'Korea Small Business Conference' to be Held on July 2-3... This Year's Theme: Innovation and Growth

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations will hold the '2022 Korea Micro Enterprise Festival' for two days from the 2nd to the 3rd of next month at Hall 3, Exhibition Center 1, KINTEX Ilsan.

The Micro Enterprise Festival is hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and organized by the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations and the Small Enterprise and Market Service. It is the largest festival for micro enterprises, established in 2006 to improve the social status of micro entrepreneurs and enhance relations with local residents. Although it has been held annually around 'Micro Enterprise Day (November 5),' this year it will be held in December due to the first week of November being designated as a national mourning period.

This year's event will be held under the theme 'Innovative Micro Entrepreneurs, Growing Entrepreneurs.' The venue will be composed of the main stage, Micro Enterprise Fair (skills competition), seminar rooms, micro enterprise experience hall, product sales hall, entrepreneurial micro enterprise product exhibition, and smart store pitching competition. On the main stage, an awards ceremony will be held to honor those who have contributed to the development of the local economy in celebration of Micro Enterprise Day.

At the skills competition, outstanding micro entrepreneurs with excellent skills will be discovered, and cooperation among micro entrepreneurs will be promoted. Participants from six industries, including the Korea Makeup and Beauty Association, Korea Gift Wrapping Association, Korea Auto Glass Sales Cooperative, Korea Pet Industry Federation & Korea Dog Association, Korea Custom Tailoring Association, and Asia Food Service Federation & Collective Catering Cooking Association, will showcase their skills.

At the entrepreneurial micro enterprise product exhibition hall, visitors can see products from 10 teams of 'strong micro entrepreneurs' who represent the future of micro enterprises. A smart store experience hall where visitors can directly experience smart technologies such as serving robots will also be prepared. In addition, a local product sales hall where regional products can be purchased and various experience events such as cake making, latte art, flower box decoration, and henna tattoos are expected to attract visitors.

Oh Se-hee, president of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations, said, "Since micro entrepreneurs from various industries are gathered in one place, I hope this will be an opportunity to leap forward as entrepreneurs through exchange and cooperation."