The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency said on Tuesday that it will seek to become a “global business platform” for Korean companies wishing to operate in business overseas.

Speaking to reporters at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of KOTRA, its president Oh Young-ho said KOTRA’s ultimate goal is to become a global business platform.

“The globe is shifting toward globalization. Korean small and medium-sized firms need a ‘platform’ to get on the express train called globalization, and we will provide that platform,” he said.

Oh said that KOTRA’s major tasks include the resolution of the bipolarization of conglomerates and smaller enterprises as well as the strengthening of economic ties with developing countries.

He also said KOTRA will continue to help small and medium-sized companies by supporting overseas marketing, research and development, funding and cultural content items.

“We can even provide engineers and experts if necessary,” the president said.

About KOTRA’s active push to penetrate the Middle Eastern market, Han Sun-hee, KOTRA director general of business information planning department, said, “The oil-producing Middle Eastern countries and Russia are currently the most promising emerging markets. With the oil price rising, the U.S., EU and BRIC members, except Russia, are not as attractive markets.”

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)