Busan Regional Public Procurement Service Visits Korea Association for the Independence of the Disabled

Listening to Challenges and Communicating with Social Enterprises and Production Facilities for Products Made by Persons with Severe Disabilities
Continuous Attention Needed for Public Procurement Market to Realize Social Value

The Busan Regional Public Procurement Service (Director Shin Bongjae) visited the Korea Association for the Independence of the Disabled (CEO Lee Hyeyoung), a social enterprise and a production facility for products made by persons with severe disabilities located in Gangseo-gu, Busan, on May 9 to listen to voices on site.

The Korea Association for the Independence of the Disabled is a social enterprise that produces items such as garbage bags, LED indoor lighting, and toilet paper. It currently employs 39 persons with disabilities and is a production facility for products made by persons with severe disabilities as well as a standard workplace for persons with disabilities. The association strives to create jobs for persons with severe disabilities and to improve their working conditions and welfare.

Goods and services produced and provided by social enterprises, production facilities for products made by persons with severe disabilities, and standard workplaces for persons with disabilities are subject to preferential purchase by public institutions according to the law, and direct contracts are permitted.

During the visit, the participants toured the production process, listened to difficulties faced on site, and discussed ways to expand sales channels through public procurement.

Director Shin Bongjae stated, "Social enterprises and production facilities for persons with severe disabilities are important agents in realizing social value," and added, "We will continue to actively support social enterprises by expanding opportunities to participate in the public procurement market and securing stable sales channels through ongoing communication."