K-Event Coverage: 2025 Connect with Korea: KOSME’s GOBIZ Networking Day

Writers: Divyanshi Gaur and Nishaa Ghosh (Delhi, India)

Editor: Pooja Vishwanathan (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

The Connect with Korea: GoBiz Networking Day series, which took place on November 25th, 27th, and December 18th, 2025, was a dynamic initiative organized by the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) through its GoBizKOREA platform. Designed to foster business partnerships and trade growth, the event created meaningful space for Korean small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and global partners to connect directly with verified Korean suppliers and explore collaborative opportunities. 

Throughout the sessions, key discussions centered on the strength of the India-Korea Trade and Economic Partnership, highlighting strategic trade figures and future targets:

• The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in 2009 and active since 2010, underpins steady bilateral economic engagement.
  
• In FY25, bilateral trade reached US$26.89 billion, with India’s exports to Korea at US$5.82 billion and imports from Korea at US$21.07 billion.
  
• Trade hit a historic peak of US$27.8 billion in 2022 and continued strong performance with US$12.75 billion in H1 2025.
  
• Under an upgraded CEPA, the goal is to achieve US$50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
  

The event also spotlighted Korean FDI in India, totaling about US$6.69 billion from 2000 to 2025, with major investments in automotive, electronics, steel, and consumer goods sectors and more than 800 Korean companies active in the Indian market. Cultural ties, particularly the influence of Korean beauty, entertainment, and fashion, added further momentum to the partnership. Highlights from social media coverage of GoBizKOREA emphasized how the platform simplifies global sourcing, matches buyers with the right suppliers, and reduces barriers to international trade, reinforcing the practical value of events like this one. At the closing session, company representatives shared their business goals and future plans, underlining the event’s dual focus on relationship-building and real commercial outcomes across borders.

Opening Ceremony and Purpose of the Event

The opening ceremony set a purposeful and forward-looking tone for the Connect with Korea: GoBiz Networking Day, with Mr. Lee, a senior representative of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), officially welcoming participants. In his address, Mr. Lee emphasized the growing importance of international collaboration in strengthening the global competitiveness of Korean small and medium-sized enterprises.

Highlighting the role of GoBizKOREA as a bridge between markets, he stated,

Our goal is to build meaningful connections between Korean startups and global partners, enabling innovation, trust, and sustainable growth across borders.

He noted that as global supply chains evolve, platforms like GoBizKOREA play a crucial role in helping SMEs adapt and access new opportunities beyond their domestic markets.

Mr. Lee also drew attention to the long-standing economic relationship between India and Korea, referencing the steady expansion of bilateral trade and investment under the CEPA framework. He explained that the networking day was designed not only as a platform for introductions but as a space for practical business dialogue, where participants could explore partnerships, share insights, and identify long-term areas of cooperation.

Addressing the participants, he remarked,

In today’s fast-changing business environment, SMEs require more than visibility; they need reliable networks, institutional support, and platforms that encourage real engagement. GoBizKOREA is built to provide exactly that.

His remarks highlighted KOSME’s broader commitment to supporting SMEs through trade promotion, innovation, and global outreach. The ceremony concluded with an overview of the day’s agenda, outlining the focus on one-on-one networking sessions, sector-specific discussions, and opportunities for companies to present their business goals. This opening address effectively framed the event as a results-driven initiative aimed at transforming dialogue into actionable partnerships.

What is the GOBIZ platform about?

GoBizKOREA is KOSME’s official government-backed B2B digital platform, created to connect international buyers with verified Korean SMEs and startups. It provides access to over 60,000 quality products from thousands of trusted suppliers across key industries, enabling transparent, direct trade without intermediaries.

More than a product portal, GoBizKOREA facilitates strategic networking through business matchmaking, translation assistance, and virtual exhibitions. These services help Korean enterprises expand globally while making cross-border partnerships easier and more efficient. The platform stands as a vital resource for Korean SMEs aiming to broaden their reach and for international buyers seeking reliable Korean suppliers.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties: Insights from the India-South Korea Networking Event

The concluding day of the networking event, held on 18th December, organised by KOSME, was marked by acknowledging the India-South Korea trading partnership and provided a platform to solidify and strengthen further bilateral relationships between the two countries by focusing on opening up pathways for Indian traders to directly collaborate with verified Korean companies.

The session opened with a short introduction by Inhee Ji, co-founder of JHPATNERS enterprise, with a broad overview of India-Korea diplomatic and economic relations powered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed and implemented between 2009-2010. A decade has passed, but CEPA continues to be a major pillar upholding the India-Korea economic partnership, providing the framework for business and investment. According to figures, the trade was evaluated at US$6.69 billion between April 2000 and March 2025. Korea ranks 13th among India’s top foreign investors with investments primarily concentrated in automation, electronics, steel and heavy industries, and food and FMCG.

This was followed by a few introductory remarks by the managing director of KOSME, INDIA GBC, Mr. Jaekyung Lee, who outlined KOSME ‘s mandate, goal, and long-term commitment to serve as a platform between small and medium-sized Indian enterprises and Korean SMEs. He further stated that KOSME is not just a platform to facilitate trade but to create conditions for safe and secure ecosystems for business and investment to thrive between both countries.

Mr. Lee noted that the GOBIZ platform will provide Indian traders with an incredible opportunity to collaborate with verified Korean startups while mitigating investment risks. He concluded by saying that this initiative was designed to bring Indian and Korean companies closer for a sustainable partnership, furthering bilateral ties.

This was followed by brief remarks and a short presentation by Mr. Yoo Hosung, the founder of Trustn Bridge, and senior marketing manager Shriya Batia, respectively, both of whom shared their vision of global business platforms by emphasising their commitment to bridge the gap between indian and Korean small and middle enterprises. They both highlighted their ambition to bring a “slice of Korea “ to India by providing deeper market access, cultural familiarity, and sustainable business collaboration.

A separate segment in the seminar highlighted the various benefits for Indian businesses by engaging with GOBIZ, starting from direct access to verified Korean startups to end-to-end facilitations that range from matchmaking, free translation and interpretation, risk-free engagement, and exclusive invitations to trade shows and virtual exhibitions. This was followed by a step-by-step registration and participation process to be followed from application, verification by KOSME India, to product search and supplier matching, and finally to exchanging company profiles and meetings.

Conclusion

Overall, the final day of the networking event ended on a high note with many Indian company representatives showing enthusiasm, and both Korean and Indian participants engaged further by exchanging business cards showing interest in each other’s companies. The well-organised event and the positive engagement created an optimistic environment. The session ended on a high note with questions and answers, a round of applause, and a group photograph.

Would you like to attend such an event in the near future? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.