The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) said on the 9th they are recruiting an operating institution for a "Global Basecamp" to be set up in the southeastern United States to help small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to expand overseas settle locally in a stable manner.
Introduced for the first time this year, the "Global Basecamp" is a program that supports small and medium-sized enterprises in expanding overseas and establishing a local foothold by leveraging private-sector cooperation systems, infrastructure, and resources. It will be installed in regions without the existing government-led export hubs for small and medium-sized enterprises, the Global Business Center (GBC), and operated under private consignment to enhance the efficiency and diversity of support.
GBCs are currently operating at 22 locations in 14 countries, including the United States, China, and Vietnam. The new Global Basecamp will be established in the southeastern United States, where Korean small and medium-sized enterprises are actively expanding and Korean networks are robust, and institutions with a local base and the ability to cooperate with related agencies and economic organizations will be selected for a pilot operation.
The selected institution will recruit small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to enter the local market, operate a permanent showroom to identify buyers, and support business matching. The operating institution will also closely manage the entire process, including verification and review at each contract stage, and serve as a comprehensive support hub by providing mentoring and consulting using local networks. Small and medium-sized enterprises hoping to enter the southeastern United States will be recruited in May through a separate announcement.
Lee Sun-bae, director-general for global growth policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), said, "The Global Basecamp is the first private-led overseas export hub for small and medium-sized enterprises that utilizes private-sector capabilities," adding, "We will diversify export support methods to produce tangible export outcomes that small and medium-sized enterprises can feel, and maximize synergy by linking private hubs with government policy going forward."
The application period for operating institutions runs from the 9th to the 23rd, and details can be found in the notice titled "Recruitment of private consignment operating institutions for the Global Basecamp," posted on the websites of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME).