Gyeonggi Province Honors 16 SMEs for Innovation-Driven Growth in Overcoming COVID-19 Crisis on 'Export Entrepreneurs Day'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Nohoon] On December 7, in celebration of the '2020 Gyeonggi Province Export Entrepreneurs Day,' Gyeonggi Province will commend 16 local export companies that have contributed to regional economic revitalization through outstanding export performance despite the COVID-19 crisis.

This year, no event will be held due to strengthened social distancing measures in response to COVID-19.

The province will award 'Provincial Governor's Commendation for Export Contributions' to a total of 16 individuals, including 14 local companies such as Asia BNC Co., Ltd. and 2 public institutions, for their contributions to regional economic revitalization and job creation through innovative export growth.

In addition, the province plans to select 92 local export companies with outstanding export performance among those that began exporting for the first time from January 2018 through May of this year and certify them as 'Export Frontier Enterprises.'

Among these, 5 companies including HS Technology Co., Ltd., which achieved the most outstanding export performance in each of 5 sectors—IT, machinery, beauty, consumer goods, and medical/biotechnology—have been selected as 'Export Rookie of the Year' award winners.

The 'Export Frontier Enterprise Certification System' is an export company certification project introduced to boost the morale and pride of export beginner companies. Certified companies receive 3 bonus points when applying for various overseas marketing support projects from the province, while Rookie of the Year winners receive 5 bonus points. The certification validity period is 3 years.

KH Medical Co., Ltd., which receives the export contribution commendation, is a diagnostic medical device and reagent manufacturing company that has achieved remarkable export growth, succeeding in exports during the COVID-19 crisis through overseas market development and consistent technological development efforts.

Founded in 2018, the company's export performance increased from $300,000 in the previous year to $6.4 million in the first half of this year, achieving growth of more than 20 times in one year.

HS Technology Co., Ltd., selected as the Rookie of the Year in the medical/biotechnology sector among Export Frontier Enterprise-certified companies, is a specialized manufacturer of bio/pharmaceutical automatic cleaning equipment that has recorded $12 million in export sales through overseas sales from January 2018 to the present.

In addition, 40 employees and officials from companies and related organizations that have contributed to regional economic revitalization through exports will receive awards including: Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Commendation (3 points), Minister of SMEs and Startups Commendation (4 points), Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Administration Director Commendation (10 points), Korea SMEs and Startups Agency President Commendation (5 points), Gyeonggi Economic Science and Innovation Agency Director Commendation (10 points), Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation President Commendation (5 points), and Gyeonggi Export Entrepreneurs Association President Commendation (3 points).