'60 Years of Progress, 100 Years of Hope'... Korea Federation of SMEs Holds Over 80 Events Nationwide

16-21th Nationwide SME Week Events in 17 Cities and Provinces
Policy Forum on Delivery Price Linkage System Held
Chairman Kim Gi-moon: "Hope This Becomes a Festival to Promote the Status of SMEs"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwak Min-jae] The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (KSMB) announced on the 15th that it will hold more than 80 events under the theme "60 Years of Progress, 100 Years of Hope" to celebrate its 60th anniversary, focusing on the daily lives of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and small business owners and economic recovery.

In celebration of Small and Medium Enterprise Week, the largest festival for the SME sector, various events will be held from the 16th to the 20th across 17 cities and provinces nationwide. The Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises designates the third week of May each year as "Small and Medium Enterprise Week."

This year's events are co-hosted and organized by 31 SME organizations and support institutions, with 29 government ministries and metropolitan local governments participating as sponsors. As this is the first SME and small business festival held after the lifting of social distancing measures, the SME sector is expected to regain vitality.

Notably, events that will delight the eyes and ears include the "Beautiful SME Sharing Concert" (19th, Seoul Arts Center), the "KSMB 60th Anniversary Commemorative Photo Exhibition" (10th?31st, KSMB Yeouido), and the "SME Awareness Improvement IDEA Exhibition" (16th?27th, KSMB Yeouido).

Many events aimed at fostering harmony and social contribution among regional SMEs will also be held. In particular, the "Gyeonggi SME Cooperative Plogging Challenge" hosted by the KSMB Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters on the 20th is noteworthy. It is expected to achieve two goals: unity within the regional SME community and environmental protection.

Other events include the "Small Concert for SMEs and Small Business Owners" (24th, Chuncheon Local Craft Center), the "Incheon Regional SME Cooperative Executives’ Ki-UP Communication Day" (26th, Buan, Jeonbuk), the "Seoul Cooperative Executives’ One-Heart Mountain Hiking Club" (2nd, Bukhansan National Park), and the "MainBiz Member Forum" (26th?27th, Grand Plaza Cheongju Hotel).

Discussion forums and briefings to address SME issues and revitalize regional SME management will also be held. A policy forum on the introduction of a delivery price linkage system will take place on the 17th at KSMB Yeouido. The delivery price linkage system is gaining attention as a key policy task to support SMEs struggling due to recent raw material price surges and to resolve the widening gap between large and small enterprises caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, events such as the "SME Innovation Capacity Enhancement Briefing" (17th, Daejeon Yuseong Hotel), "Labor Issues SMEs Should Know Briefing" (17th, Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry), "ESG Management and Business Succession System Briefing" (17th, Jeonbuk Creative Economy Innovation Center), "Discussion on Guaranteeing Appropriate Prices for SMEs" (18th, KSMB Yeouido), "Regional Win-Win Cooperation Meeting with Innovation City Relocated Institutions" (18th, KSMB Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Headquarters), "Incheon-Type SME and Small Business Owner Development Roundtable" (18th, KSMB Incheon Regional Headquarters), and the "SME Indirect Export Policy Forum" (20th, National Assembly) will be held.

KSMB Chairman Kim Ki-moon stated, "As the economy emerges from the long tunnel of COVID-19 and regains vitality, this Small and Medium Enterprise Week embodies the determination of SME owners to restore the economy and daily life," adding, "I hope this SME Week will boost the morale of SME owners and become a festival that raises public awareness of the status of SMEs."