Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-run PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) and Japan's Shoko Chukin Bank at a business matching session of the 2023 ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF).

Director of Wholesale and International Banking at BNI, Silvano Rumantir, said here on Wednesday that the cooperation with Korea Eximbank is a milestone in partnership and a joint effort to enhance comprehensive and strategic cooperation.

"With Korea Eximbank, we get a credit facility, which is a two-step loan that we can forward to BNI customers in Indonesia who carry out import activities from Korea," he informed here.

Rumantir was one of the panelists of the "Plenary Session on AIPF Sub-themes III: Inclusive Digital Transformation." Accelerating digital transformation was one of the main agendas of this year's AIPF, which was held by Indonesia on September 5 and 6.

The forum presented panel discussions, talk shows, project exhibitions, and business matching meetings.

Rumantir said he hoped that the synergy between BNI and Korea Eximbank would increase trade activities between the two countries.

"With this good start with Korea Eximbank, we can grow together and further increase export-import activities between Indonesia and Korea," he added.

The cooperation worth US$200 million will also target all business players ranging from corporations to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

"In this first phase, the (cooperation) starts with US$200 million. Of course, the distribution will see the (business') prospects and bankability," he said.

Meanwhile, the collaboration with Shoko Chukin Bank is part of BNI's strategic step to provide one-stop solutions and services to Japanese MSMEs that have invested or will invest in Indonesia.

BNI is one of the Indonesian banks that has a Japan desk as part of cooperation with Japanese regional banks.

With the MoU, Japanese regional bank customers will get easy banking services and access to business matching with customers in Indonesia.

"We are very grateful that we can maximize the momentum of AIPF. We will expand more communication with stakeholders in this AIPF so we can realize many MoUs and projects," he said.

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Translator: Ade J, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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