KOFURN is one of the longest-running furniture fairs in South Korea.

Ten furniture companies are exhibiting in the ASEAN pavilion for the Korea International Furniture and Interior Fair (KOFURN) 2019 as part of the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau’s (DTI-EMB) second business mission to South Korea.

The DTI wants the local furniture industry to be a global design innovator or global hub for sustainable products by 2030, through product development, marketing, capacity building and advocacy

The DTI-EMB said that the country’s participation, together with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center and the ASEAN Korea Centre, is part of the bid to boost the country’s furniture industry.

“The Philippines features multi-functional and customizable office and home furniture, lamps and lighting, carpets, and wall decors made from environmentally-sustainable and sturdy materials to accommodate the needs of the Korean Furniture Market,” the DTI-EMB said.

The delegation from the Philippines includes Acento Colleccion, Azcor Lighting Systems, Inc., Contemporaneo Design Enterprise, Designs Ligna Philippines, Diretso Philippines, Furniture Doctor, Markline Home Furnitures, Natures Legacy Eximport Inc., Weavemanila, and VGC Wooden Articles.

The country is exhibiting along with nine other member states from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Established in 1981, KOFURN is one of the longest-running furniture fairs in South Korea. This year’s show opened in 28 August and will run until today, 1 September.

Aside from participating in the fair, the DTI-EMB also said it aims to establish new business leads through a market sensing activity to be conducted in conjunction with the trade show.

The DTI wants the local furniture industry to be a global design innovator or global hub for sustainable products by 2030, through product development, marketing, capacity building and advocacy. Among the sustainably-sourced raw materials prominent in local furniture industry are hard word, buri, rattan, bamboo, metal and other indigenous products.

Ninety-eight percent of the enterprises making up the industry are categorized as small and medium enterprises.

In total, the industry also employs 2.1 million indirect workers nationwide as well as provides business to 5.4 million people in its supply chain, as per the trade agency’s data.

The Philippines’ participation in the South Korean fair also comes as the countries conduct talks for the “future-oriented” bilateral free trade agreement seen concluded by November.

According to the countries’ earlier joint statement, the agreement seeks to provide greater market access for goods and services as well as improved investment opportunities, and enable collaboration for research and development in fields of innovation.