KOTRA wins UN investment promotion award after attracting $518m to semiconductor supply chain

Invest Korea, the foreign investment arm of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, has won a UN investment promotion award in recognition of its work attracting overseas capital to South Korea's semiconductor materials, parts and equipment sector.

KOTRA announced Monday that Invest Korea received the 2026 UN Investment Promotion Award from the UN Conference on Trade and Development at the 9th World Investment Forum, held Sunday (local time) in Doha, Qatar.

The UN Investment Promotion Award, administered by UNCTAD since 2002, recognizes investment promotion agencies that have achieved notable results in areas the body identifies as priorities. This year's evaluation focused on promoting sustainable investment in the digital economy.

A total of 48 projects submitted by investment promotion agencies and special economic zones from 40 countries competed for the award. Invest Korea was among five institutions ultimately selected as winners.

Invest Korea was recognized for supporting foreign semiconductor materials, parts and equipment companies in establishing operations in South Korea and for attracting production and research and development facilities that have strengthened the country's semiconductor supply chain.

Foreign direct investment attracted through the initiative has reached $518 million since 2023. The projects are expected to create more than 680 direct jobs by next year.

Invest Korea supported the entry of semiconductor materials, parts and equipment companies into South Korea particularly through AI-driven identification of investment targets, consultations with major investors, and assistance with investment incentives.

UNCTAD said in citing the award that it "highly commended Invest Korea for successfully strengthening the global semiconductor supply chain through tailored foreign investment attraction and support in the semiconductor materials, parts and equipment sector."

The awards ceremony was held at a dinner on the opening night of the World Investment Forum on Sunday. Nan Ri Collins, director of UNCTAD's Division on Investment and Enterprise, announced the winning institutions, and Pedro Manuel Moreno, UNCTAD's acting secretary-general, presented the awards.

Invest Korea was also invited to speak at the Global Investment Promotion Conference, one of the forum's main programs, where it shared its experience attracting foreign investment in the semiconductor sector and supporting companies with representatives of investment promotion agencies from other countries.

Kim Tae-hyung, head of Invest Korea, said the award "carries great significance as international recognition of both South Korea's semiconductor industry competitiveness and Invest Korea's investment attraction capabilities." He added that the agency would "continue working to attract high-quality foreign investment centered on advanced strategic industries, contributing to global supply chain stability and strengthening our industrial competitiveness."

Invest Korea plans to expand its foreign investment attraction efforts in advanced strategic industries, including semiconductors, as well as in AI-driven manufacturing innovation.

From Nov. 4 to 6, Invest Korea will host the Invest Korea Summit 2026 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The event will focus on the AI transformation of manufacturing through advanced industry investment and regional economic development, and will explore cooperation opportunities between overseas investors and South Korean companies.