By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung SDS is stepping up efforts to pursue “shared growth” with local partners and contractors by expanding financial support and sharing its patents.
The company Thursday announced its plan to expand financial support to its suppliers to 4.5 billion won to ensure balanced growth between large firms and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“SDS is helping our local partners do business with greater financial stability. We’ve recently expanded the ‘mutual growth fund’ to 4.5 billion won to help them get money at lower rates,” said company spokeswoman Kim Mi-ri.
She added the Seoul-headquartered outfit is also sharing some SDS-owned patents with local partners. Specifically, partners can get full access to 32 SDS-developed patents without paying royalties.
“SDS is running various educational programs to help our partners see qualified corporate growth,” Kim said.
The company led by Alfred S. Koh awarded partners that provided highly-qualified products to SDS last year.
Kim said 890 local SMEs won contracts to participate in SDS-organized business projects in 2012. “After a thorough review, 15 suppliers were selected as this year’s winners. The winners will get priority to join upcoming SDS projects,” she said.
The information technology service affiliate of Samsung Group is trying to cut its heavy reliance on the local market and to improve its overseas business.
SDS has been yielding meaningful returns from its overseas logistics solutions business.