Seoul, June 30 || The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said on Monday it has dispatched an auto parts delegation to the US state of Georgia to help domestic manufacturers explore investment opportunities amid rising protectionist trade measures from Washington.
Jointly organised by the Gyeonggi Province government, the auto parts investment delegation visited the cities of Atlanta and Savannah for three days from Wednesday, with 10 South Korean auto parts firms participating.
The programme included investment seminars, consultations with Georgia state officials and on-site visits to existing South Korean manufacturing operations, including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, which was completed in March, reports news agency.
Georgia has emerged as a major hub for Korean automakers, including Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp., whose large-scale investments in the region have encouraged related auto parts suppliers to follow suit.
"We will continue to work with both domestic and international partners to help resolve investment challenges and support our companies' global expansion," a KOTRA official said.
Meanwhile, industry Minister nominee Kim Jung-kwan said on Monday he will put in "utmost" efforts to safeguard "national interests" in South Korea's tariff negotiations with the United States and support Korean companies' exports amid global trade uncertainties.