Dear Readers,

•    It’s my pleasure to greet all our readers through KOTRA Express.
•    Despite the global economic recession and rising protectionism, Korea remains as an attractive investment destination and here are a few reasons why. First, Korea has a vast FTA network that links 73 percent of the global market. Second, Korea offers business-friendly environments. With its reliable and affordable electricity and water supply,
  well-established ICT infrastructure and premier workforce, Korea ranked fourth in the World Bank’s 2015 Doing Business Index. Third, Korea is a logistics hub of Northeast Asia, located in the heart of the world’s third largest economic region. Lastly, Korea boasts leading-edge competitiveness in the IT, semiconductor, display and automobile sectors.
•     Thanks to such key strengths, foreign direct investment pledged to Korea surpassed USD 20 billion for the last two years. Foreign investment plays a crucial role in Korea’s economic growth, as foreign-invested companies account for 6 percent of national employment and 21 percent of exports. KOTRA will continue to work closely with the Korean government and local municipalities to create even more favorable environments for investors.
•    This month, KOTRA Express takes a closer look at Korea’s display industry and the latest economic issues. We also had a chance to interview Mr. Jamie Metzl, who currently serves as one of Korea’s Honorary Ambassadors for Foreign Investment Promotion. In addition, we added more news covering the latest business and cultural trends taking place throughout the country. I hope that through KOTRA Express, you will get a better understanding of all the wonderful things Korea has to offer.

Sincerely,

Taisik Lee
Vice President of KOTRA