South Korea has solidified its commitment to enhance cooperation with Central Asian nations on critical minerals, following a landmark summit in Seoul that resulted in over 70 agreements and memorandums. This collaboration aims to secure reliable supplies for South Korea’s automotive, electronics, battery, and energy sectors, while aiding Central Asian countries in developing local processing capabilities for these vital resources.
The summit, the first of its kind between South Korea and Central Asian countries, established a biennial schedule for future meetings and introduced a C5+1 forum for industry ministers. This initiative underscores the mutual interest in combining Central Asia’s rich mineral resources with South Korean expertise in exploration, processing, and advanced manufacturing, covering the entire supply chain from mining to the production of high-value goods.
Uzbekistan has taken a proactive role by proposing the creation of an investment alliance dedicated to critical minerals and the establishment of processing clusters that encompass exploration, mining, and production. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has offered its collaboration in the fields of rare metals, nuclear and clean energy, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure, further strengthening its strategic partnership with South Korea.
Countries like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are also seeking South Korean cooperation, particularly in the extraction and processing of minerals such as antimony and tungsten. Additionally, South Korea is broadening its involvement in transport and infrastructure projects across Central Asia, aiming to foster deeper economic ties.
This increased engagement comes amid heightened interest from global powers, including China, the United States, the European Union, and Japan, who are also vying for access to Central Asia’s critical mineral resources. Central Asian governments are increasingly focused on attracting investments that will enable the development of local processing facilities and industrial production, rather than solely exporting raw materials.
The next South Korea–Central Asia summit is scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan in 2028, further cementing the cooperative framework established at the recent Seoul meeting.