South Korea is seeking bilateral trade deals with Uzbekistan that would establish a platform to help local SMEs sell products through contactless channels, says Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki.
Negotiations between the two countries are slated by the end of the year.
Hong said that South Korea would select some 90 joint investment projects with Uzbekistan.
The two countries have conducted a feasibility study on the projects.
As of 2019, Uzbekistan was the 35th-largest export destination for South Korea, with outbound shipments reaching $2.3 billion, up 10.4 percent on-year.
According to Hong, the key to export recovery is to expand support for online export routes and contactless industries.
Hong noted that South Korean exports have been logging negative growth for six months straight.
South Korea's export volume was $39.66 billion last month, down 9.9 percent from a year before. The second-quarter export volume also slipped 13.5 percent from the previous quarter.
Meanwhile, online exports soared 128.9 percent.
To help South Korean firms expand overseas online sales channels, the government will work with global platforms including Amazon


Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 



