During a working visit to the Republic of Korea, Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov and IT Park Uzbekistan Executive Director Jakhongir Radjabov held talks with JongKap Kim, President and CEO of the Global Digital Innovation Network (GDIN).

As part of the visit, an opening ceremony was held for IT Park Uzbekistan's Liaison representative office in the Republic of Korea, located in the Pangyo Technovalley technology cluster in Seongnam. The office was established in partnership with GDIN and will serve as a platform for direct engagement with Korean technology companies, startups, investors, and other participants in the innovation ecosystem. Daniyar Atadjanov was appointed as IT Park Uzbekistan's official representative in the Republic of Korea.

Representatives of both parties presented the activities of their respective organizations to event participants. GDIN Executive Director Sokjin Chang provided information on the organization's main areas of activity, after which the IT Park Uzbekistan team presented the opportunities within Uzbekistan's technology ecosystem and the conditions available for developing international business.

Information was also provided on the new representative office's key areas of focus, including developing cooperation with the local technology community, attracting Korean companies to Uzbekistan, and supporting the entry of Uzbek technology projects into the Korean market.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IT Park Uzbekistan and GDIN. The document envisages supporting startups, facilitating the international expansion of technology companies, and developing practical mechanisms for cooperation between the innovation ecosystems of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea.

Under the partnership, the parties plan to establish joint ventures (JVs), implement programs to help companies enter foreign markets, launch exchange programs between startups from both countries, initiate joint pilot projects, and develop cooperation in artificial intelligence and R&D.

IT Park Uzbekistan will also join GDIN's partnership network, further expanding direct connections between Uzbek and Korean technology companies.

Uzbek Startups Entering the Korean Market
Particular attention was given to launching the first Proof of Concept (PoC) project for Uzbek startups in the Republic of Korea under the Korea-Uzbekistan Global PoC Program.

The program allows startups to test their technological solutions directly in the Korean market, gather feedback from potential partners and clients, assess product demand, and prepare for subsequent stages of expansion.

The parties also discussed establishing joint ventures involving companies from both countries. In the initial phase, three JV projects and one PoC program are planned, with their launch scheduled for January 2027.

New Connections with Korea's Technology Ecosystem
A networking session was also held as part of the event, bringing together representatives of Korea's technology, investment, education, and business communities.

Participants in the discussion included representatives of KOIIA, Inpro, KPMG, Ezcure, Korea IT Consulting, KDDI Korea, Neural D, Yonsei University, ARTYZ Korea Inc., WISESTONE, Prototie, and SaferZone.

Participants discussed promising areas for cooperation, opportunities for companies to enter each other's markets, the implementation of joint projects, and the development of direct business connections between technology companies from Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea.

The partnership with GDIN and the operations of IT Park Uzbekistan's new representative office create additional opportunities for attracting Korean technology companies to Uzbekistan, developing exchanges between startups, launching joint pilot projects, and expanding cooperation in AI and R&D.

The Global Digital Innovation Network (GDIN), established in 2013, supports the development of international cooperation between innovative technology companies from the Republic of Korea and other countries, as well as their expansion into global markets. Over the course of its activities, GDIN has supported more than 3,000 technology companies, facilitated the development of 160 international partnerships, provided more than 20,000 consulting services, and helped companies attract approximately $3.6 billion in investment.

The signed memorandum and the opening of the Liaison representative office lay a practical foundation for Uzbek startups to enter the Korean market, attract Korean companies to Uzbekistan, launch joint ventures, and test technological solutions through PoC programs, further strengthening ties between the innovation ecosystems of the two countries.