S. Korea pushes to simplify weapons trade permission

SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's weapons procurement agency said Tuesday
it will set up a comprehensive on-line system next year that will simplify the
permission process for firms hoping to take part in arms deals.
Services including those that allow companies to export and import defense items
and participate in overseas weapons exhibitions will be accessible via the new
Web site (www.d4b.go.kr).
Civilians will no longer have to visit the agency or submit complicated papers
for these services, Seoul's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)
said in a press release.
"This (on-line) service is mainly aimed at smoothing out and simplifying the
administrative system between the government and companies, and thereby
increasing the country's overall exports of defense products," the agency said.
The system will reduce the average time it takes the government to handle a
single civil request by 12 hours and save up to 25.2 billion won (US$22.4
million) in the national budget, according to DAPA.
The weapons agency also said it will host a discussion session on Thursday aimed
at sharing information on the defense trade market, and government support for
and permits on defense exports, among other areas.
Participants will include officials from the commerce ministry, the presidential
office, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and the Korea Defense
Industry Association, as well as experts and weapon producer representatives.
South Korea is one of the largest arms buyers in the world, purchasing $800
million worth of U.S. arms on a foreign military sales basis in 2008, according
to the most recent data by the U.S. Congressional Research Service.
South Korea's exports of defense products reached a record-high $1.17 billion
last year and the country hopes to increase the exports to at least $1.5 billion
this year, according to DAPA.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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