Hana Financial Group will step up a local commercial district revitalisation programme with the Small Enterprise and Market Service, with participation from about 100 young small business owners nationwide.

Hana Financial said it held a launch ceremony on Sept. 29 at the Sunshine Hotel in Daejeon with the Small Enterprise and Market Service for the project, dubbed "Hana On, Youth On".

The project is being promoted under a business agreement the two organisations signed in June to support revitalisation of commercial districts for young small business owners. Fifteen teams of young small business owners selected nationwide, about 100 people, will directly plan and carry out joint projects by commercial district.

The teams will pursue joint events and customer-attraction programmes, environmental improvements and joint promotion tailored to each region. Hana Financial and the agency plan to provide expert consulting, budget support and tailored financial support.

Ham Young-joo (함영주), chairman of Hana Financial Group, and In Tae-yeon (인태연), head of the Small Enterprise and Market Service, attended the ceremony. The event also included a programme to share project cases from participating teams and discuss district-specific issues and business ideas.

Hana Financial has worked with the agency on a "Neighbourhood Supermarket Good Egg Supply Project". It also operates related programmes such as efforts to strengthen competitiveness of small business owners and support for high-efficiency energy devices and digital transformation equipment.

Ham said Hana Financial will continue to provide support with the Small Enterprise and Market Service so that growth by young small business owners can add new vitality to local commercial districts and those results can extend nationwide.