Samarkand: South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev convened in Samarkand on Sunday to explore avenues for bolstering collaboration in critical minerals and infrastructure sectors, as reported by Seoul's finance ministry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting was part of Minister Koo's visit to the Uzbek capital, coinciding with a series of international engagements, including the annual Asian Development Bank meeting. During the discussions, Minister Koo stressed the importance of intensifying cooperative efforts in the bio industry and infrastructure projects such as railways and airports. He also highlighted the need to strengthen critical supply chains between the two nations.
Minister Koo proposed increasing opportunities for South Korean enterprises to enter the Central Asian market through collaborative projects, underscoring that such partnerships could position both countries to spearhead advancements in high-tech industries and logistics across Central Asia, aiming for mutual prosperity.
Responding to these proposals, President Mirziyoyev acknowledged the longstanding friendly relations between South Korea and Uzbekistan. He expressed optimism about expanding bilateral trade and investment, leveraging the historical ties, and advocated for proactive discussions to pinpoint new cooperative ventures and achieve concrete outcomes.