APEC 중소기업 장관회의 화상으로 열려…박영선 "소상공인•전통시장 디지털화 지원"<br /><br />The members of APEC, the forum for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, have agreed to work together to help their small and medium-sized business recover from the pandemic.<br />These countries, including South Korea and virtually all the countries on the Pacific Rim, held a virtual meeting today of their ministers for small business.<br />Kim Jae-hee has the highlights.<br />Reviving small and medium-sized enterprises hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and pushing for their digitalization for the post-COVID-19 era.<br />Those were the main topics discussed at the 26th APEC SME ministerial meeting, which was held virtually on Friday.<br />APEC members introduced their governments' efforts to support small businesses and startups during the pandemic.<br />South Korea's Minister of SMEs and Startups, Park Young-sun introduced three ways the government is looking to help small businesses.<br />"We push ahead with three directions. First, fostering startups in the non-contact sector, Second, building an innovation platform, and third, digitalizing micro and small businesses."<br />The minister said the South Korean government and the private sector will jointly create a so-called "Smart Korea Fund", geared towards investment in non-contact, AI, and biotech sectors.<br />She also said the country will build innovation platforms such as AI manufacturing platforms and non-contact service platforms that support innovation by SMEs.<br />She highlighted that her ministry is looking to create thirty-thousand smart factories by 2022.<br />And she explained how the government will continue to encourage small businesses to utilize wide range of sales channels, including online shopping malls and TV home shopping.<br />The meeting ended with a joint declaration, where the APEC members pledged to work together to help small and medium-sized enterprises.<br />Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News.<br />
