Results of the Visit to South Korea: New Partnerships, Investments, and Export Opportunities

From June 1 to 3, a delegation of IT Park Uzbekistan, led by Director Azamat Karamatov, visited the Republic of Korea and held a series of meetings with representatives of leading technology and game development companies, investment organizations, venture capital associations, and innovation support institutions. As part of the visit, meetings were also held with Uzbek professionals successfully developing their own startups and holding key positions in major Korean IT companies.

As a result of the negotiations, agreements were reached on launching joint initiatives, expanding the presence of Korean companies in Uzbekistan, and developing new areas of cooperation.

Startup Ecosystem Development and Investment Attraction

During the visit, a meeting was held with the Korea Venture Capital Association (KVCA). Discussions focused on integrating Uzbek startups into the Korean venture ecosystem, organizing joint acceleration programs, conducting Demo Days, developing co-investment mechanisms, and promoting projects in AI, FinTech, SaaS, and DeepTech sectors to international markets.

A meeting with SparkLabs was dedicated to the launch of an acceleration program for Uzbek startups in South Korea, planned for implementation in the third quarter of this year. The first cohort is expected to select up to five promising startups from Uzbekistan.

A separate meeting was held with representatives of Mirae Asset Financial Group, one of South Korea’s largest financial and investment groups. During the discussions, the parties explored the possibility of establishing a joint fund with the participation of IT Park Uzbekistan to finance promising startups and technology projects from Uzbekistan.

The potential creation of such a fund would expand Uzbek startups’ access to international venture capital, strengthen investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea, and open a new avenue for bilateral partnership in venture investment and innovation ecosystem development.

Additional negotiations were held with the Global Digital Innovation Network (GDIN), a Korean organization supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea and formerly known as the Born2Global Centre. GDIN focuses on helping technology companies enter international markets and has supported more than 3,000 startups and IT companies to date.

During the meeting, the parties discussed support mechanisms for Uzbek startups, including market entry into Korea and other international markets, the organization of B2B meetings, pilot projects, and acceleration programs. They also explored approaches to adapting innovative solutions to global market requirements and expanding cooperation between the technological ecosystems of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea.

Following the discussions, the parties agreed to develop an MOU and a Roadmap that will define practical steps for supporting startups and strengthening collaboration between the startup communities of the two countries.

Development of BPO and Export Potential

One of the key areas of focus was the development of cooperation in BPO and IT services exports. Discussions with KS JOB INC. covered the expansion of the company’s activities in Uzbekistan, the training of specialists with Korean and Japanese language skills, and the launch of AI Contact Center and BPO projects.

The company plans to provide Korean language training to Uzbek youth and engage up to 500 specialists to work on projects and service requests from South Korea. Following the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed.

A separate meeting was held with the management of MetaM. The discussions focused on the possibility of transferring BPO projects to Uzbekistan, opening the company’s QA office in the country, and implementing joint educational programs for training software testing specialists. The company also expressed interest in developing AI-driven services and contact centers based in Uzbekistan.

IT Park Uzbekistan also organized a roundtable with Korean IT companies, including Hyundai AutoEver, Acryl AI, and others. Participants were introduced to the business environment and support measures available to IT Park residents. The parties discussed business localization, talent acquisition, and opportunities for cooperation.

Several companies expressed interest in entering the Uzbek market and implementing projects in AI, IT outsourcing, and software development. In particular, Hyundai AutoEver is considering opening an office in Uzbekistan to support Kia projects across the region.

Support for GameDev and the Creative Industry

An important part of the program was a meeting with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). The parties explored opportunities to support game development projects from Uzbekistan and promote local gaming products in Asian markets. They also discussed prospects for cooperation in the gaming industry, including the launch of acceleration programs for Uzbek game development companies in Korea, the adaptation of products to the requirements of the Korean market, and the further promotion of games across the region. Particular attention was given to the joint development of a long-term strategy for the growth of Uzbekistan’s gaming sector with KOCCA’s expert support.

In addition, IT Park Uzbekistan organized a roundtable discussion with representatives of Korea’s creative industries, including companies operating in GameDev, digital content, animation, and media. Participants included Proxy Planet, FitFuns, Soda Production, Studio Popcorn, Nevith Games, and Latis Global Communications. The discussion focused on the development of the creative economy, the promotion of Uzbek projects in international markets, and the expansion of cooperation between companies from Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

As part of the visit, a meeting was also held with Kim Byung-soo, Founder and CEO of ROBOTIS. The parties discussed prospects for implementing joint projects in robotics and artificial intelligence, establishing research and educational programs, and developing robotics infrastructure in Uzbekistan.

The company has begun construction of a manufacturing facility in Uzbekistan for next-generation robots and humanoids. The project is expected to create new jobs for specialists in AI, software development, and other high-tech fields.

Following the meeting, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in training specialists in AI and IT to support ROBOTIS’s operations in Uzbekistan. The initiative will contribute to the development of high-tech exports and strengthen the country’s export potential.

Cooperation with the Uzbek IT Community in Korea

During the visit, representatives of IT Park Uzbekistan met with Uzbek professionals, entrepreneurs, and startup founders working in South Korea. The participants discussed strengthening ties with the Uzbek technology community abroad, attracting investment to Uzbekistan, and expanding international cooperation.

A separate presentation was dedicated to the Land of Startups initiative, which aims to attract international startups to Uzbekistan and create favorable conditions for launching, relocating, and scaling their businesses in the country. IT Park also presented its partnership program, which will enable compatriots living abroad to support the promotion of Uzbek IT products and services among Korean companies through partnership and incentive mechanisms.

As a result of the visit, the agreements reached have created new opportunities for attracting investment, generating jobs, expanding IT exports, training qualified specialists, and strengthening Uzbekistan’s position as a technological hub of the region.