Up to 100 Million Won in Certification Costs Supported
Preliminary Consulting System for Overseas Certification
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on May 26 that it will implement an additional "Export Regulation Response Support Program" to strengthen the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to respond to export regulations.
This support program is being promoted by securing an additional budget of 10 billion won to alleviate the burden on Korean SMEs that are currently facing difficulties due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
First, the Ministry will subsidize up to 100 million won per company, covering 50% to 70% of the costs incurred for testing, certification, and consulting required to obtain standard certifications demanded by export destination countries. In particular, for this supplementary budget program, the temporary upper limit for small-scale certification support, which was previously set at 35 million won, will be raised to 50 million won, with no limit on the number of applications (previously up to four). In addition, companies that are already participating in the Overseas Certification Support Program and are in the process of obtaining certification will exceptionally be allowed to participate in this new program as well.
Next, a preliminary consulting system will be introduced to help companies new to obtaining overseas certifications acquire certification without trial and error. Certification experts will pre-screen individual companies to ensure that all necessary documents and preparations for on-site inspections (factory audits) are in order, and will help address any deficiencies, thereby minimizing the risk of certification failure.
A dedicated response team will also be operated to provide the latest information on export regulations in various countries, including changes in U.S. tariff policy, and to respond promptly to companies' inquiries and difficulties through experts. An "AI chatbot consultation" system will be established to enable real-time access and inquiries, providing this service to companies.
Applications for participating companies will be accepted starting May 27, and detailed information about the support program can be found on the official website of the Overseas Certification Support Center.
Lee Soonbae, Director of Global Growth Policy, stated, "The recent U.S. tariff measures present a significant challenge to companies, but at the same time, they can serve as an opportunity to enter new markets." He added, "We will continue to expand policy support so that our SMEs can diversify their exports and expand their economic territory by successfully obtaining overseas certifications and more."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
