Ready-to-eat steamed rice products are displayed at a supermarket in Seoul in this Nov. 29, 2023 file photo. Yonhap

Korea’s agricultural ministry said Tuesday it plans to double the size of the country’s rice processing industry by 2028 to 17 trillion won ($12.7 billion).

Under the goal, the country will also expand exports of related products to $400 million, compared with $182 million tallied in 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The rice processing industry covers various products, including ready-to-eat steamed rice, lunch boxes, noodles as well as spirits.

The agriculture ministry said it plans to work with private businesses to develop new products with floury rice, to replace around 10 percent of Korea’s demand for flour imports by 2027.

In a bid to boost exports, the government aims to nurture 200 exporters that can lead outbound shipments of rice products. The ministry will also seek collaborative events with popular K-pop artists to help their marketing efforts.

The government will continue to roll out 1,000-won breakfast projects for college students as well to bolster rice consumption and help maintain healthy eating habits, it added.

Sales of ready-to-eat steamed rice products, meanwhile, came to 935.6 billion won in 2022, accounting for 12.5 percent of the country’s market for processed rice goods. Their exports came to $75 million, up 31 percent from a year earlier. (Yonhap)

Published Date: January 23, 2024