The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups (SMEs) and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency announced on Thursday that they will be recruiting an organization to operate the Global Base Camp in the southeastern U.S. from April 9 to April 23.
The Global Base Camp, a new private-sector-led export hub introduced this year, aims to support SMEs in establishing a local presence by leveraging private networks and infrastructure.
A key feature of this initiative is its establishment in areas currently lacking government-led Global Business Centers (GBCs), with operations outsourced to the private sector. This approach enhances support efficiency and on-the-ground engagement.
This pilot hub will be set up in the southeastern United States, a region where Korean businesses are actively expanding and where there’s a robust Korean-American network.
The selected organization will identify SMEs looking to enter the local market and operate a permanent exhibition space to facilitate buyer matchmaking. It will also provide comprehensive support throughout the process, including contract verification, post-entry management, and mentoring and consulting services based on local networks.
The Ministry plans to announce a separate call for SMEs interested in participating in the Global Base Camp in May.
Lee Soon-bae, Director of Global Growth Policy at the Ministry, stated that the Global Base Camp represents the first private sector-led export hub that harnesses private sector capabilities. It aims to generate concrete export outcomes that SMEs can tangibly benefit from, and it’ll work to expand synergies through future integration with government policies.