Prospects and Strategic Approaches for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Emerging Global Environment
On the 18th, the Korea Federation of SMEs held the opening ceremony of the 2020 Baekdu Forum at Sono Calm Geoje in Gyeongnam. (From the fourth person on the left in the photo) Han Jeong-hwa, former Commissioner of the Small and Medium Business Administration; Byeon Chang-heum, CEO of LH; Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs; Byeon Gwang-yong, Mayor of Geoje; Ok Young-moon, Chairman of the Geoje City Council. Photo by Korea Federation of SMEs
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (KSMB) announced on the 18th that it held the '2020 Baekdu Forum' over a one-night, two-day schedule at Sono Calm Geoje in Geoje, Gyeongnam, with about 60 representatives of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from various industries attending.
The Baekdu Forum has been held since 2010 to support the overseas expansion and network building of SMEs. It has been hosted overseas in countries where many SMEs have expanded, such as China, Vietnam, and Indonesia, but this year, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), it was held in Geoje, a COVID-19 clean area. The forum was conducted in compliance with quarantine guidelines such as temperature checks, health questionnaires, and disinfection to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19.
Held under the theme "In the Corononomics Era, What is the Path for SMEs?", this forum was organized to forecast the new global environment SMEs will face amid the global exchange disruptions and the spread of protectionism caused by COVID-19, and to seek strategies accordingly.
The opening ceremony of the forum was attended by Byeon Gwang-yong, Mayor of Geoje, and Ok Young-moon, Chairman of the Geoje City Council. In the following special lectures, Byun Chang-heum, CEO of LH headquartered in Jinju, Gyeongnam, gave a presentation titled "LH's Role and Tasks for Supporting and Cooperating with Innovative SMEs." Then, Jeon Byung-seo, Director of the China Financial and Economic Research Institute, presented on "Trends and Prospects of the US-China Trade Dispute," proposing export response strategies for SMEs.
On the 19th, former Small and Medium Business Administration (SMBA) Commissioner Han Jeong-hwa will chair a session to derive agendas on "Survival and Development Strategies for SMEs after COVID-19." Following this, former Blue House Policy Chief Kim Dae-gi will deliver a special lecture titled "Tess-hyung, Why is the World Like This!" using Na Hoon-a's new song "Tess-hyung," which warmed up living rooms during the Chuseok holiday, as a topic.
Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, said, "In this difficult and challenging situation due to COVID-19, as Korea has gained an image as an advanced country in the international community through exemplary quarantine measures, SME entrepreneurs can create new growth opportunities by pioneering export markets using the Korea Premium," adding, "This forum was prepared to devise alternatives to find opportunities amid the crisis."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
