South Korea and Uzbekistan-led initiatives aim to help Uzbek startups gain international exposure, connect with investors, and prepare for expansion into Korea, including access to investors and venture ecosystems like TIPS and Mirae Asset.

SparkLabs Group and Mirae Asset Venture Investment, along with Qazaqstan Investment Corporation and IT Park Ventures, established SparkLabs Mirae Silk Road Fund I LP to back Series A and later AI-native startups across Central Asia.

IT Park Uzbekistan and KISED discussed involving IT Park startups in KISED-supported programs such as the K-Startup Grand Challenge, Global Market Expansion Program, and K-Startup Centers.

At the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit, President Lee Jae-myung urged transitioning from raw material trade to full-cycle cooperation in critical minerals, covering exploration, smelting, high-value processing, and final-product manufacture.

During the visit, Berdimuhamedov and Korea’s leadership underscored the importance of bilateral ties ahead of 2027 marking 35 years of diplomatic relations, reaffirming mutual commitment to broad cooperation.

Korea’s Eurasian pivot is framed as a balanced, multi-vector strategy emphasizing people-to-people links, heritage, and collaborative development over competing for minerals alone.

Agreements were reached on exchanging natural resources, including rare-earth metals, in exchange for Korean technologies, with South Korea gaining access to transport corridors toward Europe and the Middle East.

South Korea and Turkmenistan signed 13 agreements and MOUs to expand cooperation beyond resources into investment protection, infrastructure, and the digital economy.

The broader agreement covers manufacturing, infrastructure, critical minerals, energy, and digital transformation, and created a consultative mechanism among industry ministers.

Education and cultural exchanges were highlighted, with plans for student and teacher exchanges, joint educational programs, and collaborations in AI, digital tech, energy, and industrial management; Berdimuhamedov received an honorary doctorate at Sungkyunkwan University.

Energy cooperation focused on resuming supply, joint exploration and development of new deposits, and participation in Kazakhstan’s petrochemical expansion.

Lee emphasized long-standing South Korea–Central Asia ties, noting booming bilateral trade since 1992 and the rising popularity of K-culture in the region.