Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The first Central Asia-Republic of Korea summit in Seoul is intended to give the C5+1 format a more substantive economic dimension.
For Uzbekistan, the new regional architecture creates opportunities to expand industrial cooperation with South Korea in technology, infrastructure, critical minerals, energy, workforce training and private capital attraction. The article was provided by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Korea and published by The Korea Times.
One of the key elements of the new agenda will be a special consultative mechanism for industry ministers.
The mechanism is expected to facilitate regular sectoral dialogue, identify joint initiatives and establish a list of priority projects.
This approach makes it possible to link the industrial priorities of Central Asian countries with South Korea's technological and investment capabilities through specific production chains. As a result, technology, infrastructure, financing and markets can be brought together within joint industrial projects.
For Uzbekistan, bilateral partnership with South Korea remains the foundation of such cooperation. Since 2019, relations between Tashkent and Seoul have held the status of a special strategic partnership. Total Korean direct investment in Uzbekistan's economy has exceeded US$8 billion, while bilateral trade approached US$1 billion in January-June this year, increasing by 11.5%.
Joint centers are already operating in the country in textiles, rare metals and alloys, agricultural machinery and e-government. Cooperation is also developing in chemical technologies and construction.
This accumulated foundation creates opportunities to further develop processing, localize production, modernize technology and manufacture higher value-added goods. The regional format also expands potential links between Central Asian enterprises and Korean businesses.
Critical minerals represent another separate area of cooperation. This field covers geological exploration, processing, refining and the establishment of high value-added production facilities. Central Asia's mineral resource base could therefore serve as a foundation for further technological ties and the development of new production capacities.
Uzbekistan already hosts the Uzbek-Korean Scientific and Technological Center for Rare Metals and Alloys. Its potential supports cooperation in materials science, processing technologies, research and specialist training.
More complex production increases infrastructure requirements. Within the C5+1 agenda, this area includes energy, industrial complexes, transport and logistics, urban infrastructure, as well as the planning, construction, modernization and operation of major facilities.
The financial foundation for large-scale projects is supported, in particular, by Uzbekistan's cooperation program with the Republic of Korea's Economic Development and Cooperation Fund for 2024–2027, worth US$2 billion. At the same time, a new portfolio of initiatives is being developed, while financing mechanisms without state guarantees and public-private partnership projects are also being considered.
The expansion of financial instruments creates additional opportunities to attract private capital and establish long-term partnerships between companies. This is particularly important for industrial and infrastructure projects with lengthy investment cycles.
The training of qualified personnel is another priority. Four vocational education centers established with the participation of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) are operating in Tashkent, Ferghana, Shakhrisabz and Samarkand. Another center is under construction in Urgench.
Further development of industrial cooperation will also require more active participation from the corporate sector, financial institutions and research organizations. It is at this level that technologies and accumulated knowledge can be transformed into new production facilities, investment solutions and commercial products.
The creation of a list of priority projects should ensure the practical advancement of initiatives between meetings of the industrial mechanism. Such an instrument would link promising areas with specific partners and sources of financing.
For Uzbekistan, the C5+1 format provides an opportunity to expand its established cooperation with South Korea to the regional level.
Investments, technology centers, financial programs, specialist training and experience in implementing complex projects can form the basis for new production links between Central Asian countries and Korean businesses.
Thus, for Uzbekistan, the industrial agenda of the Seoul summit is associated with deeper processing, technological localization, the creation of new production capacities and expanded exports of finished products.
The accumulated Uzbek-Korean experience is becoming one of the elements of the emerging C5+1 industrial architecture.
