Chungnam Province Discusses Ways to Expand Cooperation in Uzbekistan

Exploring Strategies for Chungnam Companies to Enter Tashkent and Fergana Province Markets

The Chungnam Province practical delegation visiting Uzbekistan discussed measures to expand economic and human exchanges. / Provided by Chungnam Province

Chungnam Province announced on the 25th that it formed a practical delegation consisting of 11 members, including officials from the Northern Chungnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and representatives of local companies, and made a working visit to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and Fergana, a sister exchange region, for four days and two nights from April 22 to 25.

This visit to Uzbekistan was arranged in response to the visit of Fergana Governor Bozarov Khayrulla and his delegation to Chungnam in November last year, with Governor Kim Tae-heum reciprocating the gesture.

Notably, this visit was the first joint planning visit in cooperation with the Korea Office of Trade of Fergana Province, which opened in Chungnam last year to coincide with the Fergana governor's visit. The Korea Office of Trade of Fergana Province played a key role in facilitating communication between the provincial government and the delegation, as well as serving as a bridge during the business meeting.

On the first day, April 22, in Tashkent, Kim Changgeon, the newly appointed Uzbekistan Trade Advisor, provided an overview of Uzbekistan’s national situation and market conditions, and shared information on import and export status and business support policies.

On April 23, the delegation traveled to Fergana, the sister exchange city, and paid a courtesy visit to Governor Bozarov Khayrulla. Both sides reached a consensus on actively utilizing the Korea Office of Trade of Fergana Province to expand practical cooperation between the two regions.

Subsequently, at a business-to-business (B2B) export-import consultation meeting hosted by Fergana Province, the delegation examined the product competitiveness of 19 participating Fergana companies and held detailed discussions on the potential for Chungnam companies to enter the Uzbek market.

The delegation also visited the Global Human Resources Development Center within KOICA in Fergana Province to observe the specialized vocational training system for foreign workers. They discussed the current labor shortages facing Korean industries, measures to prevent foreign workers from leaving their workplaces, and strategies for cultivating skilled workers needed at local sites in Chungnam.

They visited Tashkent and Fergana to discuss plans for Chungnam companies' expansion and took a commemorative photo. / Provided by Chungnam Province

On April 24, the delegation returned to Tashkent, where they met with Korean companies that had already entered the local market, held a business roundtable to examine investment opportunities in Uzbekistan and challenges faced in local operations, and visited a large supermarket carrying Korean products to assess market entry strategies and potential for Chungnam companies. These activities formed part of their local market research efforts.

An official from Chungnam Province stated, "With the global economy currently facing uncertain external conditions such as deglobalization and the restructuring of global supply chains, the need to diversify export markets is more important than ever. Through this visit, we aim to strengthen practical ties with our sister cooperation regions and support local companies in establishing a foothold for entry into the emerging Central Asian market."

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia, with a population of 37 million as of this year. Its territory covers 448,900 square kilometers, which is twice the size of the Korean Peninsula, and it continues to record robust annual growth of around 6%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.