AKC to Hold Trade Facilitation Mission to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore (2-5 February)

AKC to Hold Trade Facilitation Mission to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore (2-5 February)

- Over 20 Korean companies and regional industry stakeholders to participate in business forums, business matching sessions, and industrial site visits -

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (Secretary General Kim Jae-shin), in cooperation with the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), will organize a Trade Facilitation Mission to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore from 2 to 5 February. The mission aims to strengthen trade and investment cooperation between ASEAN Member States and Korea through the AKC's multi-year initiative launched in 2025. Following the earlier missions to Indonesia (Jakarta) in January 2025 and Lao PDR (Vientiane) and Thailand (Bangkok) in May 2025, the upcoming mission will continue its regional outreach in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

The program will bring together 21 Korean companies from F&B, materials, and consumer goods sectors, along with approximately 30 local companies from Brunei and Singapore. It will feature business forums, business matching sessions, and industrial site visits. The forums and business matching sessions will provide Korean companies interested in ASEAN markets with up-to-date market insights and practical business opportunities. In addition, the industrial site visits will offer participants insights into the latest industry trends and technologies, while facilitating exchanges with local industry stakeholders and opportunities to identify potential cooperation partners.

The mission will commence on 2 February at Radisson Hotel with the Brunei-Korea Business Forum. Opening remarks will be delivered by H.E. Kim Jae-shin, Secretary General of AKC, and Ms. Yoon Young-mi, Chairperson of KOIMA, followed by congratulatory remarks from H.E. Sun Nahmkook, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to Brunei Darussalam. A keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Hajah May Fae'zah binti Haji Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Brunei Darussalam.
During the presentation session, officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Brunei Darussalam and Universiti Malaysia Sabah will present on the ASEAN-Korea FTA, Brunei-Korea trade trends, and market entry strategies. One-on-one business matching sessions will follow to facilitate partnerships and explore market entry opportunities.

On 3 February, participants will take part in industrial site visits to examine Brunei's trade structure, which is shaped by its geographical advantages and resource-based exports. The visits will include the Bruneian Made Hub, a platform promoting Bruneian products, and Ghanim International Corporation Sdn Bhd, a leading halal food manufacturer. These visits are expected to provide practical, market-relevant insights applicable to potential export and import activities.

On 4 February, the Singapore-Korea Business Forum will be held at Carlton Hotel Singapore. The forum will examine bilateral trade and investment trends, government trade policies, and opportunities to strengthen business networks. Following opening remarks by the organizers, congratulatory remarks will be delivered by H.E. Hong Jin-Wook, Ambassador of the ROK to Singapore, followed by a keynote address by Mr. Ong Pang Thye, Vice Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), the event's co-organizer.
Officials from the SBF and World-OKTA Singapore will then present on the Korea-Singapore FTA (KSFTA), strategies for Korean companies targeting Singaporean buyers, and an overview of the Singaporean market. As with the Brunei program, business matching sessions will be held in the afternoon to facilitate new commercial linkages.

On 5 February, participants will take part in an industrial site visit in Singapore to examine its industrial and market structure as a global trade hub shaped by strategic foreign investment policies and a re-export-driven economy. As part of the visit, participants will visit Ryan's Grocery to gain a deeper understanding of the local business environment and operational practices, while exploring market entry strategies for Korean companies seeking to expand into the region.

Building on the outcomes of its missions, AKC will continue to dispatch trade promotion missions to further support Korean companies' entry into ASEAN markets and foster more sustainable and substantive cooperation between ASEAN and Korea.

Annex 1. Program Key Visual
Annex 2. Program Outline