A 15-member Korean Trade Mission, representing the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), paid a courtesy call on Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday at State House. The team was led by Dr Wan-Hee Kim, Chairman, and Dr Jung-man Oh, Executive Director, of the Association.

Speaking with the Government Information Agency (GINA) after the visit, Dr Kim, who is also Guyana’s honorary consul to South Korea, stated that the team explained to the President the purpose of their visit to Guyana, which is to locate suitable and competitive suppliers of raw materials, and facilitate imports into South Korea. He further stated that President Jagdeo showed keen interest in their visit and has expressed his support.

“He showed interest to our activities to promote our bilateral trade and business. He will give us good support and when we return (to South Korea), we will work hard for business promotion between our two countries,” Dr Kim said.

Asked about resources in Guyana in which Korean importers might be interested, Dr Kim pointed to minerals and agricultural and forestry products, as well as some sea-foods.

Guyana is the first stop on the Mission’s tour of Central and South America, seeking to establish arrangements with nations for the supply of raw materials. The Mission will also be visiting Panama, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Central Asia, China, Europe, South East Asia and Asia.

KOIMA, with over 38 years of experience, is Korea’s only private organisation exclusively dedicated to facilitating imports into the country. It boasts 10,000 declared members, all of whom are knowledgeable specialists in their respective fields. In total, KOIMA members handle over 80 percent of Korea’s total import volume and represent 60,000 overseas suppliers and manufacturers from over 100 countries. (GINA)