On the 4th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it held a comprehensive inspection meeting with relevant agencies and associations, titled 'APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting One Team,' to ensure the successful hosting of the '2025 APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting (hereinafter referred to as the Ministerial Meeting).
The Ministerial Meeting is an official event held prior to the APEC Leaders' Meeting, scheduled to take place in Gyeongju in October. It serves as a platform for discussing policy cooperation among member countries regarding challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), such as climate change and population decline. Beyond being a simple international meeting, it also serves as an important springboard for our small and medium enterprises to expand their global networks through cooperation with APEC member countries.
At this Ministerial Meeting, a total of 10 various side events, including official schedules such as practical meetings and accompanying festivals, will be held.
In particular, during the two days from September 3rd to 4th, events such as the 'Challenge K! Startup Opening Ceremony,' 'Grand Challenge Showcase,' and 'Global Venture Investment Summit' are expected to provide a networking opportunity for domestic and international startup and venture ecosystem participants to interact and collaborate.
Minister Han Seong-suk of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has recognized the international stature and strategic importance of this APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting since her candidacy and chaired the comprehensive inspection meeting to directly assess the preparation status one month ahead of the event.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has been conducting overall inspections, including forming a task force and meetings with relevant agencies and practitioners ahead of the event. Through this comprehensive inspection meeting, it carefully checked again various matters related to the event, such as creating an international conference environment at the venue, accommodation, transportation measures, promotion, protocol, and manpower support.
Minister Han Seong-suk noted, 'The APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting is an opportunity to enhance the status of our country's small and medium enterprise policies within the APEC region and is an important platform to showcase our small and medium enterprises' innovation and global competitiveness to the world.' She added, 'We will do our utmost to ensure the successful hosting of the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting by exhibiting and promoting cultures and technologies such as K-Food, K-Beauty, and K-Tech in Jeju, where clean nature, advanced industries, and competitive local small businesses coexist, along with preparing the 'three main items' of food, entertainment, and sightseeing.'