Yeongdeungpo-gu, Recruiting 2022 Southeast Asia Trade Delegation

[Seoul District News] Yeongdeungpo-gu Recruiting 10 Small Businesses by 12th & November Dispatch to Indonesia (Jakarta), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)... Nowon Social Economy Support Center Accepting New Tenants Until 16th... Gwangjin-gu Hwayangjeil Market Advanced Market Tour and Various Events with Residents... Geumcheon-gu Accepting Nominations for 27th Geumcheon Citizen Award... Yangcheon-gu Supporting 2.5 Billion KRW for Small Business Development Fund in Second Half

The scene of consultations with local buyers at the 2019 Myanmar (Yangon) Consultation Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will dispatch the '2022 Yeongdeungpo-gu Southeast Asia Trade Delegation' targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region and is recruiting 10 participating companies by the 12th.

This trade delegation dispatch is designed to pioneer overseas market channels for promising export SMEs and strengthen export competitiveness.

The dispatch areas are Jakarta, Indonesia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a 5-night, 7-day schedule from November 6 to 12. However, it may be suspended depending on the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, and the dispatch schedule may change.

Participating companies can enjoy benefits such as support for locations and equipment necessary for operating consultation offices locally, local market research, one-on-one consultations with overseas buyers, and interpretation services. However, airfare, travel insurance, and local accommodation expenses must be borne individually by the participating companies.

The recruitment target is 10 SMEs and venture companies located in the region that possess excellent exportable products such as machinery, equipment, communication devices, automobile parts, and medical devices. The final announcement of participating companies is scheduled for September 5.

Companies wishing to participate can apply online on the Small and Medium Business Corporation website by the 12th and submit ▲application form ▲copy of business registration certificate ▲certificate of export performance ▲English product description, etc., via email to the person in charge at the Small and Medium Business Corporation.

Additionally, the application form can be downloaded from the notice/announcement section of the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office website. For more details, inquiries can be made to the district's Job and Economy Division or the Export Cooperation Team of the Small and Medium Business Corporation.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, "I hope that through the Southeast Asia Trade Delegation, the excellent products of local SMEs will be widely promoted and serve as an opportunity to increase export channels," adding, "We expect positive effects leading to the revitalization of the local economy."

Social Economy Academy

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it is recruiting resident companies for the Nowon Social Economy Support Center until the 16th.

This recruitment is for 12 single-person startup rooms (shared offices), 1 incubating office, and 4 company offices at two locations: Nowon Social Economy Support Center Building 1 (27 Dongil-ro 174-gil) and Building 3 (212-12 Suraksan-ro). The aim is to attract promising social economy enterprises and startup teams at the starting line to revitalize the social economy in Nowon through cooperation and sharing to create social value.

The eligibility for each office is as follows: single-person startup rooms are available to individuals or groups planning to operate a social economy-type business or corporation, including companies established within 6 months as of the announcement date. The residency period is 6 months, extendable once through evaluation. Rent and electricity fees are free, and management fees are about 20,000 to 30,000 KRW per month.

Incubating offices are available to early-stage social economy enterprises established within 1 year as of the announcement date, with a residency period of 1 year. Rent is free, and electricity and management fees are charged monthly based on area.

Company offices are for companies currently designated or certified as social economy enterprises. For general cooperatives, companies that have employed paid workers and have conducted business activities for more than 3 months recently or have had quarterly sales for more than 1 year can apply. Rent differs between Building 1 and Building 3 of the Social Economy Support Center, and electricity and management fees are charged monthly based on area.

Companies wishing to move in must complete the submission documents, send them via email, and confirm receipt by phone.

The district will select the final companies through a two-step process: first document screening, then a second face-to-face evaluation including presentations on the 22nd of this month, with announcements on the website and individual notifications on the 24th. The expected move-in date is September 1.

Selection criteria include the capabilities and qualities of the company and its members, contribution and connection to the local community, business performance, and growth potential. Companies located in Nowon-gu for more than 1 year as of the announcement date or those that have completed the Nowon Social Economy Support Center's social economy fostering program will receive additional points.

The Nowon Social Economy Support Center operates Buildings 1 to 3 to systematically support the social economy ecosystem. It provides customized education and consulting, hosts forums and sports events for social economy networking, and offers space, promotion, and practical support for sales channels. Building 4 is planned to open in March next year to expand the social economy network.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, "I hope promising early-stage social economy enterprises and startup teams actively apply and grow stably on the foundation of a social economy community that revitalizes the region," adding, "We will continue to actively support social economy organizations to take root healthily in Nowon."

The Hwayang-dong Jeil Alley Market Merchants Association (President Choi Gyu-cheol) in Gwangjin-gu held various events with customers and visited advanced markets to revitalize the alley market.

Hwayang-dong Jeil Alley Market promoted programs that can develop the alley market, such as 'Our Neighborhood Market Outing,' 'Advanced Market Exploration,' and 'Hwayang Market Cultural Story,' aiming to innovate customer service and strengthen merchants' basic capabilities, led by the Merchants Association.

The 'Our Neighborhood Market Outing' event held on June 10 became a festival full of fun and attractions such as rice cake pounding, Yutnori (traditional Korean board game), and instant photo contests.

