Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev called on South Korean companies to participate in Uzbekistan's infrastructure projects during a business roundtable in Seoul on Tuesday. He expressed hope for expanded bilateral cooperation in sectors including supply chains, renewable energy, and IT. The event followed up on the leaders' summit in September.
On Tuesday, Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev urged South Korean companies to join major infrastructure projects, including high-speed railways and an airport, during a Korea-Uzbekistan business roundtable in Seoul. In his opening remarks, Khodjaev expressed Uzbekistan's desire to expand cooperation with Korea in supply chains, renewable energy, infrastructure, transportation, and IT, according to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). The event, a follow-up to the September leaders' summit, was attended by Uzbek vice ministers from economy-related ministries, Ambassador to Seoul Alisher Abdusalomov, and officials from 25 Korean firms operating in the Central Asian nation, such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, and POSCO International.
Khodjaev highlighted that Uzbekistan's gross domestic product has doubled over the past eight years due to government efforts to improve its business environment, and the number of joint ventures between Korea and Uzbekistan has risen to 683 during that period.
The roundtable followed a meeting on Monday between South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Koo Yun-cheol and Khodjaev in Seoul. Koo noted that partnerships have expanded beyond infrastructure to future industries like science, health care, and climate change. The two sides agreed to strengthen existing ties, collaborate on future infrastructure projects, and support Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization. This was the sixth such deputy PM meeting and the first since the start of the Lee Jae-myung administration, ahead of next year's South Korea-Central Asia summit.
KITA Chairman Yoon Jin-sik pledged his organization's efforts to bolster bilateral cooperation and address difficulties faced by Korean firms in Uzbekistan. These developments signal deepening economic ties with Central Asia.
