South Korea, Uzbekistan agree to deepen cooperation in AI, critical minerals and infrastructure

South Korea and Uzbekistan have agreed to expand cooperation in AI and digital technology, critical minerals and supply chains, energy, and large-scale infrastructure, and to advance concrete joint projects including a smart biotech complex and a new airport.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol met Thursday at the Government Seoul Complex with Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov to discuss ways to broaden economic cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting took place as Kudratov visited Seoul ahead of the first Korea-Central Asia summit, set to be held in South Korea in September, with the aim of identifying new areas of economic cooperation and concrete collaborative projects.

Both sides agreed on the need to expand cooperation in AI and digital technology, critical minerals and supply chains, energy, and large-scale infrastructure for mutual economic benefit. They agreed particularly to pursue tangible outcomes in major infrastructure projects involving South Korean companies — including a smart biotech complex and a new airport in Tashkent — as well as in biotech and medical cooperation and the development of logistics zones around airports.

In addition, the two sides agreed to broaden supply chain cooperation by leveraging Uzbekistan's diverse strategic minerals to address growing demand from advanced industries and rising uncertainty in global supply chains, and to strengthen bilateral communication toward that end.

"The importance of strategic economic cooperation between South Korea and Central Asia is growing," Koo said, urging the Uzbek government to take active steps to improve the investment environment — including resolving difficulties faced by businesses, providing investment incentives and building industrial infrastructure — so that more South Korean companies can establish and operate in Uzbekistan.

Kudratov said South Korean businesses were welcome to enter the Uzbek market, and pledged that the two ministries would communicate closely to ensure cooperative projects move forward successfully, with a focus on advanced industries and transportation and logistics infrastructure.

Both sides agreed to continue discussions aimed at producing tangible outcomes for their citizens — building on Koo's visit to Uzbekistan in May and the current meeting, and through future Economic Development Cooperation Fund policy consultations — so that the first Korea-Central Asia summit can mark a new turning point in bilateral economic cooperation.