Source: https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20260220_0003520637

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport(MOLIT) Kim Yun-duk, met Nurgali Arystanov Kazakh Ambassador to South Korea  at the National Land Development Exhibition Hall located in Seoul to discuss cooperation in smart cities, transportation and energy infrastructure.

Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia is currently prompting large-scale new city development and expanding its transport and energy infrastructure at the national level. Leveraging its abundant natural resources, the country is also engaged in various collaborative ventures with South Korean firms, including the Turkistan–Shymkent Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP).

Kazakh officials said, "The government -led Alatau new city development project is currently underway," adding, "We hope that, through cooperation with the Korean government, capable Korean companies will be able to participate in this project.

The Alatau new city project is a large-scale development covering 88,000 hectares, aimed at alleviating population congestion and infrastructure pressure in Almaty while implementing a forward-looking urban model.

Kazakhstan also emphasized that improving transport and logistics efficiency remains a key challenge given its vast territory, expressing hope for expanded cooperation with Korea not only in infrastructure construction but also in operation and maintenance.

Minister Kim noted, “Korea has accumulated extensive experience and expertise in new city development and smart city construction,” adding, “If these capabilities are combined with Kazakhstan’s urban development strategy through initiatives such as the K-City Network Program, it will benefit both countries and provide a stable foundation for Korean companies to expand into the market.”

He also invited key officials from Kazakhstan to attend the Central Asia special session of the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference (GICC), scheduled for September this year, expressing expectations for broader cooperation in areas such as gas plants and transport infrastructure.

On the same day, both sides exchanged views on identifying practical areas of cooperation in preparation for the inaugural Korea–Central Asia Summit, scheduled for the second half of this year. The summit will bring together five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

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