Howard County, South Korea's Business Partnership Now Official

COLUMBIA, MD — As an official gesture toward supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in the county and South Korea, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Howard County Economic Development Authority and Born2Global Centre, a Korean accelerator. The MOU confirms the partnership between the two entities that will create a soft landing zone at the Howard County Innovation Center for qualified South Korean startups.

“Earlier this year, I signed an MOU to launch our innovation center to support growing small businesses and supporting emerging entrepreneurs. Now, we are taking another innovative step forward to make our County a global destination for bold, exciting startups,” said Ball in a statement. “Howard County, with the highest percentage of Korean-American residents in Maryland and over 170 Korean-American-owned businesses, has a strong connection to our neighbors in South Korea. Now, as the 'Silicon Valley' of the East Coast of the United States, we will partner with the ‘Silicon Valley of South Korea’ to grow our local economy.”

Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan expressed her excitement for the newly formed partnership that "signifies a wonderful collaboration between our two regions."

"This relationship will provide the country with an excellent example of how states can provide resources for international partners who want to enter the global market," she said in a statement.

Lawrence Twele, chief executive officer of the HCEDA, said the international land zone will open the door to "greater opportunities" for international collaboration between communities and additional access to business opportunities within each other's markets. Born2Global president Jong-Kap Kim said that innovative young entrepreneurs from both South Korea and Howard County now will have a "meaningful opportunity to build a greater vision and succeed in the global market."

Born2Global Centre (B2G) is a South Korean government agency that contributes to the national startup ecosystem. Each year, B2G selects more than 100 startups with high potential for entering the global market. B2G provides services such as professional consulting in law, patents, accounting, marketing, investment and business development.