Kyrgyzstan, Central Asian states sign industrial cooperation memorandum with Korea

September 14, 2026 at 10:16 AM2 min

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Kyrgyzstan and four other Central Asian states signed a memorandum with South Korea on industrial cooperation, supply chains and technology transfer at the first C5+1 industry ministers' meeting in Seoul. Kyrgyz Economy Minister Bakyt Sydykov presented the country's industrial and investment potential under its National Development Programme to 2030. The signing comes ahead of the Korea-Central Asia summit in Seoul on September 16.

Key Facts

The memorandum was signed at the first C5+1 industry ministers' meeting in Seoul on September 14, 2026.
Kyrgyzstan was represented by Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov.
The document covers industrial cooperation, supply chains, technology transfer, and access to regional markets for finished products.
The first Korea-Central Asia summit will take place in Seoul on September 16, 2026.
South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced in June 2026 that the C5+Korea format would serve as a permanent platform for industrial cooperation.

The Memorandum

The memorandum on industrial and supply chain cooperation was signed between South Korea and the five Central Asian states at the first C5+1 industry ministers' meeting in Seoul. The document provides for the development of production cooperation, technology transfer, and opportunities for finished products to enter regional markets. Specific investment projects, their cost, and implementation timelines were not announced following the meeting.

Kyrgyzstan's Position

Minister Bakyt Sydykov presented Kyrgyzstan's industrial, investment, and infrastructure potential in the context of the National Development Programme to 2030. The sides discussed localization of production, deep processing of mineral raw materials, creation of industrial parks, and new logistics chains. Kyrgyzstan's priorities include energy, water, and investment projects.

Summit Context

The ministerial meeting took place ahead of the first Korea-Central Asia summit in Seoul on September 16, 2026. South Korea's president will hold talks with the leaders of the five Central Asian countries before the general summit session. Seoul identifies combining Central Asia's raw material base with Korean extraction, processing, and higher value-added production technologies as a key direction.