ESG Supply Chain Consulting Program for Exporting SMEs
A government support program funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy — KITIM handles the entire process from application intake to ESG assessment and on-site consulting preparation. Obtain a bilingual 'ESG Management Level Certificate' and access incentives from multiple partner organizations.
This program is a government support program funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. KITIM is a consulting partner that guides the entire process, from application intake to ESG assessment and on-site consulting preparation — submit the application below and a KITIM representative will contact you directly.
Program Overview
Based on Article 19 of the Industrial Development Act (Sustainable Management Support) and national policy task 46-3 (expanding climate/ESG finance)
Program Structure
Supporting Agency
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
Beneficiary Companies
500 companies
Background
With the enforcement of overseas ESG supply chain regulations such as the EU CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, effective July 2024), domestic exporting SMEs are facing growing pressure to demonstrate ESG management to maintain business relationships. This program provides ESG assessment, consulting, and result reports to help companies respond to global regulatory trends.
What is ESG?
Environmental
Carbon emissions, energy, waste management, etc.
Social
Human rights, anti-discrimination, worker safety, customer management, etc.
Governance
Ethics, anti-corruption, compliance, etc.
When ESG Data Is Required
Overseas Companies & Institutions
Buyers request ESG-related data during export transactions.
Government & Financial Institutions
ESG documentation is required when applying for policy funds, loans, or support programs.
Principal Contractors & Partners
More companies are requesting ESG data as part of supply chain management.
Eligibility
All domestic large, medium, and small companies interested in ESG management
Exporting SMEs and mid-sized companies that need to respond to ESG regulations
SMEs and mid-sized companies required by their principal contractors to adopt ESG management
Selection priority: 1st direct exporters → 2nd indirect exporters → 3rd companies planning to export (until budget is exhausted, capped at 500 companies)
Application Period
From March 25, 2026 (Wed) until the budget is exhausted
Application Fee
KRW 550,000 (VAT included, borne by the beneficiary company)
Support Process
Beneficiary Selection
Selection review and notification by email, in order of 1st direct exporters → 2nd indirect exporters → 3rd planned exporters
Online Self-Assessment
System-based ESG self-assessment with explanations, examples, and sample evidence documents for each indicator
On-site Consulting
Interviews and evidence review by staff, improvement recommendations by area, and sample document templates
Final Result Report
ESG grade and area-level assessment report, issuance of bilingual (Korean/English) 'ESG Management Level Certificate'
ESG Assessment Indicators
Comprehensively evaluates Environmental, Labor & Safety, and Social/Governance areas using international indicators such as K-ESG, Supply Chain K-ESG, CSDDD, GRI, and EcoVadis.
Policy-Action-Result
Comprehensive Evaluation Framework
Evaluated across 3 stages: policy ownership, implementation activity, and external disclosure of results.
ESG Factbook
Detailed Company Diagnosis Results
Quantitative and qualitative data for each company is processed and provided.
Multiple ESG Assessment Indicators
ESG Standard Index Provided
Maps results to K-ESG, CSDDD, GRI, and EcoVadis indicators.
4 Assessment Categories
Environmental (E)
Environmental management organization, environmental policy, environmental permits, GHG emissions, hazardous chemical management, etc.
Labor & Human Rights (S1)
Freedom of association, forced/child labor, working conditions, privacy policy, grievance procedures, etc.
Safety & Health (S2)
Safety & health systems, workplace improvement, emergency risk assessment, facility hygiene, safety training, etc.
Social Ethics (G)
Responsible raw material sourcing, community engagement, ethical management, anti-corruption, fair trade, etc.
Incentives for Beneficiary Companies
Companies selected as top performers (top 10% overall or top 30% within their size category) receive incentives from 6 partner organizations: KOTRA, KITA, Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, K-sure, SGI Seoul Guarantee, and the Korea Compliance Institute. (Subject to change based on agreement with incentive-providing organizations)
KOTRA
20% discount on Export24 proxy service and business trend briefings, bonus points for export vouchers, overseas joint logistics/IT support centers, priority for foreign investment attraction (IKMP) and domestic-to-export company conversion
KITA
Bonus points when selected for overseas marketing support programs such as trade fairs and export consultations
Korea Industrial Complex Corporation
Up to 100% guarantee ratio and up to 0.8%p rate discount for sustainable management support guarantees, plus reduced guarantee fees
K-sure
1.5x short-term export insurance limit and 30% premium discount, 5 free overseas credit reports per year
SGI Seoul Guarantee
10% discount on guarantee insurance premiums, expanded delegated approval limits (up to KRW 3 billion by credit rating), free credit management consulting
Korea Compliance Institute
50% discount on ISO certification/transition costs, support for ISO 37301/37001 certification, free fair trade legal consultation
Apply Now
Your application will be received and guided by KITIM. The program closes once the budget is exhausted, so please apply early.