Gwangju Buk-gu Holds Meeting with Small Business Owners to Prepare for '4th Wave of COVID-19'

Published 14 Jul.2021 17:29(KST)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (District Mayor Moon In) announced on the 14th that it held a ‘Meeting with Small Business Organizations and Associations to Prepare for the 4th Wave of COVID-19 Spread.’

About 30 representatives from small business organizations and associations, including alley-type shopping districts, traditional markets, and merchants' associations, attended.

This meeting was organized to listen to the difficulties faced by small business owners suffering from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Buk-gu explained the contents related to small business support in the government’s 2nd supplementary budget and the district’s support measures for small businesses and plans to revitalize the local economy.

Small business representatives attending the meeting proposed expanding management stabilization fund support, providing quarantine supplies, and fostering traditional markets and shopping districts.

Mayor Moon of Buk-gu said, “We will additionally support special guarantees and quarantine supplies to practically help small business owners and promptly promote pending projects in markets and shopping districts.”

Meanwhile, Buk-gu has been focusing on stabilizing livelihoods by establishing the ‘Livelihood Economy Revitalization Headquarters’ since last year to proactively respond to COVID-19, implementing 49 tasks in five major areas including administrative and financial support, small business and SME support, and employment support.

In particular, Buk-gu was the first in Gwangju to open a Self-Employment Support Center, concentrating on strengthening the self-reliance of small business owners and recovering local commercial districts through comprehensive consulting, special guarantees for tenant small business owners, and customized financial education.

This year, in line with the COVID-19 era, new projects such as ▲ Small Business Boom-up Marketing Support Project ▲ Online Market Entry Support Project ▲ Rebound Stepping Stone Support Project are being carried out.

In the future, Buk-gu plans to establish support measures by sector related to the government’s 2nd supplementary budget and prepare support plans for small business owners affected by gathering bans and business restrictions.

Mayor Moon said, “As the difficulties of local small business owners continue, we will focus administrative power on support to stabilize management and minimize damage.”