Changwon Special City Holds Defense Industry SME Council ... "Changwon Will Lead South Korea's Defense Industry"

Establishing a Civil-Military Cooperation Network to Expand Market Entry for Local Defense Industry SMEs

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam announced on the 22nd that the regular general meeting of the ‘Changwon Defense Industry Small and Medium Enterprises Council,’ a representative defense industry SME consortium in Changwon, was held at the Changwon Convention Center with about 100 attendees including city officials, council members, military personnel, and council member companies.

General Meeting of Changwon Defense Industry Small and Medium Business Association.

Since its establishment in 2019, the Changwon Defense Industry Small and Medium Enterprises Council currently has 136 member companies and has been promoting various activities such as discussing difficulties faced by defense SMEs to expand the domestic market and pioneer overseas markets in connection with system companies.

The event was hosted by Changwon City and organized by the Changwon Defense Industry Small and Medium Enterprises Council and the Changwon Industry Promotion Agency. Attendees included Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Kim Igeun, Chairman of Changwon Special City Council, Oh Byunghu, Chairman of the Changwon Defense Industry Small and Medium Enterprises Council, the Navy Logistics Command, the Army General Maintenance Depot, and council member companies.

At the 4th regular general meeting of the ‘Changwon Defense Industry Small and Medium Enterprises Council’ this year, efforts were made to promote civil-military cooperation to expand market entry for Changwon’s defense industry SMEs and to share the council’s activity plans for the year.

The meeting was held amid recent multi-trillion won export contracts of Korean defense industry in Europe and the Middle East, adding to its significance.

During the first part of the general meeting, a forum for civil-military exchange was held with participation from the Navy Logistics Command and the Army General Maintenance Depot.

There was a communication session to listen to difficulties and suggestions regarding the production of defense materials and technology development by SMEs. In addition, plaques of appreciation were awarded to those who contributed to the development of Changwon’s defense industry.

The council plans to further strengthen network activities to support member companies through promotion of the upcoming Yi Sun-sin Defense Industry Exhibition and various seminars scheduled for this year.

Chairman Oh said, “Through this regular general meeting, we will further strengthen cooperation among member companies and strive for the continuous growth of Changwon’s defense industry sector.”

Mayor Hong said, “Changwon City, home to numerous defense industry companies with unlimited potential, is expected to lead South Korea’s defense industry sector,” adding, “We will do our best to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of local defense companies through the establishment of a defense and nuclear convergence national industrial complex.”