SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence, from the critical minerals needed to build its infrastructure to the data centers and digital technologies that power it, is emerging as the centerpiece of the business agenda for Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to South Korea next month.
Mirziyoyev is expected to bring a roughly 200-strong business delegation to Seoul during his first state visit to South Korea in nearly five years, coinciding with the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit on Sept. 16-17.
The groundwork was laid in Seoul on Tuesday, when senior Uzbek officials and executives from major Korean companies met to identify projects that could be advanced during the summit.
“Uzbekistan aims to join the ranks of upper-middle-income countries by 2030 and attract more foreign investment by improving its investment environment,” Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev said at a Korea-Uzbekistan business roundtable at Lotte Hotel Seoul.
“We hope Korean companies will take part in Uzbekistan’s development.”
Khodjaev identified infrastructure, critical minerals, automobiles and digital development as priority areas for bilateral cooperation, placing AI and the infrastructure supporting it high on the agenda.
“Uzbekistan has established plans for AI and digital development,” he said, adding that Tashkent was seeking Korean participation in data centers, green technologies and renewable energy projects.
The push reflects Uzbekistan's effort to pair its natural resources and growing domestic market with Korean capital and technology as it seeks to move up the industrial value chain.
The high-level roundtable brought together officials from both governments and representatives from Hyundai Motor Group, Korea Electric Power Corp., GS E&C, LX International, SK Nexilis and Lotte Hotels & Resorts.
The Uzbek Embassy said the meeting was organized as part of preparations for Mirziyoyev's visit and aimed at generating concrete projects before the leaders meet.
Khodjaev also proposed expanding cooperation in healthcare, including hospital construction and pharmaceutical industry clusters.
South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said the talks could provide a foundation for broader economic diplomacy with Central Asia.
“Uzbekistan is a key cooperation partner for Korea, and we are producing tangible results together,” Yeo said.
“I hope today’s discussions will deepen our understanding of bilateral trade, investment, supply chains and economic cooperation and serve as a meaningful foundation for the successful Korea-Central Asia summit.”
Moon Ji-sung, deputy minister for international economic affairs at South Korea's Finance Ministry, said the two economies could complement each other.
“If Uzbekistan’s abundant potential is combined with Korea’s technology and financial capabilities, the economies of both countries can make a new leap forward,” Moon said.
Officials and companies discussed prospective projects spanning industry, energy, critical minerals, AI, healthcare and logistics, with the aim of turning some of them into concrete investment and cooperation deals before the September summit.
The Sept. 16-17 gathering will be South Korea's first summit with all five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — collectively known as the C5.
AJP Takeaways:
- South Korea and Uzbekistan are putting AI, critical minerals and data centers at the center of their economic agenda ahead of the inaugural Korea-Central Asia Summit in Seoul on Sept. 16-17.
- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is expected to bring about 200 business leaders to South Korea, as the two countries seek concrete deals in infrastructure, renewable energy, digital technology, healthcare and supply chains.
- Uzbekistan wants Korean technology, capital and investment to support its industrial transformation, while Seoul sees the partnership as a gateway to deeper economic cooperation with the five Central Asian countries, or C5.
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