Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, Agrees to Joint Forum with Japanese SME Sector

Korea Federation of SMEs and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Small and Medium Enterprises
Agree to Jointly Host the Korea-Japan SME Forum
Aim to Strengthen Cooperation and Expand Economic Exchanges on the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

The Korea Federation of SMEs announced on August 1 that it had agreed to jointly host the "Korea-Japan SME Forum" with the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Small and Medium Enterprises during a meeting in Tokyo, Japan.

The two organizations, each representing SMEs in their respective countries, signed a memorandum of understanding in July last year to promote private shuttle exchanges. This year, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, they promised to co-host the forum to strengthen global competitiveness and expand economic exchanges by enhancing cooperation between SMEs in both countries.

On the Korean side, Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, as well as Vice Chairmen Kim Dongwoo and Kim Seokwon, attended the meeting. From the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Small and Medium Enterprises, key officials including Chairman Hiroshi Mori, Executive Director Tetsuya Sato, and Managing Director Masaru Oikawa were present.

The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Small and Medium Enterprises is an organization established in 1956 under the Act on Cooperatives of Small and Medium Enterprises, with the aim of promoting SMEs. It represents Japanese SMEs, with approximately 27,000 SME cooperatives and associations as members, and over 2.24 million SMEs affiliated under its umbrella.

Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, stated, "Protectionism, artificial intelligence (AI), and the intensifying global technological hegemony in areas such as semiconductors are becoming more pronounced. Korea and Japan are also facing similar economic and social issues, such as low birth rates and aging populations. Let us seek practical solutions through cooperation between our countries' businesses." He added, "This forum will serve as an important opportunity to vitalize private shuttle exchanges and build a cooperative network between SMEs in both countries."

Hiroshi Mori, Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Small and Medium Enterprises, responded, "I hope that the representative SME organizations of Korea and Japan will work closely together to establish a practical and sustainable cooperative relationship. Through the Korea-Japan SME Forum, let us create a future of mutual growth for SMEs in both countries."