2021 Incheon Law & Business Forum: "Navigating the Storm: Helping MSMEs Set Sail with Legal Harmonization"

Monday, 06 September 2021 - 4:00pm to Tuesday, 07 September 2021 - 7:00pm

UNCITRAL RCAP held the 2nd Incheon Law & Business Forum themed “Navigating the Storm: Helping MSMEs Set Sail with Legal Harmonization” on 6-7 September 2021. The Forum was co-hosted with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea and Incheon Metropolitan City, and supported by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board INTERNATIONAL (KCAB INTERNATIONAL).

This two-day regional Forum brought together representatives from the law, business, and public sectors to discuss hurdles to integrating micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) into the mainstream economy, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. Special attention was given to how UNCITRAL works to reduce the legal obstacles MSMEs face throughout their life cycle.

The event comprised five panels on (1) “MSME Formation: Business Registration”; (2) “MSME Formation: Limited Liability Enterprises”; (3) “MSMEs in the Digital Age”; (4) “MSE Insolvency: A Simplified Regime”; and (5) “Resolving Disputes involving MSMEs”; along with a roundtable discussion on facilitating MSME access to credit. 

The Minister of Justice of the Republic of Korea, UNCITRAL Secretary Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret, and the Mayor of Incheon City delivered opening remarks at the Forum.

The event was conducted in English and took place virtually from 16:00 – 19:00 Korea Standard Time (UTC+9) via Zoom on 6 – 7 September 2021. It was open to the public and free of charge. Fore details, please see the e-flyer.

Programme

Speaker Bios

 

DAY 1: Monday, 6 September 2021

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Mr. Park, Beom Kye, Minister of Justice, Republic of Korea 

Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary, UNCITRAL

Mr. Park, Nam Choon, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea

Panel 1: MSME Formation: Business Registration 

Moderator: Ms. Monica Canafoglia, Legal Officer, UNCITRAL

 

Panel 2: MSME Formation: Limited Liability Enterprises (LLE)

Moderator: Ms. Monica Canafoglia, Legal Officer, UNCITRAL

  • Mr. Yang Bingxun, Department of Treaty and Law, MOFCOM, China, “Some Legal Issues on MSMEs in China
  • Dr. Anne Matthew, Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology Law School, Australia, “Limited Liability Enterprise: Supporting Nascent MSMEs in the Pacific Region
  • Prof. Sinisa Petrovic, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Croatia, “Anachrony of Company Law and Is the LLE an Appropriate Solution?”
  • Ms. Sharla Draemel, Attorney-Adviser, Office of Private International Law, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, “Helping MSMEs through Law: U.S. LLC and UNCITRAL LLE”

Roundtable Discussion: MSME Financing: Access to Credit 

Moderator: Ms. Athita Komindr, Head, UNCITRAL RCAP  

DAY 2: Tuesday, 7 September 2021

Panel 3: MSMEs in the Digital Age 

Moderator: Mr. Alexander Kunzelmann, Legal Officer, UNCITRAL 

Panel 4: MSE Insolvency: A Simplified Regime 

Moderator: Ms. Yanying Li, Legal Officer, UNCITRAL

Panel 5: Resolving Disputes Involving MSMEs

Moderator: Mr. Jae Sung Lee, Legal Officer, UNCITRAL

Closing Remarks

Ms. Athita Komindr, Head, UNCITRAL RCAP