The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said on the 20th it held a relay roundtable on small business growth at the Busan Beomil Apparel Manufacturing Specialized Support Center under the theme of "plans to revitalize small manufacturer clusters and enhance competitiveness."
A cluster refers to a place where corporations, research institutes, universities, and related facilities tied to a particular industry gather in one area to generate spillover effects.
This roundtable is the ninth session of "small business growth-centered relay roundtable season 2," which has been underway since Nov. last year. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) held the roundtable with 12 participants, including four representatives of small manufacturers by industry and experts on small manufacturer clusters, to foster clusters as a key growth engine for small manufacturers.
Before the roundtable, Second Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon toured the shared cutting room and startup space at the Busan Beomil Apparel Manufacturing Specialized Support Center. Since the establishment of Joseon Spinning in 1917, the ministry encouraged the efforts of small manufacturers who are preserving traditional values while preparing for manufacturing innovation.
In the ensuing roundtable, Senior Research Fellow Lee Jin-guk of the Korea Development Institute (KDI) gave a presentation on "fostering small manufacturer clusters as core growth bases for the regional economy." He argued that aging small manufacturer clusters should be redesigned on a smart foundation and that specialized support centers should be developed beyond simple administrative support into business hubs where small manufacturers jointly secure work and generate revenue.
Afterward, Director General Yun Mi-yeong of the Jeonbuk Venture Industry Development Council shared success stories under the theme of "collaboration cases to strengthen the competitiveness of micro small manufacturers in industrial bases." She introduced a collaboration case in which metal-processing small manufacturers entered global markets by leveraging a joint brand and infrastructure.
Next, Center Director Lee Gyeong-hui of the Busan Beomil Apparel Manufacturing Specialized Support Center presented on "best practices of the small manufacturer cluster in Beomil-dong, Busan." The presentation covered cases where the introduction of shared infrastructure, such as smart automatic cutters, boosted productivity and where master artisans' skilled techniques were turned into digital assets and passed on to young people.
In the open discussion, participants discussed ways to revitalize small manufacturer clusters. They exchanged views on plans to revitalize small manufacturer clusters, as well as improving cluster environments, introducing smart manufacturing technologies and digital transformation, and collaboration systems.
Second Vice Minister Lee Byeong-gweon said, "Clusters with long histories like Beomil-dong in Busan are the solid roots that have supported our manufacturing industry and the precious home ground cultivated with care by small manufacturers." He added, "We will foster small manufacturer clusters as innovation bases where traditional technologies and advanced digital coexist, creating an environment where small manufacturers can work with pride."