The 31st APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting

D-30 to the 31st APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting ? MSS Conducts Final Preparations from Venue Setup to Protocol

Minister Han Sung-sook personally oversees the coordination of official programs including the Ministerial and Working-Level Meetings, as well as 10 side and associated events under “Global Startup Day in Jeju.”

“This is a prime opportunity to showcase Korea’s SME policies and innovation capabilities to the world we are committed to thorough preparations for a successful meeting.”

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) announced on Monday, August 4, that it convened a comprehensive final coordination meeting with relevant agencies and partner organizations as part of the “One Team for the 31st APEC SME Ministerial Meeting.”

* The APEC SME Ministerial Meeting, held annually since 1994, is one of APEC’s sectoral ministerial meetings that provides a platform to discuss MSME-related policy issues across the APEC region.

[Meeting Overview]

Date & Time: August 4, 2025 (Mon), 15:00 ~ 16:30

Venue: Korea Technology Finance Corporation, Seoul (63 Building)

Participants: Minister Han Sung-sook, Director General for Global Growth Policy, relevant department heads, agencies, and associations (approx. 30 attendees)

Agenda: Final review of venue setup and side/associated event operations for the Ministerial Meeting

The 31st APEC SME Ministerial Meeting will be held ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju this October. It will provide a forum for APEC member economies to discuss policy cooperation in response to key challenges facing MSMEs such as climate change and demographic shifts.

More than just a policy forum, the Ministerial Meeting will also serve as a springboard for Korean SMEs to expand their global networks and strengthen international cooperation within the APEC region.

This year’s meeting will include both official events (such as the Working-Level Meeting and Ministerial Meeting) and 10 diverse side and associated events including the “Together Festival.”

A major highlight will be the “Global Startup Day in Jeju” brand, under which three flagship events will take place on September 3~4:

Challenge! K-Startup Opening Ceremony

Grand Challenge Showcase

Global Venture Investment Summit

These gatherings are expected to become dynamic networking platforms for stakeholders in the global startup and venture ecosystems.

Minister Han Sung-sook, who has recognized the international significance of the APEC SME Ministerial Meeting since her nomination, presided over the coordination meeting to inspect the final stage of preparations with just one month remaining before the event.

To date, MSS has formed a dedicated task force and held several inter-agency meetings to prepare for the event. In this final review, key areas such as:

Venue and international conference environment

Accommodation arrangements

Transportation planning

Promotional strategies

Protocol

Staffing and volunteer support

were thoroughly reexamined.

Some logistical improvements - including traffic flow within the venue - were identified and will be addressed ahead of the meeting.

Minister Han emphasized,

“The 31st APEC SME Ministerial Meeting is a crucial opportunity to elevate Korea’s SME policy leadership within APEC and to present the innovation and global competitiveness of Korean SMEs to the world.”

She added,

“In Jeju - a beautiful island where pristine nature, advanced industries, and competitive local businesses coexist - we plan to showcase Korea’s strengths in K-Food, K-Beauty, and K-Tech, along with vibrant cultural and experiential content. We will ensure that this event becomes a truly global celebration of SMEs and a successful milestone in Korea’s APEC chairmanship.”

Source: https://www.mss.go.kr/site/smba/ex/bbs/View.do?cbIdx=86&bcIdx=1060716&parentSeq=1060716