Shanghai ITPO Organizes Korean Delegate Program for WiiTs Platform Enterprises
As global uncertainties increase and Chinese industries enter a new era of international expansion, more Chinese enterprises are extending their reach into overseas markets. Given the complex and volatile nature of international markets, selecting appropriate destination markets and operational strategies while building competitive advantages has become a key focus for expanding enterprises.
During the World FoodTech Expo 2024 and COEX FOOD WEEK, UNIDO ITPO Shanghai organized a five-day delegate program from November 19-23 for seven WiiTs enterprises in Seoul, South Korea. The program aimed to support Chinese enterprises' international development through market matching, technical cooperation, and platform expansion.
At the UNIDO pavilion of the World Food Technology Expo, UNIDO Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director Fatou Haidara, and Director of the UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs) and Institutional Partnerships met with representatives from the WiiTs enterprise delegation.
Market Matching
On November 20, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Korean Representative Office, the Korean Chamber of Commerce in China, and Shanghai ITPO jointly hosted a China-Korea enterprise market matching event. The event was attended by Yu Haiyan, Chief Representative of CCPIT Korea, Kim Byung-kwan, Chairman of Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), Liu Jinwei, General Manager of China Certification & Inspection Group Korea, Lin Zhekui, President of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Seoul Branch, and local Korean enterprise representatives.
Market matching event of Chinese and South Korean enterprises
This market matching event provided Chinese enterprises with market information, quarantine channels, investment and financing services, and project resources for entering the Korean market. Korean food enterprises engaged in detailed cooperation discussions with the WiiTs delegation. Anhui MAPED Food Technology Co., Ltd reached preliminary cooperation intentions with Little Spoon Korea, while Shanghai Inger Certification Assessment Co., Ltd established initial cooperation intentions with China Certification & Inspection Group Korea.
Group photo of KOIMA Chairman Kim Byung-kwan, CCPIT Korea Representative Office President Yu Haiyan, and Shanghai ITPO Director Zhao Xiaolei
Technical Cooperation
Haring holdings corp., Korea's largest poultry company, operates across the entire industry chain from grain, transportation, feed, farming (poultry and pork), slaughter, processing, and food manufacturing to distribution logistics. With total assets of $24 billion, the group has established companies in 35 countries and markets products to over 80 countries and regions.
On November 19, the WiiTs delegation visited Harim holding corp. Seoul headquarters and engaged in in-depth technical discussions with Executive Vice President Hak Lim Kim regarding potential applications of non-GMO biotechnology in enhancing high bioactive polyphenol compounds in agricultural products and/or food. Shanghai Femisci Biotechnology Co., Ltd. reached preliminary technical cooperation intentions with Harim holdings.
WiiTs enterprise delegation visits Harim holdings headquarters in Seoul, Korea
Platform Expansion
During their stay in Korea, the WiiTs delegation attended three concurrent international food technology exhibitions in Seoul from November 20-23: the World FoodTech Expo 2024, COEX FOOD WEEK 2024, and the Bakery Fair 2024. These exhibitions attracted over 900 enterprises from 15 countries, featuring 1,500 exhibition booths and more than 50,000 attendees. The extensive display of product resources and cooperation opportunities provided the WiiTs delegation with an international exchange platform for global agricultural and food industry products and technologies, offering Chinese enterprises additional product information, market demands, and cooperation opportunities.
As one of the ten global Investment and Technology Promotion Offices, ITPO Shanghai remains committed to building a high-level international exchange and matching platform, strengthening the WiiTs project platform, and leveraging more international and domestic resources. Through organizing overseas visits, hosting matching events, promoting technical cooperation, and expanding overseas platforms, it aids Chinese enterprises in overseas technology application matching and promotes the global implementation and application of sustainable technologies.
About the World Industrial and Innovative Technology Cooperations (WiiTs) Initiative
To promote the global application of sustainable technologies, enhance the sustainability and social benefits of investment decisions, promote industrial digitalization, and drive innovation for the future, UNIDO ITPO Shanghai launched the WiiTs Initiative in 2020. Since its inception, the initiative has received widespread social attention.
The WiiTs Initiative establishes a comprehensive technology cooperation platform through organizing online and offline business matching, introducing global technology forums, promoting effective technology transfer, and providing capacity building to professional technology partners. This platform achieves four functions: technology resource integration, technology cooperation matching, technology commercialization, and technology services. Currently, approximately 400 technology application projects have been included in the database, covering four industrial sectors: advanced digital manufacturing, green growth, pharmaceutical health, and agricultural food. Over 40 technology application projects have received WiiTs registration certification after evaluation by the country advisory team.
