Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung Takes on-site communication to ‘recover the people’s economy’

Economic Issues Roundtable Held… Listening to Economic Community Concerns

Mayor Kang Ki-jung of Gwangju Metropolitan City is seeking answers on the ground to restore the people’s economy and increase vitality.

According to Gwangju City on the 26th, Mayor Kang held an ‘economic issue discussion meeting’ with local economic organizations and heads of institutions at the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry to communicate with the people’s economy.

Mayor Kang proposed this meeting to hear the difficulties faced by the business community on the spot amid difficult regional economy and people’s livelihoods due to the prolonged high interest rates, deteriorating business conditions, and the sluggish domestic economy.

It has been reported that the plan was promoted to reflect voices from the field in next year’s Gwangju City budget and policies, especially since an active role for local governments is needed to improve people’s livelihoods.

The meeting was attended by Mayor Kang Ki-jeong, Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Han Sang-won, Gwangju Business Owners Association Executive Vice Chairman Kim Dong-chan, Korea Federation of SMEs Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter Chairman Lim Gyeong-jun, and Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association Gwangju Chapter President Lee Mi-jin.

Mayor Kang shared the direction of Gwangju City’s economic policy for the overall economy, including small business owners, SMEs, and jobs, and exchanged various opinions on key issues related to the people’s economy and jobs.

The business community said, “Many companies are having a very difficult time due to the worsening domestic and international situations, such as high interest rates and high prices, following COVID-19,” and “The business community and local governments should work together to find ways to revitalize the economy by joining forces in the region. In particular, we will actively cooperate on major issues in Gwangju, such as Gwangju Global Motors, a job that creates mutual benefits for labor and management.”

Mayor Kang Ki-jung said, “The economy is struggling and people’s livelihoods are difficult. Now more than ever, local governments need to play a proactive role,” adding, “We must first understand the needs of businesses in order to accurately invest in budgets and reflect policies. We will overcome the endless waves of recession together through continuous communication.”

Mayor Kang plans to continuously hold customized on-site meetings by industry and company size, focusing on Gwangju City’s nine major industries, to listen to the voices of the business community.

Meanwhile, Gwangju City is focusing its administrative capabilities on customized support for small and medium-sized businesses, small merchants, and start-ups, while focusing on creating tangible changes that can be felt through support for management stability and strengthening competitiveness.

Gwangju City is implementing a special guarantee for small business owners worth 50 billion won in the second half of the year to help small business owners and self-employed individuals who are having difficulties managing their businesses due to the ongoing economic crisis. In order to strengthen the social safety net for small business owners, support for social insurance premiums (employment and industrial accident insurance premiums) for small business owners will be expanded to 900 million won, and 1.1 billion won will be provided as an incentive to join the Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid Fund.

In addition, we are supporting 265 billion won in management stabilization funds for stable corporate management and 35.5 billion won in small and medium-sized enterprise development funds, and are promoting technological innovation projects to enhance competitiveness. We are also supporting alleviation of the burden of prices, promotion of consumption, and customized projects for local businesses.

<ⓒ투자가를 위한 경제콘텐츠 플랫폼, 아시아경제(www.asiae.co.kr) 무단전재 배포금지>