu fields, worth USD 276.32 million. That same
year, the gaming business, which incorporates diversions, kid's shows, and productions, was
worth USD 1.25 billion and contained half of all Hallyu items; it expanded by 30% from 2010
(MCST). The company also support business for cultural contents that helps the business that
helps in the introduction to the foreign markets (Kim, 2017).
Collecting information to serve business better
KOTRA embraces far reaching abroad statistical surveying exercises and screens the world
monetary condition as it impacts on exchange and speculation patterns. KOTRA additionally
contemplates world exchange issues, business patterns, and new administration methodologies.
This encourages KOTRA to react quickly to the quick changing world exchange condition and
help firms to work successfully in universal markets (Kotra, 2017).
Regional research or foreign research
To help Korean organizations and the legislature get nitty gritty data on singular nations,
KOTRA works divisions that represent considerable authority in particular geographic districts.
Likewise, every office has some expertise in following current market issues, exchange controls,
and the other related themes relevant to the nations it covers. The company also keep eye on the
foreign market so that they will be able to collect the information which is required for the
expansion of the business (Sekaran, and Bougie, 2016).

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Foster Global Partnership
The company performs the activity of global partnering project that increases the partnership of
the Korea with other countries. Korea ICT Roadshow EU 2011 is an initiative of the Korea
Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). The aim of the company is to promote the trade
relationship of Korean companies that are operating in ICT field in a European market (H.B.C.B,
2011).
Overseas marketing/ investments
KOTRA’s 99 KBCs located globally which is used by the Korean SMEs. With KBCs SMEs can
get bolster in far reaching ranges touching abroad showcasing, from statistical surveying to
recognizable proof of fare accomplices (Kotra, 2017). The company also supports for overseas
investments. KOTRA guide the small and medium firms for the investment.
Global sourcing
KOTRA supports Korean businesses improvement access to raw materials, components, and
parts. This is possible because of the arrangement of the supply deal across the world (Oshri,
Kotlarsky, and Willcocks, 2015). Activities carried by the company consist of the growth
strategies for promoting global sourcing. In other words, it can be said that company collects the
details related to the raw material and other required components. Later the company
accomplishes the dispatching buying mission.

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Nation’s/regions primary areas of focus around investment attraction
KOTRA company specialty is becoming a focal point for the nations and regions. Their specialty
is becoming investment attraction. Many of the companies like to invest in the KOTRA to get
the benefit of the services that company provides.
 Regional research or foreign research provides company to understand the market. The
company gets the benefit of understanding the market before making any kind of
investment. This enhances the chances of success of the company. This provides
opportunities to the company to understand the changing marketing. The reason it is a
primary focus is that the companies know that KOTRA can easily create opportunities for
expansion in new areas.
 The company provides the facility of establishing marketing strategies that attract the
companies. The company performed the major role in Korean wave Hallyu Marketing
this shows that company can establish marketing strategies. Regional companies allow
like investing in the company as they want to achieve the growth in the marketing.
Companies who want to establish their brand name in the market will defiantly like to
invest in KOTRA. These some of the activities attract the nations and regions. This
shows how it is becoming primary focus and investment attraction across the world.
 With the use of information and communication technologies, KOTRA arranges a cyber
business conference between Korean and other foreign businessmen. So that the SMEs
can easily develop the business opportunities (Lee, and Jung, 2015). This shows that the
company how to utilize the technology in the business. This motivates the company to
invest in the company like KOTRA. KOTRA has put up company’s online payment
service (KOPS) to enable payment between Korean exporters and foreign imports

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(FINPRO, 2012). This is not only beneficial for the company but it is important for
Korea. This shows that the investment in the company will only bring improvement
opportunities for the nations/regions.
Services can be utilized by Samsung new project
Services that are provided by KOTRA include finding investors and managing investment
projects (Kotra, 2017). Currently, Samsung is one of the leading companies across the world.
The company is South Korean multinational, having headquarters in Seoul. As per the recent
update Samsung biologics which is contract drug production arm of the South Korea’s Samsung
group. The company is planning to facilitate the service to the small firms. The company is
willing to expand the business. Generally, in the development projects company need amount to
experiment the production (Kotra, 2017). The experimented conducted by the company cost high
amount. There will be a need of the investor who can invest the amount so that company will be
able to perform the required activities. IPA service includes finding investors and managing
investment projects. Every project needs investment so a company needs to manage their
investments.
Samsung group should facilitate the services of invest Korea plaza which is a first international
business that is available in Korea. The services are provided by the company KOTRA. This
service offers business consultation, investment, administration support, and efficient one-stop
service to foreign investors. Currently, the Samsung is targeting small size drug makers that
consist of the 20-30 employees. Though, the company is engaged in talks with the multiple
companies. With the help of the IPA services, Samsung might get the best business consultation.
This helps the company in deciding target companies and where they should crack the deal.

