OREANDA-NEWS. February 17, 2010. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid a state visit to South Korea on 10-12 February. On the last day of his visit, Islam Karimov received the chairman of the Korean Air company Cho Yang-Ho.

Korean Air is taking an active part in the creation of the free industrial and economic zone Navoi and development of the intercontinental logistics center.

In 2009, the South Korean carrier provided two cargo planes to Uzbekistan Airways national air company on a leasing basis, which are now used by the logistics center.

At present, 19 projects with a total cost of USD 187 million are being implemented in Navoi free industrial zone. In the second half of 2010, 16 projects will be completed, with launch of enterprises in chemical, oil, electronics, machinery building, pharmaceutics and other spheres.

So far, a learning center, a car technical service station, firefighting depot and fuel warehouse have been built, and a railway line laid. A cargo terminal is being constructed. In future, up to 30,000 tons of cargo will be processed here annually.

Air communication has been established from Navoi to Milan, Brussels, Bangkok, Delhi and Mumbai. Routes to Frankfurt, Dubai, Istanbul and Tel-Aviv will also open soon.

The Korean companies are also participating in the creation of the social infrastructure in Navoi region. Together with Korean Air, a housing complex for 9,000 people is being built. It will include healthcare, educational and cultural establishments as well.

At the talks in Seoul, Islam Karimov and Cho Yang-Ho discussed issues of cooperation between the air companies of the two states and further development of Navoi industrial zone.