Yeongnam Small and Medium Enterprises "Request Support to Resolve Export Logistics Difficulties"... 2nd SME Express

<중기중앙회·기재부 정례협의체
정부서 기재부 차관보 등 참석정부서 기재부 차관보 등 참석> Regular Consultative Body
Deputy Minister of Ministry of Economy and Finance Attends from Government

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Yeongnam requested the government to improve the loan requirements for export execution funds and support the resolution of logistics difficulties faced by export companies.

On February 5th, the '1st SME Express' was held in Daejeon.
[Photo by Korea Federation of SMEs]

The Korea Federation of SMEs announced that, together with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, it held the '2nd SME Express' on the 18th at the Busan-Ulsan Regional Headquarters of the Federation located in Busan. SME Express is a regular consultative body where the Federation of SMEs and the Ministry of Economy and Finance visit SMEs nationwide to listen to on-site difficulties and work on improvements.

At the meeting, government officials including Hong Du-seon, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Kim Il-ho, Director of the Busan Regional Small and Medium Venture Business Administration, attended. From the SME sector, Jeong Yun-mo, Executive Vice President of the Federation of SMEs, Huh Hyun-do, CEO of Steel Korea, Park Pyeong-jae, CEO of Gyeongil Metal, and Yoon Young-jun, CEO of Panasia, were present.

Busan is recognized as the city with the largest number of export SMEs outside the metropolitan area and is evaluated as a city that can enhance export competitiveness through collaboration with local SMEs. Reflecting these characteristics, the meeting was attended mainly by export companies to convey voices from the field.

Nine issues were discussed on-site, including the expansion and introduction of export factoring for SMEs, improvement of loan requirements for export execution funds for startups, support for resolving logistics difficulties faced by export companies to the US and Europe, policy support for expanding exports of machinery products, and strengthening measures against illegal sales such as reselling of overseas direct purchase products.

Jeong Yun-mo, Executive Vice President of the Federation of SMEs, said, “On-site, there were many difficulties for companies in utilizing government policy funds, in addition to uncertainties about 'logistics' due to the recent Iran-Israel war,” and added, “We urge the Ministry of Economy and Finance to actively act as a coordinator for rapid problem-solving across ministries and provide policy support that companies can truly feel.”