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Development takes place with the help of technology and KOTRA knows how to utilize
technology in work. Samsung can get the help in selecting the methods which help in new drug
development. In the near future company will also try to expand the same services and product in
the foreign market. Over here, Company can take the benefit of IPA services which help the
company to identify the foreign markets and foreign investors.
Investment promotion agency actions benefits to firm and to country/
region
The actions taken by the IPA generated the awareness and transparency for investments in the
promotion activities. Action taken by the IPA includes the monitoring and review of the
mechanism for the investments. It also tries to attract the foreign investment that helps in
enhancing the growth of the company.
Firm benefits
These actions of IPA provide some benefit to the firm. The more and more companies try to
invest in the promotion activities. Promotion helps the company in enhancing the sales of the
company. The company takes advantage of these actions to get success. The company can easily
analyze where they have to invest and where not. Investment at the correct place will result in the
success of the company. The business generally tries to expand the business in the foreign
countries. Successful expansion in the foreign countries will result in the huge opportunities.
Successful expansion may also create a good brand value of the company in the market.
Opportunities for growth and profitability for the firm will enhance due to IPA (Lu, Liu, Wright,
and Filatotchev, 2014). Firms who like to invest in the technology can easily access the world.
The new ways for the firm will get open.

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Country/ regions benefits
The actions of the IPA are also beneficial for the country/regions. IPA actions in Korea showed a
rapid growth in the image of the country. After the financial crises, the position of the country
was in decline mode. Due to the actions of KOTRA, the country regains the position.
Improvement in the position of the country will lead to the increase in the FDI (foreign direct
investment). FDI will bring the opportunities of employment in the country. Employment is
directly related to the GDP of the country (Sauvant, Economou, Gal, Lim, and Wilinski, 2014).
Ultimately investment attraction in the country will lead to the growth of the country.
Development of the country takes place once the investors decide to invest. Development of the
country can also be evaluated through the development of the regions. Development of the
country also opens different ways for the government. The government further can take a step to
increase the monetary value of the company. That can provide the benefit to the country in
foreign direct investment (Gruesser, 2012).

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Conclusion
The report throws light on Kotra- Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. It consists of the
main activities that are regulated by the company. In other words, it consists of the speciality of
the company that provides benefits to the company. Due to these specialties, Nation’s/regions
primary areas of focus around investment attraction is KOTRA. KOTRA provides its services to
many small and medium industries. IPA benefits can be utilized by Samsung new projects. The
investment decisions of the company need to be based on the research. IPA actions can also
provide benefits to firms and country/regions. These actions can bring many opportunities for the
country and firms.

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References
FINPRO, 2012, Finpro Benchmark / National Investment Strategy South Korea, viewed on 4th
August 2017, http://www.exportfinland.fi/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=b2110beb-d73f-
467e-aadf-fec43da348de&groupId=10304
Gruesser, J.C., 2012. The empire abroad and the empire at home: African American literature
and the era of overseas expansion. University of Georgia Press.
H.B.C.B, 2011, Member News, viewed on 4th August 2017,
http://www.hbcbg.com/en/news/member-news/korea-ict-roadshow-eu-2011-opens-new-doors-
for-unique-led-products-maker-megatex-1606.html
http://english.kotra.or.kr/foreign/kotra/KHENKT030M.html
Kim, S., 2017. The New Korean Wave in the Middle East and Its Role in the Strategic Approach
to Medical Tourism in Korea. Kritika Kultura, (29), pp.258-271.
Kotra, 2017, History, viewed on 4th August 2017,
http://english.kotra.or.kr/foreign/kotra/KHENKT160M.html
Kotra, 2017, Intro to Invest in Korea, viewed on 4th August 2017,
https://www.kotra.or.kr/foreign/biz/KHENKO040M.html
Kotra, 2017, Korea Economic News, viewed on 4th August 2017, http://www.kotra.it/board.do?
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Kotra, 2017, Main Activities, viewed on 4th August 2017,