Seoul, September 16, 2026 – The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, attended the first "Central Asia – Republic of Korea" Summit. In his speech, the Head of State presented a strategic vision for the further development of multilateral cooperation.

Trade and Investment

In 2025, the mutual trade volume between the countries of Central Asia and South Korea exceeded $10 billion for the first time, with Kazakhstan accounting for about half of the total regional trade turnover.

Seoul is among the top ten leading trade partners of Kazakhstan and ranks 9th among the largest investors, with a gross investment volume exceeding $12 billion. Today, more than a thousand joint ventures with Korean capital operate in Kazakhstan.

Bilateral cooperation is reaching a qualitatively new level: commercial agreements worth approximately $19 billion were signed during the current state visit of the Head of State.

The Head of State proposed launching the "Central Asia – Korea" Industrial and Technological Development Partnership. This mechanism will allow governments to form a portfolio of flagship joint projects focusing on:

• Production localization and technology transfer;
• Strengthening regional cooperation;
• Exporting finished products to third-party markets.

The initiative to hold the first meeting of the ministers of industry of Central Asian countries and the Republic of Korea was also supported.

Transport and Logistics

Against the backdrop of global supply chain restructuring, the role of Central Asia as a key connecting link between East and West is growing.

The high potential of integrating the Middle Corridor with the Korean transport initiative TRIPP was highlighted. Under this concept, Korea will be able to carry out multimodal transportation to Central Asia through the Kazakh-Chinese logistics terminal at the port of Lianyunggan. According to the President, this can unite the potentials of both routes and form an end-to-end transport and logistics chain from South Korea through Central Asia to Europe.

Energy

Kazakhstan remains one of the world's leading hydrocarbon producers, with an annual oil production volume of about 100 million tons. The Head of State declared the country's readiness to expand cooperation, including the resumption of energy supplies to Korea, as well as joint geological exploration and development of new subsurface plots.

Special emphasis was placed on the possibility of implementing joint projects to develop "clean hydrogen," "clean coal," and nuclear technologies.

Digitalization, AI, and Critical Raw Materials

The Republic of Korea is one of the leaders in the global technology race, while Kazakhstan is actively conducting its digital transformation. A number of major initiatives are already being implemented at the intersection of these vectors:

• Woosong University has opened in Turkestan;
• The Artificial Intelligence Institute was established in Kyzylorda jointly with SeoulTech;
• A branch of KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), one of the world's leading scientific universities, is planned to open in Alatau City;
• The AI SilkNet predictive analytics and foresight center, created jointly with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, has begun operations.

The President proposed uniting scientific institutions, universities, and IT companies of Central Asian countries under the auspices of the AI SilkNet center, utilizing the potential of the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana.

Furthermore, it was proposed to launch a joint regional AI Talent program to train qualified artificial intelligence specialists for Central Asian countries.

Critical Materials Sector

Kazakhstan possesses a rich resource base and ranks among the world leaders in rare earth metal reserves. The synergy of Kazakhstan's resource potential and Korea's technological capabilities opens up wide horizons for business.

The Head of State welcomed the agreement reached to establish a joint Center for Rare and Rare Earth Metals Research in Almaty, involving the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).

The primary goal of the project is to build a complete production cycle: from scientific research and extraction of critical raw materials to deep processing and the manufacture of high-tech products (semiconductors, microelectronics, batteries, components for electric vehicles, and robotics). To implement these tasks, it was proposed to establish a joint Kazakh-Korean company.

Water and Ecology

Kazakhstan proposed developing a joint program to attract advanced Korean technologies into the field of water conservation, implementing digital water resource accounting, and developing modern water-saving infrastructure in the Central Asian region.

Humanitarian Dimension

To strengthen people-to-people ties, it was proposed to launch a long-term Central Asia – Korea Future Generation program aimed aimed at expanding youth contacts as well as educational and cultural exchanges.

https://www.akorda.kz/en/president-kassym-jomart-tokayev-participates-in-the-first-central-asia-republic-of-korea-summit-1683611

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-bratislava/press/news/details/1293006?lang=ru