South Korean Prime Minister confirms interest in developing relations with Turkmenistan
24.08.2025 | 22:23 |
Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Korea Begench Durdyev took part in an international conference dedicated to hydrocarbon neutrality and "green" development. The event was held in Seoul and was attended by the country's new Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
During the opening ceremony, the head of the Korean government presented the new cabinet's program aimed at increasing the use of renewable energy sources, achieving hydrocarbon neutrality and accelerating the transition to "green" energy. The program includes the creation of a specialized industrial complex.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan held a brief meeting with the Prime Minister. Begench Durdyev conveyed sincere greetings to Kim Min-seok on behalf of the leadership of Turkmenistan and congratulated him on his appointment. The Ambassador also expressed confidence in the further strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and wished him success in his new responsible position.
The Korean side, in turn, expressed gratitude for the warm wishes and confirmed its interest in developing mutually beneficial relations with the countries of Central Asia, in particular, with Turkmenistan.
Earlier, on August 11, 2025, a meeting was held in Ashgabat between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Akhmet Gurbanov and South Korean Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ji Kyu Taek, who is completing his diplomatic mission. The discussions covered a wide range of areas, including political and diplomatic, trade and economic, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
Turkmenistan is a major player in the global energy market, ranking fourth in natural gas exports. The country also exports petroleum products, polymers, cotton, and textiles, actively diversifying its export portfolio. In 2024, sales of polymer products increased by 38.5%, while plastic products increased by 66.7%. The production volume of light industry, including cotton yarn, fabrics, and finished textiles, reached about $200 million. Agricultural exports also increased. These figures demonstrate the success of Turkmenistan’s economic diversification strategy, making the country a more versatile and attractive partner for high-tech economies such as South Korea, which require a wide range of products.
The Republic of Korea, in turn, is one of the world's leading economies with a high level of development and high purchasing power. An analysis of the country's import needs shows their close connection with Turkmenistan's export potential. South Korea's main import items are crude oil and petroleum products, mineral fuels, plastics and plastic products, and inorganic chemical products.
The correspondence of South Korea's key import categories to Turkmenistan's main export items - natural gas, oil, polymers, and chemical products - demonstrates a high level of economic complementarity. As a highly industrialized country, South Korea experiences a constant demand for energy resources and industrial raw materials, which Turkmenistan produces and actively diversifies.
Bilateral cooperation goes beyond trade and covers strategic investments and innovative projects. A striking example is the Framework Agreement on Cooperation on the Fourth Phase of Development of the Galkynysh Gas Field between the Turkmengas State Concern and the South Korean company Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd. The agreement covers the design, construction and preparation of gas production facilities with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year, as well as the subsequent supply of gas. Galkynysh is one of the largest gas fields in the world, and the participation of Hyundai Engineering in its fourth phase emphasizes the strategic importance of this partnership.
Thus, Turkmenistan and South Korea are an example of a strategically coordinated and mutually beneficial partnership combining economic, trade and technological cooperation. Thanks to high economic growth, significant export potential and a successful diversification strategy, Turkmenistan is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign investors. South Korea, being a highly industrialized economy with a constant demand for energy resources and industrial materials, views Turkmenistan as a reliable supplier and strategic partner.
Although current bilateral trade volumes remain relatively small, the growth potential is enormous. Matching Turkmenistan’s export potential with South Korea’s import needs opens up unique opportunities for expanding supplies, investments, and joint innovation projects.
In the long term, this cooperation can not only increase mutual economic benefits, but also strengthen the positions of Turkmenistan and South Korea in the international arena, forming a model of successful and dynamic international partnership for countries with complementary economic interests.
ORIENT
