Source: 코트라, CIS지역 진출 전략 강화…“제2의 ‘몽탄’ 만들자” - 매일경제

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The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) has taken steps to position the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region as a “foothold for exports.”

On the 16th,KOTRA President Kang Kyung Sung, speaking at the CIS Regional Trade and Investment Expansion Strategy Meeting held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, said, “The tectonic shifts in the Eurasian continent signal the need to discover new alternative markets.”

Participants discussed strategies to expand Korean-style business success models in Central Asia, approaches to entering untapped markets such as the three Caucasus countries (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), and ways to strengthen Korea-Russia economic cooperation.

Special attention was given to spreading the successful Mongtan (Mongolia + Dongtan) business model—based on the Korean Wave (Hallyu)—to Central Asia. KOTRA plans to expand entry into convenience stores, franchises, and the medical and bio sectors leveraging Hallyu consumption, while improving market accessibility through Hallyu expos and local retail network participation.

KOTRA also plans to increase activities in the three Caucasus countries. In Georgia, a new Tbilisi trade center will be established to generate short-term results aligned with the local government’s strategies, such as medical infrastructure projects. In Kyrgyzstan, a joint logistics center will be set up to strengthen the export foundation.

Currently, KOTRA continues to operate the Russia-Ukraine Emergency Response Task Force, monitoring local developments according to changes in the Russia-Ukraine situation, while also supporting entry via the Northern Sea Route.

President Kang stated, “Although the CIS region has high value as a foothold for exports, geopolitical risks have limited the expansion of entry,” adding, “We will make every effort to ensure stable business and create opportunities for domestic companies in the CIS region, which is a strategic hub for diversifying export markets.”

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