'Public Institution-Women-Owned Business' Win-Win Cooperation Meeting Held
Reflecting On-Site Voices to Propose Various Policies to the Government
"When selling products to public institutions, the range of opportunities has expanded, which has been very helpful."
Jo Hee-seon, CEO of The DWI, a facility management specialized solution company operating in Jung-gu, Seoul, is earning profits by utilizing the public procurement market support services provided by the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association. She is gradually growing her company by selling subscription-based software services to the Government Complex Sejong, National Tax Service, Seoul Facilities Management Corporation, and others. CEO Jo said, "If you have a Women-owned Business Certificate, the contract amount for private contracts sometimes increases," adding, "Cases of private contracts through the Korea ON-line E-Procurement System (KONEPS) continue to occur."
At the Korea Nara Market Expo held last April, a separate Women Entrepreneurs Pavilion operated by the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association was in place. [Photo by Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association]
There are 3.14 million women-owned businesses in Korea, accounting for 40.6% of all companies, achieving quantitative growth. However, 99.9% are small and medium-sized enterprises, and their sales scale accounts for only about 10% of the total, indicating a need for qualitative growth.
According to the ‘2022 Women-owned Business Survey’ released by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the area where women entrepreneurs feel the most management difficulties is ‘securing sales channels and marketing management’ (29.9%), ranking first. In response, the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association is leading efforts to expand public procurement market channels for women-owned businesses.
First, to help women-owned businesses participate in the public procurement market, electronic bidding practical training has been supported since 2017. The training consists of introductory courses on public procurement electronic bidding, practical training, analytical techniques, qualification review, and hands-on practice. This year alone, more than 5,500 students have completed the courses.
Since 2021, an electronic promotional booklet for women-owned businesses has been created and distributed online. Companies with a Women-owned Business Certificate are categorized by region?Seoul, Busan, Jeju, etc.?and also by industry, allowing public institutions to easily check company information, handled items, and services. Photos are included in product introductions to enhance convenience.
The search function has also been strengthened so that public institutions can easily find the companies they need. Users can search company information by entering just one of the following: company name, region, industry code, or area.
Women-owned businesses are provided with bidding information, as well as winning bid information, bid rate, and price analysis systems. Companies with a Women-owned Business Certificate can receive these services by registering as members on the customized bidding information service site.
A ‘Public Institution-Women-owned Business Win-Win Cooperation Meeting’ is held to create a communication platform. This year, 56 public institutions and 568 women-owned businesses from four regions?Honam, Chungcheong, the metropolitan area, and Gyeongnam?participated. A lecture by Coupang CEO Park Dae-jun and an MD purchasing consultation meeting were held together, eliciting positive responses from participating companies. The Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association signed a business agreement with Coupang last year to support the expansion of sales channels for excellent women-owned businesses.
Since last year, the association has participated in the ‘Korea ON-line E-Procurement Expo,’ the largest domestic public procurement exhibition held every April. This year, a separate women-owned business pavilion was operated to promote women-owned businesses and exhibit products. Ten women-owned businesses participated this year, and the scale is planned to be increased next year.
The Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association is proposing various policies to the government based on field voices so that more women-owned businesses can benefit from public procurement market channels. As a result of these activities, since April last year, social cooperatives and consumer life cooperatives can also receive Women-owned Business Certificates if they meet the qualification requirements.
An official from the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association said, “In the future, to revitalize public procurement by women-owned businesses, education on the Women-owned Business Certification System for public institutions will be newly established.”
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