Gwangju City Forms and Operates Nation's First 'Industrial Complex Support Council'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 1st that it has formed the ‘Gwangju Regional Industrial Complex Support Council’ to proactively respond to the issues faced by companies located in industrial complexes within the city and to provide tailored support through regular communication with tenant companies. The council held its first meeting on the 30th of last month.

Currently, there are a total of 12 industrial complexes in the region, of which 8 have already been completed, with 2,938 companies operating. These industrial complexes account for 78% of local employment, 82% of production, and 74% of exports.

The ‘Gwangju Regional Industrial Complex Support Council’ is the nation’s first public-private council organized by a local government to promote the development of regional industrial complexes and resolve difficulties. Participants include Gwangju City, representatives from tenant companies in six complexes?Cheomdan, Pyeongdong, Hanam, Songam, Bonchon General Industrial Complexes, and Sochon Nonggong Complex?as well as the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration, Korea Industrial Complex Corporation, Credit Guarantee Fund, Gwangju Credit Guarantee Foundation, Gwangju Economic and Employment Promotion Agency, Gwangju Technopark, and the Korea Federation of SMEs.

The meeting was held at the Korea Industrial Complex Management Corporation conference room, chaired by Park Nam-eon, Director of the Gwangju City Job and Economy Office, where they discussed directions for industrial complex development and support measures.

In particular, related business support organizations such as the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration and Gwangju Technopark introduced non-face-to-face small business market expansion projects that are being intensively supported in line with the with-COVID-19 era. The Credit Guarantee Fund and Gwangju Credit Guarantee Foundation shared emergency support projects for small business funding and guarantee systems in response to COVID-19.

Additionally, tenant company representatives proposed to Gwangju City that outstanding companies be selected as ‘Company of the Month’ to boost morale and foster pride among local entrepreneurs.

Other opinions raised included creating a safe industrial complex environment through measures such as preventing heavy rain damage and replacing sidewalk blocks, as well as providing customized support considering the characteristics of each industrial complex to enhance competitiveness.

Lee Yong-beom, Chairman of the Gwangju Cheomdan National Industrial Complex Managers’ Association, expressed gratitude, saying, “Following last year’s Japanese export restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic, local small and medium enterprises have faced difficulties. We appreciate Gwangju City’s swift establishment of the nation’s first public-private industrial complex support council and its proactive response to current issues.”

Park Nam-eon, Director of the City’s Job and Economy Office, stated, “We will regularize the council meetings at least twice a year to resolve difficulties faced by tenant companies, which are the foundation of the local industry, and to seek development plans for regional industrial complexes. We will ensure the council plays a practical role as an industrial complex support organization. Let us closely cooperate so that local companies can each secure their competitiveness and lead regional economic growth.”

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