Seeking to expand the investment opportunities of South Korean companies in the profitable Southeast Asian infrastructure market, the Export-Import Bank of Korea has hosted a forum to encourage business in Indonesia, according to officials Thursday.

The Indonesia Infrastructure Investment Forum was held Wednesday at Millennium Seoul Hilton jointly by Eximbank and Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning, upon the sponsorship of Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

Attending the event were some 200 officials from the South Korean government, builders and financial organizations, including First Vice Finance Minister Ko Hyoung-kwon and Eximbank’s Deputy President Hong Young-pyo.

The Indonesian government official team, led by National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, asked Korean companies to participate as stakeholders in the infrastructure projects in their country.

Eximbank, in response, vowed to provide stronger financial support to private market players seeking to enter the public infrastructure market in Indonesia.

“We expect that this forum will act as a momentum for Korean companies to expand their investment in the highly potential Indonesian infrastructure market,” said an official of the state-run bank.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)