Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to major Korean corporations such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia, and Lotte to shift from imports to establishing fully localized, high-tech production centers in Uzbekistan.
This initiative is aimed at elevating the interaction between the Republic of Korea and Uzbekistan to a new level of cooperation, comparable to the concept of the 'New Silk Road,' and ensuring deep integration in the fields of high technology, industry, and processing of critical minerals.
This was reported in an article published by the South Korean publication The Chosun Ilbo following the head of Uzbekistan's state visit to Seoul. In his piece, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted the perfect alignment of the economic interests of Tashkent and Seoul: Uzbekistan aims for deep integration into global value chains, while South Korea is interested in diversifying resource sources and stable markets.
The partnership has a solid foundation: Korean investments in the Uzbek economy exceed $8 billion, over 700 joint projects operate in the country, and bilateral trade has increased fivefold in recent years. Furthermore, joint programs implemented through KOICA and Eximbank of Korea (EDCF) have reached a volume of over $3.5 billion, and Uzbekistan became the first country in the region to acquire South Korean high-speed trains.
Priority areas for establishing technological hubs have been identified as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, microelectronics, electric vehicle manufacturing, robotics, biopharmaceuticals, and the development of 'smart' agriculture. Special attention is paid to utilizing Uzbekistan's rich natural resources in combination with Seoul's advanced technologies to form new logistics chains.
The publication also emphasizes the importance of human potential development, which implies expanding academic exchanges, creating research and development (R&D) centers, and joint specialist training. The head of state referenced the Uzbek proverb 'One horse cannot raise dust,' drawing a parallel with Korean wisdom on the benefits of collective labor.
Beyond economic issues, the article highlights the cultural closeness of the peoples, shared values, and support for Seoul's efforts to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula. Mirziyoyev personally invited South Koreans to visit cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez, and Tashkent. During his visit, Shavkat Mirziyoyev intends to hold talks with President Lee Jae-myung, and the first 'Central Asia – Republic of Korea' summit is scheduled for September 16, after which the Seoul Declaration is expected to be adopted.