The Detroit Regional Partnership’s recent trade mission to Korea in December was highly productive—the team met with 27 companies, including new prospects and existing project engagements in the pipeline. These meetings allowed for both early-stage relationship building and deeper discussions with companies actively evaluating North American expansion opportunities.
The mission generated multiple near-term opportunities for the Detroit Region, particularly within mobility, automotive manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing. Several companies expressed immediate interest in continuing site-evaluation discussions, with follow-up activity already underway or planned for early 2026.
Discussions reinforced why the Detroit Region remains a compelling destination for South Korean investment—our deep engineering and technical talent, proximity to OEM customers and Tier-1 suppliers, and direct air connectivity to Seoul are standout advantages. These factors continue to differentiate the Detroit Region in a highly competitive global investment landscape.
The mission also marks the first coordinated outreach alongside a new Korea-based consultant, who supported company identification, meeting coordination, and targeted engagement to further strengthen the Region’s visibility and effectiveness in the South Korean market.
In addition to near-term outcomes, the December mission also laid important groundwork for continued engagement in 2026. The trip helped establish momentum and align priorities for a return visit in March 2026, which will coincide with the InterBattery Show. The DRP team will continue working with the Korea-based consultant for the upcoming trip, receiving support in company identification, meeting coordination, and targeted engagement to further strengthen the Region’s visibility and effectiveness in the South Korean market.
