SEOUL, In an effort to bolster economic cooperation, Foreign Minister Park Jin participated in a series of bilateral discussions with officials from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, According to Yonhap News Agency, a statement from his office released on Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry, these discussions took place on the sidelines of the 16th South Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum in Turkmenistan. Park Jin engaged with his Uzbek counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov, and reached a consensus on advancing cooperation in sectors such as energy, resources, supply chains, health, education, and defense. During their meeting, Park emphasized the potential for South Korean companies to contribute to major infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan, including highway construction.
Saidov reciprocated by inviting President Yoon Suk Yeol to visit Uzbekistan at the earliest convenience, with the aim of elevating bilateral relations to a “special strategic partnership.” Following his engagement with the Uzbek officials, Park met with the Tajik Foreign Minister, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, expressing hope for expanded business prospects for South Korean firms in Tajikistan and advocating for Tajik support for South Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan. Muhriddin responded positively, committing to fostering a conducive business environment for the approximately 200 South Korean companies currently operating in Tajikistan, as well as for potential future investments.
Additionally, Park held a meeting with Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Baymyrat Annamammedov, who oversees the energy sector. Annamammedov expressed optimism for the future, anticipating more collaborative opportunities in energy and infrastructure projects involving South Korean companies. The Turkmen side had requested this meeting, underscoring their interest in strengthening economic ties.
Park utilized this meeting to seek Turkmenistan’s support for South Korean industries, particularly in areas such as fertilizer plant construction, natural gas liquefaction, and desulfurization. South Korean companies are currently pursuing two major projects to construct fertilizer factories in the Balkan region and in the city of Turkmenabat, with a combined value of $2.5 billion. In November, South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering Co. formalized its commitment to this endeavor through a memorandum of understanding with Turkmenistan regarding an ammonia and urea fertilizer plant project in the Balkan region. Turkmenistan, with the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves, presents significant opportunities for plant construction, marking this diplomatic engagement as particularly strategic for South Korean industries.