Mid-sized Businesspersons' Day... "Leading Korea's Economic Leap Forward through 'Solidarity and Cooperation'"

Kang Ho-gap, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Medium-sized Enterprises. Photo by Korea Federation of Medium-sized Enterprises

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] Kang Hogap, chairman of the Korea Federation of Medium-sized Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as KFME), said on the 18th, "This year's efforts of 'solidarity and cooperation' across society, including the government, policy financial institutions, and companies, to overcome the COVID-19 crisis will serve as a solid foundation for the Korean economy's leap forward."

Chairman Kang made these remarks at the 6th Medium-sized Enterprises Day ceremony held jointly with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.

He said, "The 'Innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Growth Strategy' announced by the government on the 12th is a representative growth strategy brand of the Prime Minister and has evolved solidly over time from the idea of 'transitioning to a jar-shaped economy centered on medium-sized enterprises,' which was introduced during my tenure as Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy in 2006. As it is the result of long deliberation, we must activate a new engine for the Korean economy through bold industrial policies centered on medium-sized enterprises."

The event was attended by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Park Jin-gyu, CEOs of medium-sized enterprises, and others, with awards presented to outstanding contributors under the theme "Medium-sized enterprises leading the Korean economy's leap forward through solidarity and cooperation."

In his congratulatory speech, Prime Minister Chung said, "Amid the tectonic shifts caused by COVID-19, the need to transition to a 'jar-shaped economy' is reemerging. Medium-sized enterprises, characterized by agility and indomitable spirit, are being recognized as key players to lead change and innovation in the post-COVID era."

He continued, "To fundamentally improve the structure toward a jar-shaped economy, the government will support our companies' entry into global markets and their step-by-step growth, focus on nurturing the 'next-generation innovative enterprise group,' and systematically provide growth-stage ladders. The most important factor in the virtuous cycle where small and venture companies become medium-sized enterprises, medium-sized enterprises become large companies, and then leap to world-class companies is solidarity and cooperation, with medium-sized enterprises serving as the core axis in that chain of solidarity and cooperation."

Meanwhile, government awards for contributors were given to a total of 35 medium-sized enterprise leaders who have led innovative growth through continuous technology development and new market pioneering, and practiced social responsibility (CSR) management such as win-win cooperation and fair trade.

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