EU-Korea Industrial Cooperation Agency ( EUKICA )   General Background   The European Union-Korea Industrial Cooperation Agency, acting as the European Liaison Office of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK), was set up in November 2004. It is registered under Belgian law as a non-profit organization ( ASBL - Association Sans But Lucratif ). EUKICA is administratively headquartered in Brussels and has a business office in Paris.   Objectives   The overall objective of EUKICA is to create business opportunities, promote trade and implement industrial cooperation projects in favor of European and Korean companies, with a particular emphasis on Small & Medium Enterprises ( SMEs ).   Priorities   In order to achieve this general objective, EUKICA has developed three main activities around Industrial Cooperation between EU countries and the Korean Peninsula:         - Securing communication channels between EUCCK and the European institutions, professional organizations and business communities : Through official meeting arrangements with relevant interlocutors, and its physical presence in Europe which allows strong networking, EUKICA enables EUCCK to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of its lobbying activities and hold consistent dialogue with EU institutions, professional organizations and business communities. - Participating in European Commission funded projects designed to boost EU-Korea economic, trade, industrial and business cooperation : Since its debut, EUKICA actively takes part into EC cooperation projects such as Asia Invest programmes which aim at promoting EU-Asia business partnerships in favor of Small and Medium Enterprises ( SME ). - Improving bilateral trade and business by providing assistance to EU Companies interested in business with the Korean Peninsula and Korean Companies interested in business with the EU : Through its daily data gathering activities on obstacles encountered by EU SMEs willing to initiate projects with Korea, EUKICA has developed a range of business services which aim at providing them with the most convenient and customized business configuration in Korea.       Also EUKICA serves as a logistic back up for the EUCCK regarding business requests from Korean companies as well as local and central governments.   EUKICA : A close partner for EU companies and a logistic & business support center for Korean companies   Thanks to its physical presence in Europe, EUKICA is able to react with efficiency to EU and Korea companies needs, in the different stages of their projects :   Phase 1 : Information collection ( EUCCK Korea )   Data bases, partner research, identification of potential targets, business opportunities, market studies, sourcing.   Phase 2 : Fieldwork ( EUCCK Korea )   Arrangement of one-to-one meetings ( local companies and authorities ), organisation of seminars ( sectoral / general ), industrial tours, assistance for companies participating in exhibitions ( booth renting, booth staffing, logistics), intercultural programs.   Phase 3 : Marketing and Communication ( EUCCK Korea )   Our networks both in Europe and in Korea, our proven communication tools ( EUCCK / EUKICA websites, E-newsletter, E- Weekly business news, the Infomag monthly business magazine ) are helpful for EU and Korean companies which need image building. The communication tools are disseminated in Korea, in Europe and many Non-EU countries, especially in North East Asia.   Phase 4 : Follow up ( EU companies )   Success of an international project lies in the follow up which is a key phase. Still, SMEs, not to mention VSE ( very small enterprises ), suffer a lot from a lack of follow up. EUKICA helps them to secure the contacts undertaken during the business trips. ( Korean companies are handled by the EUCCK ).   Phase 5 : Setting up an enterprise( Korean companies )   Translation services, office space rental, company domiciliation and registration, recruiting services, legal assistance. ( European companies are handled by the EUCCK : please refer to the EUCCK Small & Medium Enterprises ( SME ) Support Centre ).   Entering a huge global network through EUKICA   Global objective is to develop Asia-wide projects designed to encourage transversal synergies between and within both continents. Today, EUKICA serves de facto as a bridgehead to Asian EBOs ( European Business Organizations ). Concretely, we intend to create business opportunities such as trade missions, offering activities in Korea and in other Northern Asian countries.   Contact Information   EUKICA - European Union- Korea Industrial Cooperation Agency - European liaison office of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea ( EUCCK )   Brussels 138 rue Brogniez, 1070 Brussels' Belgium Tel +32 (0)2 734 68 30 Fax +32 (0)2 538 02 45 Paris Tel +33 (0)1 45 01 91 60 Fax +33 (0)1 45 01 91 61 E-mail : eukica@eukica.org Website : www.eukica.org www.eucck.org