▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit 2026 in Seoul on Sept. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ President Lee Jae Myung (3rd from R) and the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan listen as SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won speaks during the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit 2026 in Seoul on Sept. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in last 3 paras)

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday called for efforts to diversify trade between South Korea and Central Asia into advanced industries, including digital technology, and to combine the region's rich mineral resources with South Korea's manufacturing prowess to lead the global market.

The South Korean president outlined the vision at the South Korea-Central Asia Business Summit in Seoul, aimed at deepening economic cooperation with five Central Asian countries -- Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

The event came shortly after Lee hosted the presidents of the five countries in an inaugural South Korea-Central Asia Summit, where the countries sought to diversify global supply chains by leveraging the Central Asian region's rich reserves of critical minerals and energy resources, and South Korea's exploration and processing skills.

Lee first called for diversifying trade between South Korea and Central Asia, which is currently concentrated on South Korea's auto and components exports, and imports of energy and raw materials, into new areas, including consumer goods, bio and digital technologies, and other advanced industries.

To that end, Seoul will spare no effort and establish digital systems to lower customs barriers and streamline customs clearance, the South Korean president said, hailing the five countries' decisions to establish "Korean desks" within their governments to address issues involving Korean companies operating in their respective countries.

Lee also urged the establishment of cooperative frameworks for the critical minerals sector and advanced manufacturing, saying Central Asia's rich reserves of critical minerals are becoming increasingly important amid ongoing shifts in global supply chains, as they are critical to the manufacturing of electric vehicles, batteries and semiconductors.

"If Central Asia's rich mineral resources, such as lithium and uranium, meet our manufacturing capabilities for batteries and semiconductors, we can together lead the global market," Lee told the business summit.

He said bilateral cooperation should involve not only trade in raw materials, but also the entire critical minerals cycle, from exploration to refining, processing and production.

The South Korean president pledged that Seoul will also serve as a trustworthy partner in building future infrastructure in Central Asia, which is speeding up infrastructure modernization, including urban development, high-speed trains and electricity networks.

"If South Korea joins hands with these five countries and share wisdom, we can accomplish anything together," he said.

The summit, also attended by the presidents of the five Central Asian countries, brought together more than 500 government officials and business leaders from the participating countries, including executives from Samsung Electronics Co., POSCO and Hyundai Motor Co.

During the event's two sessions, participants shared views on the potential of various markets and prospective business opportunities, and discussed ways to help companies expand into each other's markets, Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, said.

Ahead of the event, a total of 19 memorandums of understanding were signed between companies, including Hyundai Motor and LG Electronics Inc., outlining strategic partnerships between the two regions and laying the foundation for helping South Korean firms expand into Central Asian markets, Seong said.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]