1. The “2018 symposium on ways to increase presence in Latin American infrastructure and plant market,” co-hosted by the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Contractors Association of Korea, will take place at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul on December 17.

o The Foreign Ministry’s Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau has held the symposium every year since 2010 to help Korean companies build presence in Latin America, to assist experts in related areas in establishing close human networks, and to share up-to-date information and trends regarding the Latin American market with Korean companies.

2. At the symposium, Korean experts on Latin America and officials from Latin American financial institutions will make presentations on the current state and prospects for Korean companies’ participation in construction projects in Latin America (the International Contractors Association of Korea); strategies to enter the Latin American infrastructure market using finance (Banco Santander); Central America’s market environment, and ways to enter the market (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies); and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)’s projects (CABEI).

o In particular, the symposium takes place as each country’s procedures to ratify the ROK-Central America (5 countries) free trade agreement (FTA), signed in February 2018, as well as the final signing process for the ROK’s accession to CABEI are currently underway. The symposium is expected to contribute to increasing Korean companies’ presence in the Central American construction and infrastructure market.

o Manager of the CABEI regional office in El Salvador Raúl Castaneda, who will attend the symposium on behalf of CABEI, will provide detailed information on the bank’s financing process when Korean companies enter the Central American infrastructure market; asset portfolio and key policies; and the bank’s major projects.

3. The upcoming symposium is expected to serve as an opportunity to discuss strategies for Korean companies willing to enter the Latin American market, as well as ways to step up cooperation, and to help Korean companies better understand the main characteristics of the Central American market, its potential for growth, and promising sectors.

o The event is open to anyone, including citizens and students interested in the Latin American infrastructure market, as well as experts and people working in the infrastructure industry (on-site registration is possible).

* unofficial translation