Lee So-young, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, announced plans to launch a council with the small business sector by the end of this month to increase their participation in the government's three major mega projects and national growth strategies.
In a meeting with reporters on October 8, she stated, "We plan to regularly operate a council tentatively called the 'Small Business Council' to engage small businesses related to the three mega projects, starting at the end of October."
Although the three mega projects, which are key to the nation's growth strategy, were initially designed with large corporations in mind, the government is committed to increasing small business involvement.
Lee mentioned, "After attending the Cabinet meeting for the first time last week, I pointed out that there was a lack of small business-related content in the three mega projects, the seven seed projects, and the five poles and three special growth engines, and that the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups was not included in the implementation system."
She added, "When I mentioned that the Ministry was not invited to the third meeting of the three mega projects chaired by the President, he instructed, 'Then you should attend from today.'" This means the ministry will now participate in future meetings related to the three mega projects.
Lee also noted that the President directed that representatives from small businesses, in addition to those from large companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, should also attend the meetings.
"From the next meeting onward, we will include one representative from a small business based on the agenda, rather than designating a specific company," she explained.
The Ministry's role will also be expanded in the government's seven seed projects.
Lee stated, "In a document released last week by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups was designated for the first time as the coordinating department. Previously, it was not included in the implementation system, but this time its role has been reflected."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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