S. Korea hosts industry ministerial meeting with Central Asian partners

Seoul welcomed a ministerial-level gathering involving Central Asian nations on September 14, with an emphasis on fortifying supply chain partnerships between South Korea, the world's fourth-largest economy, and the region. The industrial ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan convened in the South Korean capital to deliberate on strategies to broaden mutual ties in supply chains, with a particular focus on critical minerals.

During the summit, the six countries pledged to enhance cooperation to navigate the evolving global trade landscape and the restructuring of supply chains, as confirmed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources. The participants pledged to amplify South Korea's involvement in existing Central Asian projects, such as the development of industrial hubs, smart infrastructure, and plant modernization.

Meanwhile, the Central Asian nations consented to pool their abundant mineral wealth with South Korea's cutting-edge processing technologies to fortify cooperation across all tiers of supply chains. Furthermore, the countries will lay the groundwork for South Korea to assist in the adoption of smart technologies within factories across Central Asia, while simultaneously fostering exchanges among young professionals in the sector.