Jungjingong Seeks SMEs for CBAM Response Infrastructure Building Project

On April 30, the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (Jungjingong) announced that it is recruiting the second round of participating companies for the "CBAM Response Infrastructure Building Project." This initiative targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that export or wish to export items subject to the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The EU CBAM is a system under which companies exporting six categories of goods?steel, aluminum, fertilizer, hydrogen, cement, and electricity?to the European Union (EU) are required to pay costs based on the amount of carbon emissions generated during the production process. After a transition period that lasts until December this year, from 2026, it will become mandatory for companies to verify their emissions and to purchase and submit CBAM certificates.

Jungjingong

In response, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Jungjingong are implementing the "CBAM Response Infrastructure Building Project" to help SMEs adapt to changing global regulations. Specifically, emission consulting is provided up to a limit of 12 million KRW per company. This includes consulting on the calculation and reduction of carbon emissions in accordance with CBAM standards, preparation of emission reports, and support for verification processes. For emission verification, up to 8 million KRW per company is provided for the verification of emission reports and issuance of verification opinions in accordance with EU CBAM regulations.

Notably, this year, Jungjingong has expanded eligibility to include companies with no export record, and has introduced a "supply chain track" that allows large and mid-sized companies to apply together with their suppliers or subcontractors, thereby strengthening the carbon response system.

Kang Seokjin, President of Jungjingong, stated, "Responding to CBAM is not just about complying with environmental regulations; it is an essential competitive factor for entering the global market," adding, "Through this project, we will do our utmost to help our SMEs establish the technical and institutional infrastructure needed to respond effectively."