Susilo, Roh talk on labor

South Korea agreed on Friday to increase the number of Indonesian migrant workers allowed into the country as part of efforts to boost the economic growth of the two countries.

The plan was conveyed during a bilateral meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan, South Korea, on Friday.

"During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the prospects of economic cooperation, especially in the trade, investment and labor sectors," presidential spokesman Dino Djalal said in a press conference.

"The they agreed to step up economic relations by discussing labor issues at the ministerial level to create a broader and fairer opportunity for workers to enter each country," he added.

For South Korea, Indonesia is the third largest investment destination.

Indonesia also hopes to increase cooperation with South Korea in the fields of energy, infrastructure, information technology and industrial manufacturing. -- JP/Rendi A. Witular