Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — IT Park Uzbekistan and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) discussed expanding cooperation in the startup sector and supporting technology companies seeking to enter international markets.
The meeting was held in Seoul with the participation of Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies Jamol Mahsudov, IT Park Uzbekistan Executive Director Jahongir Rajabov and representatives of IT Park Uzbekistan, IT Park Uzbekistan said.
The sides discussed prospects for developing startup ecosystems, scaling technology companies internationally and strengthening ties between entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan and South Korea.
KISED is a government institution under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea.
The institute implements national programs to support entrepreneurship and technology startups, covering areas from training and business launch to acceleration, commercialization, investment attraction and entry into foreign markets.
One proposal was to create a joint startup exchange and “soft landing” program for Uzbek companies interested in entering the Korean market and Korean startups considering opportunities to operate in Uzbekistan and Central Asia. The potential program would include market-entry consultations, mentorship support, assistance in finding local partners and B2B meetings.
Particular attention was paid to the possible participation of promising IT Park Uzbekistan startups in KISED’s international programs, including the K-Startup Grand Challenge, Global Market Expansion Program and K-Startup Centers, as well as exhibitions and business events.
The sides also considered holding the Uzbekistan–Korea Startup Forum in 2027, with the participation of startups, investors, accelerators and corporate partners from the two countries. They also plan to discuss reciprocal business missions to Uzbekistan and South Korea, including B2B meetings, investment sessions, visits to technology companies and market-entry activities.
Another area will be the exchange of experience in developing startup ecosystems. The sides discussed organizing seminars and educational programs for employees of IT Park Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Digital Technologies on startup support mechanisms in Korea, technology commercialization, corporate open innovation models and the development of innovation infrastructure.
The use of KISED’s network to help Uzbek startups establish contacts with Korean venture capital funds, investors, corporations and other participants in the technology ecosystem was also discussed.
Following the meeting, the sides identified areas for further development of practical cooperation formats aimed at expanding startups’ access to new markets, investment and international partnerships in both countries.
