Samsung Supports SMEs at the '2022 SmartBiz Expo'

95 Small and Medium Enterprises Supported by the Ministry of SMEs, the Korea Federation of SMEs, and Samsung Participate

On the 4th, Heo Mun-young, CEO of the facial protective gear company "AutoSwing," participating in the "2022 Smart Biz Expo" held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is demonstrating an electronic welding mask. / Provided by Samsung Electronics

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Pyeonghwa] Samsung Electronics will hold the '2022 Smart Biz Expo' from the 4th to the 7th at COEX in Seoul to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop sales channels. This event is in its 6th year. It started in 2016 and has been held annually except for 2020. This year, it is hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and co-organized by Samsung Electronics and the Korea Federation of SMEs.

This event is part of Samsung Electronics' smart factory construction support project, which transfers manufacturing and technical know-how to help SMEs secure competitiveness and self-reliance. The purpose is to invite major domestic and international buyers to the event so that SMEs can develop new sales channels.

The opening ceremony held on the 4th was attended by Lee Young, Minister of SMEs and Startups; Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs; Oh Young-gyo, Chairman of the Win-Win Growth Committee; Park Han-gu, Head of the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Promotion Group; and Lee In-yong, President of Samsung Electronics.

At the event, Minister Lee emphasized, "Win-win smart factories involving both government and private sectors play an important role in the digital transformation of SMEs," adding, "It is necessary to spread successful manufacturing innovation models that support SMEs in developing sales channels, like this event."

SMEs Conduct Over 4,000 Purchase Consultations with 70 Domestic and International Buyers

This year, 95 SMEs participating in the smart factory construction project from various fields such as daily necessities, food and beverages, healthcare, and industrial materials will participate. They will showcase their products and technologies to buyers and seek new sales channels. More than 70 domestic and international buyers will be invited, and about 400 purchase consultations will be held.

Buyers participating in this event include major domestic large supermarkets, home shopping channels, department stores, as well as overseas purchasing agencies such as BBC Korea (Amazon, eBay) in the U.S., Heechang Trading (H Mart in the U.S.), Gosan Japan (Yahoo Japan, Rakuten), and Qoo10 (online shopping mall) in Singapore.

The exhibition is composed of ▲Tasting Zone ▲Demonstration Zone ▲Experience Zone. Visitors can directly experience and taste the products. Ten companies, including Eco Mom's Mountain Village Baby Food, McNulty Coffee, and Cookiea, participate in the Tasting Zone. Nine companies, such as Geo Medical, Hwajin Industry, and Samsong Caster, meet visitors in the Demonstration Zone where innovative product demonstrations take place. Six companies, including NF, Auto Swing, and Hyungje Partner, participate in the Experience Zone.

Among the participating companies, Jeju Mami (snacks), Imam (rice cakes), and Saeorum Agricultural Cooperative (chocolates) are all food manufacturing SMEs in Jeju Island operated by female representatives. Samsung Electronics dispatched three experts to each of the three companies to stay on-site for two months, inspecting manufacturing sites and resolving issues with employees. These three companies are participating in this event for the first time this year to develop new sales channels.

Samsung plans to support small companies with no experience in consulting with overseas buyers by assisting with product introduction methods, export document preparation, and the entire sales process to help them reach actual contracts. Additionally, live commerce broadcasts and training will be conducted on-site, and promotional photos for brochures and other materials will be taken to provide focused support in marketing areas where SMEs face difficulties.

President Lee said, "Samsung provides comprehensive support for smart factory projects, sales channel development, workforce training, and technology development to build a sustainable management system for SMEs, which are the foundation of the Korean economy," adding, "I hope this event will help open new sales channels."

On the 4th, Kim Hanna, Manager of Cheonnyeon Hongsam, a red ginseng processing company participating in the '2022 Smart Biz Expo' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is presenting red ginseng extract candy. / Provided by Samsung Electronics

Samsung-Supported Smart Factories Contribute to Regional Economic Revitalization and Job Creation

Since 2015, Samsung Electronics has been providing its manufacturing innovation technology and successful know-how under the philosophy of "sharing together and growing together is the path to becoming the best in the world." A representative example is the 'Smart Factory Construction Support Project,' which supports the competitiveness enhancement and job creation of domestic small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies. Since 2018, Samsung Electronics has expanded this project with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Federation of SMEs, providing assistance to all SMEs and mid-sized companies in need, regardless of whether they have business dealings with Samsung Electronics.

For this project, Samsung Electronics has selected about 200 in-house experts in areas such as ▲manufacturing site innovation ▲factory operation system construction ▲manufacturing automation, and transfers know-how tailored to each company's situation. It helps secure self-reliance not only by supporting productivity improvement and on-site innovation but also by assisting in domestic and international sales channel development, professional workforce training, and resolving technical difficulties. When the COVID-19 pandemic caused shortages of quarantine supplies, Samsung supported the construction of smart factories for SMEs manufacturing ▲masks ▲PCR diagnostic kits ▲LDS syringes ▲self-diagnostic kits, thereby increasing productivity.

From 2015 to last year, Samsung Electronics supported the construction of smart factories for a total of 2,811 companies. Including those supported this year, the number exceeds 3,000 companies. External evaluations recognize Samsung Electronics' project as contributing to regional economic revitalization and job creation. According to the policy effect analysis of the 'Large-Small Win-Win (Samsung) Smart Factory Construction Support Project' announced by the Korea Federation of SMEs last month, companies that introduced smart factories showed effects such as ▲23.7% increase in sales ▲26.0% increase in employment ▲36.8% increase in R&D investment compared to companies that did not introduce smart factories.