Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

FDI rises 38.1% in 1st quarter

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on April 4 that foreign direct investment (FDI) arriving into Korea in the first quarter of this year jumped 38.1 percent year-on-year to $2.8 billion. The figure reflected that Asia’s fourth-largest economy has steadily grown despite lingering global economic uncertainties. New FDI committed in the first quarter contracted 9.2 percent year-on-year to $3.9 billion, which exceeded an average quarterly amount of $3.7 billion for the past date2017-04-04

Korea’s exports jump 13.7% to 27-month high in March

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on April 1 that Korea’s exports rose by 13.7 percent to $48.9 billion from a year earlier with outbound shipments of semiconductors, general machinery, and cosmetics reaching record highs.   Exports expanded year-on-year for five consecutive months for the first time in 63 months since December 2011 and at double-digit rates for three straight months for the first time in 66 months since September 2011. The amount of exports notch date2017-04-01

Ministry launches ‘global networking series’ to bridge Korean tech suppliers and global firms

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 31 that the Ministry launched the “global networking series” to promote cooperation between Korean suppliers of electronic components and global companies for new opportunities created by industrial convergence in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.    Jointly organized by the Ministry and Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KIET), the Global Networking Series aims to bridge domestic suppliers of semiconducto date2017-03-31

Online retail sales increase 16.3% in February

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 30 that online retail sales jumped 16.3 percent in February from a year ago while overall retail sales remained almost unchanged due to the decline in in-store purchases.   Sales of Korea’s 26 major retailers inched up 0.1 percent year-on-year in February as online sales, which account for 34 percent of the total retail sales, surged 16.3 percent and in-store revenues fell 6.6 percent.   Web-based sales continued t date2017-03-30

Korea to invest 464.5 billion won into system semiconductor segment

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 30 that the Korean government and industry will invest a combined 464.5 billion won into the system semiconductor segment by 2023. System semiconductors will be the key enablers of innovations of the upcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution.    A total of 264.5 billion won will be spent to research and develop low-power, ultra-light and high-speed semiconductor technologies as well as next-generation semiconductor materials a date2017-03-30

Gov’t to expand discount on electricity bills linked to renewable energy consumption

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 29 that discounts on electricity bills for renewable energy user-producers will be expanded. The new amount of the discounts will equate to the value of up to 75 percent of renewable electricity generated and consumed.   Under the current special rules to promote renewable energy, its user-producers are eligible for a 10-percent or higher discount on their electricity bills under the condition that the amount of green electrici date2017-03-29

Ministry, experts meet to review preparation for ASEM Economic Ministers’ Meeting

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 28 that the Ministry held the second meeting of the expert advisory panel set up to prepare for the successful hosting of the seventh ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Economic Ministers’ Meeting taking place in Seoul on September 21 and 22.   The meeting of the advisory panel in central Seoul was presided by Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan and attended by other senior ministry officials as well as 10 experts f date2017-03-28

Ministry discusses expansion of Korea-US economic cooperation with private sector

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on March 24 that the Ministry held the third meeting of the public-private committee on Korea-U.S. trade in Seoul to discuss latest developments in the trade between the two countries and come up with responses.    The meeting was chaired by Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Joo Hyunghwan and was attended by about 40 representatives from export-supporting agencies, industries bodies and think tanks, including the Korea Internatio date2017-03-24