The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade (MoFT) will lend its support for the ‘Made in Korea’ (MIK) expo, which will be the first event of its kind in the Mena region to showcase South Korean products and services.

MIK 2012 will run from May 21 to 23 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

MoFT has confirmed that it will be among MIK 2012’s main patrons and is currently coordinating with other UAE ministries to secure broader awareness for the event.

Korea is considered a preferred trade and investment partner in the GCC particularly the UAE, especially in the engineering and construction fields.

Many leading organisations in Abu Dhabi, MIK 2012’s host city – including Masdar, Mubadala, Takreer, Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre and the Science and Development Company of Abu Dhabi, to name a few – have forged healthy partnerships with Korean companies.

“The UAE is Korea’s largest export market in the Middle East, so it is important for us to continue providing the best support, facilities and environments for our Korean partners,” said Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

“MIK 2012 is a solid platform for showcasing what Korea has to offer and for pursuing stronger trade ties between our countries. Representatives from Korean government agencies and regulatory authorities will be present during the exhibition so it is an excellent opportunity for us to share experiences, discuss key issues and pursue better partnership strategies,” he added.

“Since South Korean President Myung-bak Lee’s second official visit to the UAE in March 2011 both countries have been expediting initiatives to broaden commercial exchange and open up new partnership channels,” added Faisal Al Raisi, managing partner at Ideal Idea Events, organisers of MIK 2012.

“MIK 2012 complements these efforts by revealing South Korea’s best products, services and technologies and how they fit the UAE’s own trade agenda. The support we enjoy from key governmental bodies such as the Ministry of Foreign Trade is crucial to the success of the show.”

MIK 2012 will assemble over 300 high-profile Korean exhibitors from a wide range of industries including automotive, engineering, metal, hospitality, textile, electrical, chemicals, rubber and plastics, power, healthcare, ICT, media, construction, furniture, fashion, and sports.

The event will cover 14,000 sq m of prime exhibition space and will also feature host a series of conferences featuring prominent international speakers. The organisers expect the three-day expo to draw in more than 25,000 visitors. – TradeArabia News Service