I was very pleased to hear that Korea was selected as the host country of the secretariat for the United Nations Green Climate Fund, or GCF, which will play an important role in addressing climate change worldwide. I know that Korea still has a long way to go, but it made me very proud as being named the host of the GCF clearly indicates that Korea has become a leader in global green growth.

Korea deserves credit for becoming the home to the GCF. Many sectors of the nation have been pursuing green growth vigorously since President Lee Myung-bak proposed “low carbon green growth” as Korea’s future vision during his speech on Korean National Liberation Day in 2008.

The government’s continued efforts were the key to the creation of international trusts. The host of the GCF will certainly give Korea a valuable opportunity to promote its green growth initiatives to the world.

Together with the Presidential Committee on Green Growth, the administration has developed strategies and activities of green growth and created an array of related policies to seek a green future in a more sustainable way.

As a result, the Basic Law on Green Growth was enacted and a 5-Year Green Growth Plan containing 10 policy directions was implemented in 2009 under the goals of making Korea an international role model as a green growth country.

Recognizing the importance of contributing to global green growth, the Small and Medium Business Corporation established the ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center, or ASEIC, in June 2011 to transform the country from an economic role model into a global leader toward a green future.

ASEIC is a global initiative that promotes a low carbon green growth among ASEM member countries as well as supports Asia countries to address climate change and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It may not be an appropriate comparison, but ASIEC shares some common characteristics with GCF, which focuses on helping developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The difference is that ASEIC specifically supports SMEs in Asia.

ASEIC is dedicated to providing environmental consulting services, encouraging appropriate technology adoption for SMEs in Asian countries, establishing a web portal, holding international conferences and developing ASEM Eco-Innovation Index(ASEI), an indicator to evaluate the status of eco-innovation in ASEM member countries.

Such efforts drives ASEIC to promote a low carbon green growth and share critical information regarding environmental efforts such as energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reduction with SMEs in Asian countries.

Serving as an international platform, ASEIC is expected to make a valuable contribution to addressing climate change by sharing information related to green policies and promoting eco-innovation among SEMs in ASEM member countries.

Over the past two years, ASEIC has provided eco-innovation consulting services to 65 independent SMEs in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. A total of 600 energy reduction solutions were offered to the SMEs and 60 percent of them successfully improved the energy efficiency in their businesses. In Cambodia, ASEIC introduced so-called “appropriate technologies” to the local community which are tailored to the needs of local people, such as solar home systems and solar cookers, in close cooperation with the Global Green Growth Institute(GGGI), the first international organization initiated by Korea.

With encouragement from ASEM member countries, ASEIC will play an essential role in promoting eco-innovation among SMEs in developing nations, which positions Korea as one of leading countries in driving global green growth initiatives.

By Song Jong-ho
Administrator, Small and Medium Business Administration