"Focusing Capabilities on a New Leap"... Small Business Owners' New Year's Gathering (Comprehensive)

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon (from the right), Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, and Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, are touching gold bar chocolates at the 2020 New Year's Meeting for Small Business Owners held at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] “We will focus all our capabilities to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome the uncertain business environment and make a leap forward.” (Kim Gi-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs)

On the 6th, the Korea Federation of SMEs held the 2020 New Year Greeting Meeting for Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurs at the Federation’s Grand Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, inviting over 700 key figures from various sectors including nationwide and industry-specific SME representatives, SME organizations, government, and the National Assembly.

In his greeting, Chairman Kim Gi-moon said, “This year again, many changes and uncertainties will put our economy to the test,” emphasizing, “To overcome this, it is necessary to promote win-win cooperation between large and small businesses, revitalize cooperatives which are the foundation of traditional manufacturing, and accelerate improvements in the business environment.”

The event was attended by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki, Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun, Minister of Science and ICT Choi Ki-young, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission Cho Sung-wook, and Chief Presidential Secretary for Policy Kim Sang-jo, among others.

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon stated, “With the first-phase agreement in the US-China trade dispute reducing global economic uncertainties, exports in the bio-health sector by SMEs are increasing, as well as exports to the New Southern and Northern regions.”

He also outlined the Moon Jae-in administration’s New Year support plans for SMEs, including ▲ support for venture startups and subsequent processes ▲ easing of regulatory sandbox zones ▲ strengthening strategic support for the materials and parts industry ▲ enhancing export support for SMEs to New Southern and Northern regions ▲ building a win-win cooperation ecosystem ▲ and supporting win-win transactions between large enterprises and SMEs.

Before the main event, Minister Park Young-sun, who announced the “2020 Ministry of SMEs and Startups Budget,” said, “I hope you will take the lead in making Korea a smart nation and a pioneer of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” adding, “I hope to achieve a ‘Smart Korea’ where many products connected to the humanities are produced.”

Meanwhile, in the National Assembly, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, and Lee Jung-mi, member of the Justice Party, attended. From the economic sector, Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, Kim Young-joo, chairman of the Korea International Trade Association, along with heads of related organizations, leaders of SME-related groups, and representatives of SMEs by industry were present.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.