Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) said on the 4th that it held a "KOSME that visits and solves" roundtable at the Samsung Culture Center of Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. The roundtable was arranged to support the leap of the K-shipbuilding industry, which is showing signs of recovery as global orders expand.
Attending were 16 key officials, including Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) Chair Kang Seok-jin, Samsung Heavy Industries Head of Win-Win Cooperation Bang Ho-yeol, and In-House Partners Council Chair Yun Jin-seok, and 91 in-house partner companies of Samsung Heavy Industries also observed the meeting.
Participants voiced a range of on-site opinions, including: ▲ expanding financing support for high value-added ship processing ▲ easing shipbuilding labor shortages ▲ expanding network loans for partner companies. Chair Kang Seok-jin expressed gratitude for the efforts of shipbuilding stakeholders who overcame a prolonged slump and safeguarded their technical prowess, and said KOSME would closely review the opinions raised on site.
The roundtable was run in a "solution-oriented KOSME" format focused on resolving on-site challenges. In addition to guidance on KOSME's key programs, such as policy financing and workforce support, and an explanation to prevent improper third-party interference, KOSME strengthened a "field solution" support approach by offering one-on-one on-site consultations and tailored solutions to attending partner companies through a separate consultation booth.
Kang said, "For Korea's shipbuilding industry to rise again to the top of the world, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises that have supported the industry on the ground is crucial," adding, "Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) will continue support centered on resolving on-site difficulties so the takeoff engine of K-shipbuilding can run at full power."
Meanwhile, Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) signed a win-win growth network loan agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries in May last year and has been supporting partner companies with policy funds while maintaining the partnership. KOSME plans to continuously strengthen the foundation for shared growth between large and small companies by expanding cooperation with anchor companies in each region.