Gyeonggi-do Re-certified as Fair Trade City... Opening of 'Gyeonggi Fair Trade Fortnight'

2023 Gyeonggi Fair Trade Fortnight Opening Ceremony

Gyeonggi Province has been re-certified as a 'Fair Trade City.'

On the 27th, Gyeonggi Province announced that it recently received fair trade city certification from the Korea Fair Trade Town Committee, a corporation entrusted with certification duties by the International Fair Trade Towns Committee.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province will hold the '2023 Gyeonggi Fair Trade Fortnight Festival' across 15 regions within the province until the 11th of next month to promote the importance of fair trade and the value of the social economy.

Fair trade refers to trade that pays a fair price to producers in underdeveloped countries so they can sustain their livelihoods.

The International Fair Trade Towns Committee grants certification to cities that exemplarily practice fair trade. Currently, 2,238 cities (towns) worldwide have been officially certified.

To be re-certified as a fair trade city, five criteria must be met: ▲support from local government and council ▲expanded accessibility to local stores ▲use of fair trade products in various communities ▲education and campaign activities ▲organization of a fair trade committee.

During this Fortnight Festival, Gyeonggi Province will conduct a 'Fair Trade City Certification Ceremony,' a fair trade practice declaration and performance, fair trade institution certification, and commendations for fair trade contributors.

Yeom Tae-young, Deputy Governor for Economy of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Fair trade is not merely a consumption act but an action that plants the seeds of coexistence and ethical consumption in a market economy where profit pursuit is paramount, thereby changing the world." He added, "Having received the second re-certification as a fair trade practice city, Gyeonggi Province will continue to actively cooperate with city and county fair trade activists to promote fair trade."

Since enacting the Fair Trade Support Ordinance in 2017, Gyeonggi Province has taken the lead in revitalizing fair trade by developing local-fair trade products using Gyeonggi-produced goods and fair trade raw materials. Additionally, in cooperation with cities and counties, the number of fair trade cities and communities within the province expanded from 26 in 2021 to 43.

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