1,000 businesses to receive support for high-efficiency energy appliances

300 businesses to get help breaking into online sales channels

"Leading regional economic revitalization and inclusive finance"

[Provided by Hana Bank]
[Provided by Hana Bank]

Hana Bank announced Wednesday it will launch a "Small Business Competitiveness Enhancement Support Project" to help small business owners manage their operations. The program targets 1,300 businesses in total, with applications open for three weeks beginning Thursday.

Through a "High-Efficiency Energy Appliance Introduction Support Project," the bank will cover up to 2 million won ($1,320) in purchase costs for high-efficiency energy appliances at 1,000 businesses. Eligible products are those rated energy efficiency class 1 through 3 and include air conditioners (including heating and cooling units), refrigerators (including kimchi refrigerators), washing machines, clothes dryers, air purifiers and dehumidifiers.

A separate "Online Sales Channel Development Support Project" targets small business owners looking to enter online markets and diversify their sales. The bank will select 300 businesses and provide solutions to help them list on online platforms and boost sales activity.

The program covers three areas of support: assistance with product design improvements, page creation and sales strategy development for online platform entry; live commerce support, including broadcast planning and influencer recruitment; and crowdfunding support, covering reward-based crowdfunding planning and funding page setup.

Hana Bank will evaluate applicants based on business viability, sustainability and the appropriateness of the support requested. Small business owners located within designated "alley-type shopping districts" under the Special Act on the Promotion of Traditional Markets and Shopping Districts who have completed registration as Onuri gift voucher merchants will receive preferential treatment during the review.

Hana Financial Group announced last month through its "Inclusive Finance Roadmap" plans to launch the "Hana The Soho Success Ladder Loan," a 1 trillion won credit facility. The product will offer unsecured loans of up to 10 million won at a minimum annual interest rate of 4.5 percent to small business owners who are repaying their bank loans without delinquency or have repaid them in full.

"This small business competitiveness enhancement support project was designed to help small business owners meaningfully improve their management competitiveness by reducing energy costs and supporting their entry into digital and online markets," a Hana Bank official said. "We will continue to lead regional economic revitalization and the practice of inclusive finance through a variety of support projects that reflect the voices of those on the ground."


hyuk@heraldcorp.com