S. Korea, RI plan barter deal

S. Korea, RI plan barter deal

SEOUL (Dow Jones): South Korea's Ministry of Commerce,
Industry and Energy said it concluded Thursday a two-day meeting
with Indonesian government officials on improving trade between
the two countries during an annual committee of energy and
mineral resources cooperation.

During the two-day meeting, the two sides shared the view that
barter trade will be necessary to help foster overall trade
between the two countries, which has been falling sharply since
the currency crisis hit Asia last year, the ministry said.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy Park Tae-young
headed the South Korean delegation to the meeting in Seoul while
Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto led the
Indonesian mission.

The two sides discussed including crude oil, mineral resources
and gas products in the barter trade, the ministry said. They
plan to meet again soon to continue talk on details regarding the
barter trade.