A delegation from Uzbekistan held a series of meetings in the Republic of Korea focused on the digitalization of public procurement, the development of local production, technology transfer, and expanding institutional cooperation.
The delegation included representatives from the Agency for Industrial Cooperation and Public Procurement, as well as relevant state bodies.
Discussion of the electronic public procurement system
At the headquarters of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the parties discussed the further development of Uzbekistan's electronic public procurement system based on the experience of South Korea. Particular attention was paid to the possibilities of attracting technical assistance and utilizing grant programs.
Participants also reviewed the possibility of involving Korean experts and professional development for specialists working in this field.
Cooperation with manufacturers and technologies
In a meeting with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), participants discussed establishing contacts with Korean producers of products with potential for localization in Uzbekistan. The parties considered holding bilateral (B2B) meetings with Korean companies, developing technological partnerships, implementing joint projects, and expanding industrial interaction.
Studying public procurement experience
Another part of the visit was dedicated to studying the experience of the Public Procurement Service (PPS) of the Republic of Korea. The Uzbek delegation familiarized itself with practices of centralized procurement management and the operation of the KONEPS electronic procurement system.
Electronic catalogs and framework agreements, price monitoring, supplier evaluation, the application of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach, electronic contracts and payments, and the integration of public information systems were examined in detail. Furthermore, participants studied risk analysis mechanisms using artificial intelligence technologies.
In addition, the delegation visited the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), where it learned about modern achievements in artificial intelligence, digital and telecommunication technologies, high-definition televisions, and autonomous transport.
Overall, the meetings focused on studying the experience of South Korea and identifying practical directions for future cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea in the fields of public procurement, industrial interaction, and advanced technologies.
