Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) met with Isojon Qurbonzoda, First Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan, in Seoul on August 11, 2026. The meeting provided an opportunity for discussions on industrial and economic cooperation projects for the first Korea-Central Asia Summit, scheduled for September 16, 2026, as well as ways to achieve tangible outcomes through cooperation in critical minerals.

The two sides discussed establishing the C5+Korea Industry Ministers’ Meeting as a regular consultative channel among the industry ministers of Korea and the five Central Asian countries—Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. Discussions were also held on signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on mutually beneficial cooperation in industry and new technologies between Korea and Tajikistan, as well as ways to expand engagement and cooperation between business leaders from both countries through the Korea-Central Asia Business Summit, which will take place alongside the leaders’ summit.

The talks also covered closer cooperation on critical mineral supply chains. Vice Minister Moon welcomed the inaugural Korea-Tajikistan Minerals Forum, highlighting Tajikistan’s abundant mineral resources, including gold, silver and antimony. The forum will be held in Seoul on August 12, 2026, ahead of the Korea-Central Asia Summit. Vice Minister Moon expressed hope that the forum would help identify practical projects by connecting Tajikistan’s resource potential with Korea’s expertise and technologies for mineral exploration and development, as well as Korea’s demand for minerals. The forum will bring together government officials and representatives of relevant institutions and companies from both countries to discuss critical minerals policies, opportunities for joint exploration, investment and financing and supply chain development.

“Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries, with their abundant resources and growth potential, are important partners for Korea,” Vice Minister Moon said. “We will build on the initiatives discussed today to deliver tangible outcomes in the areas of industry, supply chains and critical minerals at the Korea-Central Asia Summit in September.”