{
  "id": 14388879,
  "title": "Korea, Japan SMEs Deepen Cooperation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/korea-japan-smes-deepen-cooperation",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-14T07:06:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BusinessKorea",
    "slug": "businesskorea",
    "url": "https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=278795"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Korea Federation of SMEs and the National Federation of Small Business Associations of Japan co-hosted the 2nd Korea-Japan SME Economic Forum on October 14 in Seoul. The forum aimed to bolster a regular shuttle exchange system between the SME sectors of the two nations. Notable attendees included Kim Ki-mun, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, and Hiroshi Mori, Chairman of the Japanese Federation. Key speakers such as Shim Jae-yoon, Director General for Global Growth Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, proposed a global growth strategy combining both countries' strengths. LG CNS's Hong Jin-heon showcased a cooperative model involving large enterprises and small to medium enterprises, focusing on AI transformation in smaller businesses. Japanese officials discussed local SME issues, including price pass-through measures, M&A, and business succession. Hiraku Fuse, Vice President of Fuji Filter Korea, highlighted the success of a joint venture that merged Japan's quality control with Korea's productivity. Over time, exchanges between SMEs from both countries are expected to extend beyond the forum into industry-specific associations. Following the first forum, exchanges in the ready-mixed concrete and baking sectors began, with plans to include auto parts associations in future meetings. Kim Ki-mun emphasized the critical role SMEs play in the economies of both nations, stressing the need for continuous dialogue to address on-site concerns and devise solutions. The Korea Federation of SMEs intends to maintain a platform for ongoing exchanges, enabling companies from both nations to leverage technology and networks for new opportunities.",
  "summary": "The Korea Federation of SMEs held the '2nd Korea-Japan SME Economic Forum' with the National Federation of Small Business Associations of Japan at the KBIZ Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on Oct. 14. This event was organized as a follow-up measure to the first forum held in Tokyo, Japan, last year, intended",
  "key_points": [
    "Shim Jae-yoon proposed global growth strategy blending both countries' strengths",
    "Joint venture between Japanese and Korean firms merged quality control with productivity"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Formalizing these bilateral exchanges allows small businesses to integrate Japanese quality control with Korean productivity, creating a structural framework for shared technological growth and industry-specific cooperation.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}