Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 18 to 21 May, Hong Seok Hwa, Vice President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), paid an official visit to Uzbekistan.

The purpose of the visit was to review the progress of ongoing bilateral development projects and to discuss prospects for further cooperation.

During the first days of the visit, on 18 and 19 May, Mr. Hong visited the Samarkand Vocational Training Center—a key facility established with KOICA’s support and operating since 2016. Since its opening, the Center has served as a platform for long-term development programs implemented by KOICA in partnership with Keimyung University under a public-private partnership initiative launched in 2019. Additionally, KOICA deploys qualified volunteers to Uzbekistan to transfer professional expertise. Currently, around 600 students are trained annually at the Center, with a graduate employment rate exceeding 95%, thanks to collaboration with over 200 local enterprises. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Vice President Hong highly praised the potential of Uzbekistan’s youth and reaffirmed KOICA’s commitment to continue supporting vocational education.

On 20 May in Tashkent, he met with Alisher Muratov, Deputy Minister of Employment and Poverty Reduction. Mr. Hong expressed gratitude for the Ministry’s active support of vocational training centers, including the one recently visited by President Mirziyoyev in Urgench. Special attention was given to the implementation of the national qualifications certification system and the importance of interagency cooperation for the sustainable development of vocational education.

During the visit, two new memoranda of understanding were signed. The first project, carried out jointly with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), focuses on developing online education and establishing conditions for a Cyber University through the digital transformation of three faculties. The second project involves modernizing the intellectual property management system in partnership with the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan. Deputy Minister Muzraf Ikramov is involved in this initiative, which includes implementing digital solutions and artificial intelligence.

Mr. Hong welcomed Uzbekistan’s efforts to digitalize public administration under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and expressed confidence that KOICA’s projects would make a significant contribution to reform implementation. He also emphasized that these initiatives could serve as a foundation for a broader regional “K-Silk Road” concept aimed at promoting joint development among Central Asian countries through innovation and knowledge exchange.