More than 400 small and medium-sized businesspeople are gathering in one place to seek solutions and growth strategies to break through the structural economic crisis.
The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises said it held the opening ceremony of the "2025 SME Leaders Forum" at Lotte Hotel Jeju on the 23rd.
Marking its 18th year, this leaders forum brings together small and medium-sized businesspeople from industries and regions nationwide for four days and three nights to discuss the role of SMEs in overcoming the structural crisis of the economy, such as population decline and a fall in potential growth, under the theme "Challenge and innovation, to the world, to the future!"
At the forum, after a video congratulatory message by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Minister Han Seong-suk of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups gave a policy lecture on the theme "Smart manufacturing innovation 3.0 to be opened by artificial intelligence (AI)."
KBIZ Chairman Kim Ki-moon, in his opening remarks, presented three major tasks for a new leap for the domestic economy and small and medium-sized businesses: ▲ AI great transformation ▲ response to low birthrate and aging ▲ restart of inter-Korean economic cooperation.
Kim said, "Countries around the world are waging an AI hegemony war, and President Lee Jae-myung has also said he will invest in high-tech industries such as AI, as our government is striving to achieve the realization of the world's top three in AI," adding, "Corporations should also regard this as an opportunity to leap forward again and do their utmost."
He added, "To respond to the low birthrate and aging, let the government and the SME community join forces to create workplaces where work and family can coexist," and noted, "I hope inter-Korean economic cooperation will resume soon so that a new arena of opportunity will be created for small and medium-sized businesses considering overseas expansion."
He also said, "In October, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit will be held in Korea for the first time in 20 years," adding, "As leaders of major countries, including the United States and China, will attend, the SME community also hopes it will be held successfully."
Launched in 2007, the "SME Leaders Forum" presented policy agendas for SMEs by grappling with and proposing solutions to the issues of the times amid a rapidly changing business environment.
KBIZ, as a social contribution activity ahead of the forum's opening ceremony the day before, held a shopping event at Moseulpo Jungang Market and delivered donations worth 10 million won, sponsored by the SME community, to the Seogwipo Oreum Regional Self-Support Center and the Jeju Disabled Support Council Daejeong Chapter.