The Korean government held its first regional investor relations activities called the “ caravan for foreign investment ” in Changwon , South Gyeongsang Province , with the aim of helping to reach $ 20 billion in foreign direct investment for four straight years , according to the Ministry of Trade , Industry and Energy on Monday .   The caravan for foreign investment refers to a government activity to help foreign investors solve their investment challenges and to encourage more , the ministry said . The event was attended by 17 foreign companies and around 150 mid - sized local firms located in the areas of Busan , Ulsan and Kyungnam . During the event , the ministry had a briefing session to introduce its plan to form a fund to attract foreign investment , a meeting with 17 CEOs from foreign companies and a matching fair between financial institutions and local companies . The government said it would form a fund of around $ 50 million with the aim of setting up a platform to match foreign investors and local companies by providing liquidity to skilled local companies . The fund will be comprised of $ 10 million from the government , $ 10 million from the Korea Development Bank and $ 30 million from the private sector . The government said there are many local companies -- which are low - profile but have high technologies -- hoping to make joint investment with foreign companies in order to jump into the global market . “ The investment fund will be a tool to help provide trust to the foreign companies , which avoid partnerships with low - profile local companies because of risk , ” said a spokesperson of the ministry . The fund will be invested in around 10 to 20 local companies related to the “ fourth industrial revolution , ” including artificial intelligence , robotics technologies and life science . At the meeting with CEOs from 17 foreign companies , Lee Ho - joon , chief of the ministry ’ s investment policy division , attended to discuss Korea ’ s investment environment , possibilities to increase investment and investment challenges . The 17 foreign companies are in the areas of petrochemistry , automobiles , car parts , aviation and shipbuilding and plant facilities . “ We will periodically hold this caravan event in other regions to promote foreign investment nationwide with the aim of reaching $ 20 billion in foreign investment this year , ” said Kim Jae - joon , a chief of the ministry ’ s investment attraction division . Last year , foreign direct investment to Korea reached a record high of $ 22 . 9 billion due to the increased investment in manufacturing , including electric and electronics facilities . In the first quarter of this year , FDI reached $ 4 . 9 billion , a 28 percent increase from the same period of last year , according to the ministry . By Shin Ji - hye ( shinjh @ heraldcorp . com ) [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >