33 social solidarity economy firms seek public procurement deals at Seoul forum

Thirty-three social solidarity economy enterprises met with 31 public institutions — including Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Tourism Organization and Incheon International Airport — on Tuesday to explore new sales channels in the public procurement market.

The Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency hosted the "2026 Social Solidarity Economy Enterprise Public Procurement Consultation Forum" at the aT Center in Seoul, aimed at expanding social solidarity economy enterprises' access to public procurement and encouraging preferential purchasing by public institutions.

The forum was designed to directly connect public institutions' purchasing needs with the products and services offered by social solidarity economy enterprises. The agency surveyed participating public institutions in advance to identify items they wished to procure, then matched them with social solidarity economy enterprises capable of supplying those goods.

Thirty-three social solidarity economy enterprises took part, spanning fields such as office equipment, promotional gifts, corporate video production and pest control. Procurement officers from 31 public institutions attended, including Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Tourism Organization and Incheon International Airport.

One-on-one consultations tailored to each institution's needs took place on site. Enterprises introduced their products and services directly and discussed specific procurement requirements and supply possibilities with the relevant institutional officers.

An exhibition space was set up where attendees could experience participating companies' products firsthand. The agency also ran a promotional booth for its demand-matched procurement support project, through which it identifies and recommends social enterprises that produce items public institutions are seeking.

Separate consulting sessions were held to help social solidarity economy enterprises enter the procurement market. Working with the Seoul Regional Office of the Public Procurement Service, the agency operated a "Public Procurement Guide Consulting" booth, providing participating enterprises with information covering everything from initial market entry to long-term growth.

"We hope this will serve as a meaningful springboard for social solidarity economy enterprises that have struggled to break into the public procurement market," agency head Jeong Seung-guk said. "We will continue to hold procurement consultation forums across the country to promote preferential purchasing of social solidarity economy enterprises by public institutions and to invigorate local economies."