Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 25 December 2022, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea decided to allocate a grant in the amount of 15 billion won (about US$12 million) to the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant (AGMK).

In this regard, on 8 February, representatives of the Korea Institute for Advancement Technology (KIAT) visited the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant.

At the meeting between the management of AGMK and foreign partners, issues of cooperation were discussed. The Korean side made a presentation on the activities of the Institute, on cooperation between Uzbekistan and Korea.

As a result of negotiations, a grant contract (Record on development-ROD) was signed under the ODA (Official development assistnace) program in the amount of 15 billion won (about US$12 million).

Within the framework of the grant, the Korean side will organize an industrial experimental workshop as part of the Uzbek-Korean Scientific and Technological Center for Rare Metals and Hard Alloys, located in Chirchik.

The main objectives of the grant are to create the necessary infrastructure for enterprises in Uzbekistan to process rare metals and commercialize scientific developments; implementation in Uzbekistan of the transfer of modern technologies for the processing of rare metals; increase in the number of corporate workforce in the country and development of research potential; building business opportunities for private sector companies between Uzbekistan and Korea.

In the course of the project, the following works are envisaged: technological (semi-industrial) equipment ready for commercialization will be supplied to the center; joint scientific research will be carried out with specialists from the Republic of Korea; leading specialists of Korea in the field of rare metals and copper industry will conduct their labor activity in Uzbekistan; Internships and training for engineers and managers of the Center will be organized on a systematic basis.

Also during the visit, the guests got acquainted with the activities of the research and production association for the production of rare metals and hard alloys, visited the observation decks of the Kalmakyr mine, the Yoshlik I deposit, and the copper processing plant-3 under construction.