SME Central Association Holds Policy Meeting Inviting Yang Seung-jo, Governor of Chungnam Province

Policy Recommendations for SME Support to Revitalize the Economy of Chungnam Region

Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, is delivering a greeting at the '5th Certificate Award Ceremony for Prestigious Long-Established Companies' held on the 21st at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Korea Federation of SMEs held a policy meeting with Chungnam Province Governor Yang Seung-jo and small and medium-sized business owners on the 27th at the Chungnam Provincial Government main conference room.

This meeting was organized to listen to the difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners in the province who are experiencing management crises due to sales declines caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, and to restore regional economic vitality through the activation of SMEs and cooperatives.

At the site, about 30 people attended, including Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs; Jeon Won-sik, Chairman of the Daejeon-Sejong-Chungnam SME Association; chairpersons of cooperatives by industry in the Chungnam region; Governor Yang Seung-jo of Chungnam Province; Kim Seok-pil, Director of the Economic Office; Lee Si-hee, Director of the Chungnam Small and Medium Business Administration; Kim Young-min, Director of the Daejeon Procurement Office; and heads of related institutions in Chungnam Province.

During the meeting, 14 tasks were proposed to resolve difficulties faced by Chungnam SMEs and cooperatives, including △establishing a basic plan for fostering Chungnam SME cooperatives and reflecting it in the budget △supporting the construction of cooperative facilities for the development of the concrete industry in Chungnam △supporting the purchase of local products to revitalize the Chungnam economy △supporting the purchase of font licenses by public institutions when ordering printed materials.

Additionally, to support the expansion of sales channels for Chungnam SME products, a 'Chungnam Regional SME Product Priority Purchase Expansion Agreement' was signed among Chungnam Provincial Government, local public institutions, and the Korea Federation of SMEs. The agreement focuses on △joint cooperation support for expanding purchases and developing sales channels for Chungnam SME products △efforts to utilize Chungnam’s ‘SME Cooperative Recommended Private Contracts’ and ‘Priority Purchase System for Small Business Joint Project Products.’

Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, said, “Based on the ordinance for fostering SME cooperatives, more local governments are establishing three-year plans for cooperative activation starting this year,” and added, “We request Chungnam Province to promptly establish a plan for cooperative activation.”

Governor Yang Seung-jo of Chungnam Province stated, “The regional economy is very difficult due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, but we will continuously improve and support the business environment so that SMEs can focus on their businesses without worries,” and added, “We will carefully review the policy tasks discussed at the meeting and devise support measures.”

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