On July 19 and 20, 42 market merchants visited Sokcho Tourist Fisheries Market, Yangyang Market, and Gangneung Central Market in Gangwon Province to provide better services to customers visiting the market and learn effective market management methods.

During the two-day visit, the merchants benchmarked the activated market culture, including ▲'Yangyang Market Arcade' equipped with an intelligent fire detection system to safely protect densely packed stores ▲'Gangneung Central Market,' a successful case of traditional markets with food and attractions linked to the Dano Festival ▲'Sokcho Tourist Fisheries Market,' which created a specialized street and food alley decorated with nighttime landscape lighting. They also held a Merchants Association sub-group discussion on 'Our Market Revitalization Plan,' actively promoting alley market revitalization.

Additionally, on July 29, the 'Hwayang Market Cultural Story' event was held at the entrance of Hanareum Bowling Alley located at the market entrance to cool down customers from the midsummer heat.

At the event, merchants started plogging by picking up trash around the market, followed by programs such as 'Cultural Story Tour' and 'Water Balloon Throwing,' providing refreshing enjoyment to customers and encouraging residents to visit the market.

Choi Gyu-cheol, President of Hwayang Jeil Alley Market Merchants Association, said, "The Merchants Association is making various efforts to revitalize the alley market," adding, "We will continue to show the development of Hwayang Jeil Alley Market based on kindness, trust, and safety."

Hwayang-dong Jeil Alley Market was selected for the '2022 Traditional Market Specialization First Step Foundation Project,' a public contest by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and is promoting five innovation tasks (convenient payment, customer trust enhancement, hygiene and cleanliness, strengthening merchant organization capabilities, and market safety management) to lay the foundation for future cultural tourism specialization projects.

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Seong-hoon) is accepting nominations for candidates for the '27th Geumcheon Citizen Award' until August 31 to discover citizens and organizations dedicated to district administration and community development and widely publicize their achievements to boost citizens' pride.

Until last year, a total of 116 people have been honored with the 'Geumcheon Citizen Award,' which has five award categories: ▲Community Service ▲Good Customs and Morals ▲Education ▲Culture ▲Sports.

Nominees must be individuals or organizations who have contributed to citizen harmony and development in each category and have continuously resided or been located in Geumcheon-gu for more than three years as of August 1, 2022. This includes groups (including companies) or members of groups.

Nominations can be made jointly by 20 or more Geumcheon citizens or by heads of related organizations or groups in each category. Application documents such as nomination forms, achievement reports, and supporting evidence should be submitted to the relevant district office department or the community service center of the nominee's residence. Required documents and candidate qualifications by category can be checked on the Geumcheon-gu Office website under 'Notices and Announcements.'

To select awardees that resonate with citizens, the facts of each candidate's achievements will be investigated, and the final awardees will be decided through deliberation by the 'Geumcheon Public Achievement Review Committee.' The award ceremony is scheduled to be held at the 'Geumcheon Citizen's Day' commemorative event in October.

Yoo Seong-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, "Many people are working hard for community development and harmony with exceptional passion and dedication behind the scenes," adding, "I ask for much interest and participation in nominating candidates for the Citizen Award to express gratitude to these individuals."

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Ki-jae) announced that it is accepting applications for the '2022 Second Half Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund Loan Support' until August 19 to invigorate small business owners dreaming of a new leap.

Eligible applicants include ▲small and medium-sized business owners registered with a factory in Yangcheon-gu ▲small and medium-sized business owners with a main office in Yangcheon-gu and a factory registered within Seoul jurisdiction ▲those engaged in manufacturing-related knowledge service industries ▲small enterprises under the Special Measures Act for Small Enterprises and Small Business Owners ▲wholesale and retail businesses ▲venture companies under the Special Measures Act on Venture Businesses. However, tobacco and liquor wholesale, restaurant business, real estate, and financial industries are excluded.

The loan support scale for the second half is 2.5 billion KRW, with up to 300 million KRW per manufacturing company and up to 80 million KRW for other wholesale and retail businesses. The loan interest rate is temporarily reduced from 1.5% to 0.8% until the end of this year, benefiting both new and existing borrowers. Repayment conditions are a 2-year grace period followed by 3 years of equal installments. The loan funds must be used for facility funds, working capital, technology development funds, etc.

Companies wishing to apply can download the relevant forms from the district office website's notice board, complete them, and submit them with supporting documents (business registration certificate, income amount certificate, etc.) to the district office's Job and Economy Division by the 19th.

Loan recipients will be finalized through the Fund Operation Committee's review and can receive loans through Woori Bank Yangcheon Branch after September.

Additionally, the district provides special credit guarantees to local small business owners who need emergency funds but have difficulty applying for loans due to lack of collateral. When the district recommends SMEs and small business owners requiring guarantees to the Seoul Credit Guarantee Foundation, the foundation guarantees so that the companies can receive low-interest financial support.

Lee Ki-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, "We support a 2.5 billion KRW development fund loan for small and medium enterprises and small business owners struggling with management difficulties, so companies that meet the eligibility criteria should not miss this opportunity and apply within the deadline."