Ministry of SMEs and Startups Announces Recruitment for 2nd Round of Overseas Certification Acquisition Support Project Participants

Partial Support for Costs of 523 Overseas Certifications
Recruitment of Eligible Companies from 2nd to 31st
'Supply Chain Due Diligence Act Consulting Pilot Project' Also Conducted

On the 1st, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it will recruit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the "2023 General Track 2nd Overseas Certification Acquisition Support Project" from the 2nd to the 31st. This project supports part of the costs (50%~70%) required for obtaining certifications demanded by export destination countries, such as certification fees, testing fees, and consulting fees, for export SMEs.

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The second recruitment targets SMEs with direct export amounts of less than 50 million USD in the previous year. It plans to support the costs of acquiring about 523 overseas certifications, including European CE (medical devices, etc.), US FDA, China NMPA, and ESG·carbon neutrality certifications, for approximately 250 companies. Five certifications?European CE (electrical and electronic, telecommunications, machinery), US FCC (electrical and electronic), international IECEE (electrical and electronic), Japan PSE (electrical and electronic), and European CPNP (cosmetics)?are subject to a separate "Fast Track" rather than the general track. This shortens the selection period. These certifications are continuously recruited until the budget is exhausted.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will also conduct a "Supply Chain Due Diligence Act Consulting Pilot Project." This project supports education, diagnostic evaluation, consulting related to responding to the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, and the production of SME-type sustainability management reports to alleviate the manpower and cost burdens of SMEs. A total of 20 companies will be supported this year. Companies located in the EU or those requested for supply chain due diligence or ESG (environmental, social, governance) related materials by domestic large corporations will be given preference.

This project was prepared in response to strengthened export regulations, such as the upcoming enforcement of Germany's Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (2023) and the European Supply Chain Due Diligence Directive (2025). Recruitment for participating companies has been ongoing from the 24th of last month to the 19th of this month. Detailed information on the "Overseas Certification Acquisition Support Project" announcement and the "Supply Chain Due Diligence Act Consulting Pilot Project" can be found on the Ministry of SMEs and Startups website (www.mss.go.kr) and other sources.

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