ID :
36226
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 13:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/36226
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Lee expresses sympathy for struggling small businesses
SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak reiterated his determination to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) beleaguered by the protracted economic slump during a surprise meeting with a group of SME owners at a small pub-style diner in downtown Seoul on Wednesday.
The unscheduled meeting took place after Lee, accompanied only by several
presidential secretaries, visited a diner in the Mapo district, where executive
members of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business were holding a
year-end meeting, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Kim Eun-hye.
According to the spokesperson, Lee listened to financial and operational
difficulties faced by local SMEs and gave words of encouragement to the small
business owners while sharing soju with them during the hour-long meeting.
"It is the first time for me to eat an unofficial dinner outside Cheong Wa Dae
(the presidential office and residence). I wouldn't have come here if this
meeting were held at a hotel ... I know all small business owners suffered a lot
of difficulties this year," Lee was quoted as saying.
"Times will likely become a lot tougher next year. But please don't lose courage.
The economic crisis will someday be put to an end," Lee was also quoted as
saying.
A presidential aide said Lee suddenly decided to meet the SME managers in order
to personally listen to their difficulties before receiving economy-related
ministries' briefings on the government's major economic policy goals for 2009 on
Thursday.
Since the outbreak of the economic crisis, Lee has said that he will focus his
policy efforts on helping SMEs, self-employed individuals and low-income people
ride out the ongoing economic hardships.
"It's very important to help low-income workers retain their employment. In this
sense, small- and medium-sized companies should be led to perform strongly," the
president said recently, vowing to keep vital credit lines available to small
businesses.
He has also urged domestic business conglomerates to support financially strapped
SMEs.
ycm@yna.co.kr
The unscheduled meeting took place after Lee, accompanied only by several
presidential secretaries, visited a diner in the Mapo district, where executive
members of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business were holding a
year-end meeting, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Kim Eun-hye.
According to the spokesperson, Lee listened to financial and operational
difficulties faced by local SMEs and gave words of encouragement to the small
business owners while sharing soju with them during the hour-long meeting.
"It is the first time for me to eat an unofficial dinner outside Cheong Wa Dae
(the presidential office and residence). I wouldn't have come here if this
meeting were held at a hotel ... I know all small business owners suffered a lot
of difficulties this year," Lee was quoted as saying.
"Times will likely become a lot tougher next year. But please don't lose courage.
The economic crisis will someday be put to an end," Lee was also quoted as
saying.
A presidential aide said Lee suddenly decided to meet the SME managers in order
to personally listen to their difficulties before receiving economy-related
ministries' briefings on the government's major economic policy goals for 2009 on
Thursday.
Since the outbreak of the economic crisis, Lee has said that he will focus his
policy efforts on helping SMEs, self-employed individuals and low-income people
ride out the ongoing economic hardships.
"It's very important to help low-income workers retain their employment. In this
sense, small- and medium-sized companies should be led to perform strongly," the
president said recently, vowing to keep vital credit lines available to small
businesses.
He has also urged domestic business conglomerates to support financially strapped
SMEs.
ycm@yna.co.kr
