Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the first Central Asia-Republic of Korea Business Summit in Seoul, proposing to view the region as a single space of economic opportunity with a population of over 80 million, Gazeta.uz reported.
He called for combining Central Asia's resource potential with South Korea's financial and technological capabilities, emphasizing the advanced processing of raw materials and the production of high-tech products.
Priorities include critical minerals, semiconductors, microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, robotics, energy, transport, and digital technologies. Uzbekistan also proposed expanding joint research, training specialists, and the creation of regional production chains.
The rapprochement between Tashkent and Seoul has been particularly noticeable during Mirziyoyev's presidency. Following his state visit to South Korea in 2017, cooperation acquired new practical content, and in 2019, the countries elevated their relations to a special strategic partnership.
Today, more than 700 enterprises with Korean capital operate in Uzbekistan, and the volume of Korean investment has exceeded $8 billion. In September 2026, the parties prepared new projects worth approximately $12 billion.
Under Mirziyoyev, relations with South Korea have gradually expanded beyond traditional investment and trade. Tashkent is now seeking to attract Korean technology, expertise, and educational resources to modernize its industry.
For Seoul, Uzbekistan is becoming an important partner in Central Asia, and for Tashkent, the Korean route is a tool for technological diversification and a shift from raw material exports to the production of higher-value-added products.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 16, 2026