The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises announced on the 1st that it has agreed to jointly host the 'Korea-Japan Small and Medium Enterprises Forum' in November after meeting with the Central Confederation of Small Business Associations of Japan in Tokyo.
The Central Confederation of Small Business Associations of Japan was established in 1956 for the purpose of promoting small and medium enterprises. It represents about 27,000 small and medium enterprise associations and has around 2.24 million small and medium enterprises as members.
The two organizations have agreed to jointly hold a forum to strengthen cooperation between small and medium enterprises in Korea and Japan and to expand international exchanges, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan this year. Last July, they also signed a memorandum of understanding to promote private exchanges.
On this day, the Korean side was represented by Kim Gi-moon, president of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, and vice presidents Kim Dong-woo and Kim Seok-won. From the Central Confederation of Small Business Associations of Japan, key officials including President Mori Hiroshi, Executive Director Sato Tetsuya, and Managing Director Oikawa Masaru were present.
Kim Gi-moon, president of KBIZ, noted, "Protectionism, artificial intelligence, and competition for international technological hegemony in semiconductors are intensifying, and both Korea and Japan are facing similar economic and social issues such as low birth rates and aging populations," and added, "This forum will serve as an important opportunity for activating private exchanges and building a cooperation network between small and medium enterprises in both countries."
Mori Hiroshi, president of the Central Confederation of Small Business Associations, also remarked, "I hope that the representative small and medium enterprises of Korea and Japan will closely cooperate to build practical and cooperative relationships," and said, "Through the Korea-Japan Small and Medium Enterprises Forum, let us work together to create a future where small and medium enterprises in both countries grow together."