Conference To Help Asean SMEs Learn From South Korean Successful Stories, Says SME Corp

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) -- The Asean-Korea SME Conference, which will be held here from June 12-13, 2013, aims to inspire Asean small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the resilient growth of South Korean businesses.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=955473
Published: Jun 12, 2013

Source from (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/739428
Published: Jun 12, 2013

SME Corp Malaysia's chief executive officer, Datuk Hafsah Hashim, said the conference would elaborate on the Korean dynamic business growth, and how SMEs in the Asean region would be able to emulate the best practices from the Korean successful stories.

"The conference, themed 'SMEs Changing the Game', will focus on leveraging opportunities in South Korea as the one of the most advanced economies in Asian region.

"It will also provide a solid platform for networking and business opportunities among industries and SMEs from South Korea and Asean, particularly with the on-going trade liberalisation under the Asean-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA)," she told Bernama here Tuesday.

She said Asean and South Korea continued to mutually benefit from bilateral trade and investment, and were committed to future collaborations and partnerships.

Hafsah said the conference would be held in conjunction with the three-day SME Annual Showcase (SMIDEX) 2013 which will be held from June 12.

SME Corp, an agency under Ministry of International Trade and Industry, will host the conference in collaboration with Small and Medium Business Corp Korea (SBC).

She said the as South Korea paved the way to become global force in innovative technologies, heavy engineering and creative industries, participants have much to gain insights from the speakers at the conference.

With the on-going trade liberalisation under the AKFTA, Hafsah said, the discussions would focus on the potential economic growth and market opportunities that were abundant in both economies.

Hafsah said the one-to-one business-matching session would be one of the highlights of the SME Annual Showcase.

"Marking its 16th year, the ultimate objective of this session is to provide a channel for SMEs to forge strategic business partnerships and networking with the large and multinational corporations.

"This is indeed the perfect opportunity for SMEs to understand what it takes to be their suppliers," she said.

She said via sessions like this, SMEs would take the necessary steps to upgrade their technology and comply with the necessary standards once they had a better understanding of the customers' requirements.