Korea, Indonesia Ink ICT Certification Deal to Boost Tech Exports (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea and Indonesia have officially launched a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) in the field of information and communications technology (ICT), streamlining product certification processes and reducing costs for exporters, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced on Tuesday.
The agreement, which takes effect immediately, allows testing and certification of ICT products in one country to be recognized by the other. This means Korean companies can now obtain certification for Indonesian market access through approved domestic testing facilities, bypassing the need for redundant local procedures.
Over the past year, the two countries have built the necessary infrastructure to ensure testing procedures comply with each other’s technical standards. As a result, Korean exporters are expected to see certification costs drop from 7.2 million won (approximately $5,400) to around 4.8 million won ($3,600) per product.
Currently, two Korean testing centers — Nemko Korea and DT&C — are authorized to conduct conformity assessments for the Indonesian market. That number is expected to grow to about 10 by the end of 2025.
Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation, is a key ICT export destination for Korea, with shipments including smartphones, tablets, and televisions totaling $1 billion in 2024.
The agreement marks a strategic step in strengthening Korea’s ICT trade foothold in Southeast Asia while fostering regulatory alignment and cost efficiency for companies on both sides.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
