South Korea and five Central Asian countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation on supply chains, including critical minerals, as they seek to respond to shifts in the global trading environment.
A ministerial-level industrial meeting involving Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was held in Seoul on Monday, bringing together representatives of the six countries to discuss ways to deepen cooperation across supply chains, Yonhap reports citing the South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said.
According to the ministry, the participants agreed to step up cooperation in response to changes in global trade and the ongoing restructuring of supply chains.
The six countries also agreed to expand South Korea’s participation in projects being carried out across Central Asia. These include the construction of industrial complexes and smart infrastructure, as well as the modernization of plants.
The Central Asian countries expressed support for combining their abundant mineral resources with South Korea’s advanced processing technologies, with the aim of strengthening cooperation across different stages of supply chains.
The sides also agreed to create opportunities for South Korea to support the introduction of smart technologies at factories in Central Asia and to promote exchanges among young professionals, the ministry said.
The ministerial meeting came ahead of Korea-Central Asia Summit, which will be held in Seoul on Wednesday, 16 September. The historic summit, the first of its kind, will focus on the theme “Korea-Central Asia Cooperation and Partnership for Innovation, Prosperity and Connectivity.” ///nCa, 14 September 2026