Businesspeople from South Korea and Italy on Thursday discussed ways to enhance exchanges and cooperation at a one-day forum in Milan, an industrial hub in northern Italy, the South Korean Embassy in Rome said.

The third South Korea-Italy Business Forum, organized by the embassy, brought 170 businesspeople from 40 large and small South Korean companies, including travel agencies and logistics firms operating in the European country, and 60 Italian companies.

Also present at the forum, held at a Milan hotel, were representatives from Malta Enterprise, the Maltese government agency responsible for attracting inward investment and supporting firms, and some other companies from the southern European island country.

Italy's procurement agency Consip S.p.A., Italian energy leader Eni S.p.A. and Italian power manufacturer Enel also took part in the forum, engaging in negotiations with South Korean firms about the possible procurement of products from the Asian country.

On the occasion of the forum, Italian industry bodies operating in such sectors as mineral water, pasta, and footwear and leather held presentations on their business and briefed interested South Korean businesspeople on possible deals.

South Korean Ambassador to Italy Lee Yong-joon expected that "the amalgamation of Italy's creativity and South Korea's efficiency will give rise to breakthroughs in overcoming difficulties faced by the business communities of the two countries." (Yonhap)