100 Promising Small Businesses with Export Potential to Be Nurtured

Announcement of the Global Small Business Development Program

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 19th that it will launch the "2026 Global Small Business (K-Small Business) Development Program" to support promising small business owners with export potential so that they can grow into export-oriented companies.

The Global Small Business Development Program, newly introduced this year, aims to nurture promising small business owners into leading export companies by strengthening their export capabilities, supporting the development of export-oriented products, and providing overseas market access.

The program will select a total of around 100 companies with strong export competitiveness, including 60 companies for the Local Track and 40 companies for the Innovation Track, based on their business models. Step-by-step support will be provided in areas such as education, product development, and marketing and sales channels to help generate tangible export results.

Once selected, each participating company’s export capabilities will be assessed, and training will be provided on key topics such as customs, clearance, and export know-how, focusing on the four major consumer goods sectors (food, cosmetics, fashion, and household goods). The program will also assist in product improvement and localization strategies to ensure products are suitable for target markets and reflect local cultures.

For scaling up business models, up to 100 million won will be provided per company to support product development, enhancement of export brand design, acquisition of certifications, and industrial property rights. The global specialization program will further help companies develop overseas sales channels both online and offline, through training on entering global platforms and support for participation in international exhibitions.

Detailed information about the announcement can be found on the Small Business 24 website and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups website. Applications can be submitted via Small Business 24 from the announcement date, the 20th, until the 15th of next month.

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