Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) said on the 12th that it held a "KOSME that visits and solves" roundtable at Dongmyeong Food in Sancheong County, South Gyeongsang Province, to drive innovative growth in the regionally specialized food industry.
The roundtable was arranged to strengthen the competitiveness of food manufacturing corporations in Sancheong County, which has been designated as a special zone for Korean medicine and medicinal herbs. The event was attended by Chair Kang Seok-jin, Sancheong County Council Chair Kim Su-han, Sancheong Deputy County Chief Seong Heung-taek, and Dongmyeong Food CEO Park Cheol-jin, among others, for a total of nine representatives from food manufacturing and special-zone businesses.
The Sancheong Korean medicine and medicinal herb industrial special zone is one of Korea's leading production areas for Korean medicine herbs and was designated a regionally specialized development zone in 2005. Since then, it has pursued various projects linked to the healing, anti-aging, and wellness industries, contributing to revitalizing the local economy.
Attendees proposed a range of ideas, including: ▲ expanding funding support for small and medium-sized corporations engaged in regionally specialized industries ▲ strengthening market development and export support for global expansion ▲ alleviating labor shortages at corporations located outside major cities ▲ measures to invigorate industries in connection with regionally specialized development zones. They also reviewed the operational status of the Sancheong Korean medicine and medicinal herb industrial special zone and discussed the direction for developing the regionally specialized food industry.
Kang Seok-jin, chair of Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), said, "The market for functional and premium foods that leverage regionally specialized resources is meeting new growth opportunities and is expected to contribute to local economic growth," adding, "KOSME will continue to expand tailored, field-centered support."