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SME office seeks to expand leverage in China

XIAN, China -- The Small and Medium Business Administration established a new business foothold in Xian for Korean small and medium-sized enterprises that want to expand into inland China.

The Xian SME Business Support Center held its opening ceremony last Wednesday in Xian, about 900 kilometers southwest of Beijing, according to SMBA officials.

The event was attended by SMBA administrator Han Jung-wha, Park Cheol-kyu, president of the Small and Medium Business Corporation president, Ham Jeong-oh, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency’s regional director in China, and a number of Korean businessmen in Xian.

The Xian center is the SMBA’s second business support in China. The first kicked off in Qingdao in 2005.

“Korean SMEs have increasingly been advancing into China’s inland market, and this trend is expected to pick up further momentum over upcoming years,” said an official of the SBMA.

The new center will offer a business intelligence function for small companies, aiming to boost their global competitiveness in financing, distribution, and sales communication.

After the opening ceremony, administrator Han paid a visit to the local Shaanxi provincial government office to meet with Gov. Lou Qinjian and discuss ways to reinforce economic cooperation between the two countries.

The two officials focused on the environment, which has risen as one of China’s greatest social issues over recent years. The Chinese government is planning to invest a considerable amount in environment seminars and related investment expos, officials explained.

By Lee Kwon-hyung (kwonhl@heraldcorp.com) and Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)