Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The South Korean government has decided to provide "comprehensive emergency assistance" in the amount of US$5 million to combat the coronavirus infection COVID-19 in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In this regard, it is planned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the Korean Agency for International Cooperation in Tashkent (KOICA) and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the implementation of this program as soon as possible.

Within the framework of this project, various activities will be promoted in all areas related to counteracting the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus infection, such as equipping with medical equipment, improving the skills of professional personnel, mainly medical personnel, and developing mobile applications providing information on COVID-19 and supporting socially vulnerable groups with the necessary personal protective equipment.

Within the framework of a special strategic partnership between the two countries, the Republic of Korea with particular attention provides such support to the Republic of Uzbekistan to jointly overcome the crisis caused by COVID-19. This project has been exclusively offered to very few countries in the world. We hope that for Uzbekistan the volume of our assistance will be no less noticeable against the background of assistance received from various countries. 

The Republic of Korea has so far provided regular assistance in the form of consultations to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. At an early stage in the spread of coronavirus infection, professors Tsoi Jae Wook and Yoon Sung Zhu were sent to Uzbekistan as consultants and assisted local specialists in combating the outbreak of coronavirus. And at the end of April, diagnostic kits were provided with a total value of 250 thousand US dollars. In July, it is planned to send 35 million pieces of masks (KF 80/94) worth more than 300 thousand US dollars. In addition, various Korean organizations and government agencies such as the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Korea International Health and Medical Fund (KOFIH), the Korea Water Resources Corporation (KWRC), and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) provide support food and medical supplies for socially vulnerable groups. Korean society and Korean companies have also provided assistance to Uzbekistan.

The implemented program will become a real and tangible help in building the capacity for the diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases in Uzbekistan, and it is assumed that the special friendship between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Uzbekistan will be strengthened through constant mutual assistance and cooperation.