Yoon: "We Will Move Toward the Future by Cooperating with Uzbekistan, a Key Central Asian Country"

Attendance at the Han-Uzbekistan Business Forum

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev after delivering the keynote speech at the Korea-Uzbekistan Business Forum held at the Hilton Hotel in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on the afternoon of the 14th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

During his state visit to Uzbekistan, President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 14th (local time), "We will move forward together into the future by cooperating with Uzbekistan, a key country in Central Asia."

President Yoon made these remarks in his keynote speech at the 'Korea-Uzbekistan Business Forum' held at the Congress Hall in Tashkent City, the capital of Uzbekistan.

He first emphasized, "We aim to establish a 'critical minerals supply chain partnership' between the two countries," adding, "Uzbekistan, rich in critical minerals, and Korea, with excellent processing technology, can be the optimal partners for each other."

He also highlighted cooperation in infrastructure and energy sectors. President Yoon said, "For Uzbekistan, which is maintaining high economic growth, efficient infrastructure development and stable energy supply are crucial to sustain advanced growth," and added, "I hope Korean companies can contribute their know-how and technological capabilities."

Referring to the contract for supplying Korean high-speed trains to Uzbekistan concluded during the state visit, President Yoon stated, "The high-speed train vehicles developed with Korean companies' own technology will run in Uzbekistan for the first time overseas. This will greatly contribute to improving Uzbekistan's railway services."

He continued, "We must continue to expand the trade and investment base between the two countries," and said, "On this visit, the bilateral negotiation protocol for Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) was signed, and I hope the remaining WTO accession procedures for Uzbekistan will proceed smoothly, leading to expanded trade and investment between the two countries."

At the forum, over 600 participants including businesspeople and government officials from both countries attended, and a total of 28 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and contracts were signed between companies and institutions of the two countries.

From the Korean side, Chairman Chey Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman Shin Dong-bin of Lotte Group, and Chairman Jang In-hwa of POSCO Group attended. From the Uzbekistan side, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Rajiz Kudratov, and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Bakabov Abdujalovich were present.