The Korea Trade Promotion Corp., Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement and the Korea Association of Robot Industry held a robot trade show in Shanghai from July 10-13, arranging business meetings between 13 domestic companies and 30 Chinese firms.

The event was held during the China International Robot Show 2015, where 750 global robot-makers showed off their latest technologies.

Six Korean businessmen also had the chance to hold pinpoint meetings with Panda Group, the sixth-largest IT and electronics company in China, discussing the possibility of supplying tailored parts to Panda’s automated plants.

China has emerged as one of the biggest buyers in the global market, purchasing 36,000 robot units in 2013, outnumbering Japan’s 26,000 and the U.S.’ 23,000. The Chinese authorities announced a master plan to nurture the robot industry and occupy 45 percent of the world market of what is expected to become $21.1 billion in 2018.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)