The Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) and North Chungcheong Province said that they would convert the “Bio Korea 2020” convention into an online event from May 18-23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expectations for the bio-health industry has been rising since the government designated the sector as sixth new growth engines for exports and promised for extensive support. More than 25,000 people from 50 countries attended a similar conference in 2019, the KHIDI said in a press release on Monday.

The online Bio Korea 2020 will consist of a virtual exhibition hall, conference, and business forum.

The government-funded institute and North Chungcheong provincial government are preparing online video presentation and one-on-one consultation to provide business meetings for foreign participants and buyers

Also, the organizers will exhibit participating companies' technologies and products at the virtual exhibition hall using the latest information technology (IT).

As part of the conference, the Invest Fair will provide video presentations for the CEOs of companies that need investment.

Likewise, Job Fair will offer online recruitment sessions for participating companies.

"Despite the difficult conditions caused by COVID-19, domestic companies are struggling hard to overcome the pandemic and trying to grow," KHIDI Director Eom Bo-young said. "We will prepare Bio Korea as an online bio-convention by grafting the nation’s excellent IT technology to its promising bio-health sector."

The organizers hope the convention will help to bolster the development of the domestic bio-industry and keep it from falling into a slump caused by COVID-19, Eom added.

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