SPC Paris Baguette – AMCHAM Korea Establishes Partnership to Support Vulnerable and Underprivileged People
New York City, SPC Paris Baguette, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) announced on April14, 2023 that they had signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The MOU was concluded on the afternoon of April 12, 2023 (local time) at the Paris Baguette store on the 40th Street, Manhattan, New York City, in attendance of New York Mayor Eric Adams, AMCHAM Chairman and CEO James Kim, Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim, NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs Commissioner Ed Mermelstein, and SPC’s President Jin-soo Hur.
Through this agreement, the three parties agreed to make efforts to promote economic growth by providing internship opportunities for New Yorkers and supporting activities for Minority & Women Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE).
To this end, Paris Baguette plans to operate an ‘internship program’ to provide baking training and hands-on experiences to participants, and provide opportunities for continuous career development, such as employment. In addition, Paris Baguette plans to donate food to people in need of financial help in the five boroughs of New York, making this agreement more meaningful and spreading a good influence.
AMCHAM plans to serve as a connection between M/WBEs in New York and global companies to support the growth engine of M/WBEs.
“New York is a big city to and a land of opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses, and we want to make sure we are supporting everyone hoping to invest in our city, including global companies,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “This agreement with Paris Baguette will help create jobs and opportunity throughout the five boroughs, support the creation of youth internships with career skills and training, and develop a food donation program for needy New Yorkers across our city. New York City’s recovery is as strong as a jolt of coffee, and today, we will spare no effort for our economic revitalization. Working together with our partners in the private sector, we can keep our recovery strong and create more opportunity for everyone.”
Kevin D. Kim, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services said, “Partnership is an essential ingredient for economic growth, and the latest collaboration with Paris Baguette and AMCHAM demonstrates that new opportunities can rise from matching business talent with the city’s greatest needs,” adding “We are thrilled that this partnership will provide work opportunities for New Yorkers and expand support for M/WBEs, and we’re pleased to help bring workers and businesses together for this innovative model.”
Edward Mermelstein, Commissioner of NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs said, “Under the leadership of Mayor Eric Adams, our administration is creating an ecosystem for people and businesses to thrive across the five boroughs,” adding “We are proud to continue attracting overseas investments and businesses to NYC. I applaud the commitments that Paris Baguette and AMCHAM Korea have shown to support M/WBEs and New Yorkers. We expect to see more participation from other global companies.”
SPC President, Jin-soo Hur said, “At Paris Baguette, we’re proud to be a pillar of business and community in the neighborhoods we serve. Through this partnership with New York City and AMCHAM to support women and minorities, we’re furthering our commitment to creating opportunities that strengthen our economy and support future business leaders.”
AMCHAM Chairman & CEO James Kim noted, “I strongly believe that this MOU is a testament to the incredible synergy between the U.S. and Korea, a true win-win-win partnership and perfect scenario for strong collaboration efforts among the three parties,” adding “One of the AMCHAM’s top missions is to help more companies including SMEs from Korea and the U.S. do more business in our respective countries and today, we’re one step closer to realizing this vision. We will continue to encourage Korean companies to make further forays in New York City.”
Meanwhile, since its entry into the US market in 2005, Paris Baguette has opened about 130 stores across the country with more than 30 stores in New York City. Paris Baguette aims to break the 1,000 store mark in the United States and North America by 2030.
