President Lee Myung-bak suggested ways to expand economic cooperation between Korea and Indonesia in a speech he delivered at the "Korea-Indonesia CEO Business Dialogue" held at Jakarta Pacific Place in Indonesia on Mar. 7.

About 150 Korean business leaders and some 100 Indonesian government officials, including Vice President Jusuf Kalla, and corporate executives attended the forum. Korean participants included Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Koo Bon-joon, chairman of the Korea-Indonesia Economic Cooperation Committee.
 

In his speech, Lee said that Indonesia''s abundant energy and human resources and Korea''s capital and technology have produced win-win results, contributing largely to economic growth in both countries. He said Korea and Indonesia should work together as important economic partners in a new green era by cooperating with each other in combining Indonesia''s green resources with Korea''s green technology. To this end, he suggested that Korea participate in Indonesia''s development of afforestation and bioenergy industries, and both countries strengthen cooperation on clean energy and expand information and cultural exchanges.

In summit talks held on Mar. 6, Lee asked his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to help Korean businesses advance into the Indonesian market. They agreed to further expand cooperation in response to climate change, and in energy development, information and communications, and science and technology.

The two leaders also agreed to establish a joint afforestation center for cooperation in response to climate change, and in green energy and forest bioenergy industries, and to expand cooperation for building biomass power plants and implementing a marine bioenergy project. Korea will also actively take part in Indonesia''s energy development project and its construction of thermal power plants.

Meanwhile, Lee met officials from Korea''s energy-related businesses operating in Indonesia, such as KORINDO (forest development), KIDECO (coal), and Korea National Oil Corporation (oil), that afternoon.
 

Lee also attended a T-DMB demonstration on Mar. 7, where he encouraged Korean businessmen who are trying to advance into Indonesia''s communications market.
 

He visited a sewing factory of Busana Prima Global, a Korean garment company near Jakarta, that afternoon. There, he talked with Korean executives and encouraged local employees.