The head of the region Archimedes Mukhambetov held a meeting with him and discussed topical issues.

- Today's meeting is an example of the development of friendly relations between our two states. I would like to note that the Association of Koreans is active in our region, which has been one of the most active in the region for many years," said Archimedes Mukhambetov.

According to the akim of the region, today about 4 thousand people of Korean nationality live in the region.

As Archimedes Mukhambetov noted, along with this, it is important to strengthen economic relations with the Republic of Korea.

-The trade turnover of Kostanay region with the Republic of Korea in 2021 amounted to about 73 million US dollars. The main imported goods are automotive components, electric batteries, hardware products, electrical equipment. At the same time, we are working to increase the volume of trade, including with the prospect of exporting our products to the Republic of Korea. All conditions have been created for this in the region. There are a number of state programs that provide investment preferences and concessional financing," the head of the region A.Mukhambetov added.

There is an industrial zone in Kostanay, which is provided with all necessary communications. Kostanay region is ready to consider proposals from Korean investors if they are interested in placing production in the territory of the region.

During the visit, the Korean Ambassador visited the Kostanay Automobile Plant.

The delegation paid special attention to the largest automobile plant in the country "SaryarkaAvtoProm", where the Korean Kia brand is being produced today.

Representatives of the plant demonstrated the workflow and the site where work is underway on the development of small-scale production of the fifth-generation Kia Sportage model. By the way, the adjustment of equipment for welding and painting the bodies of the updated version of the crossover is carried out with the involvement of foreign specialists. The launch of the Kia localization deepening project will be a new step in industrial cooperation between Kazakhstan and Korea.

"Small–scale production of a new model is a good experience for the automobile plant, which will become a new vector of development of the Kazakh automotive industry," the ambassador added.

It should be noted that the SaryarkaAvtoProm automobile plant is celebrating its 12th anniversary this year. During this period, the Kostanay enterprise became the first site in the Republic to master high-tech operations in CKD auto production. The plant's products are sold both in Kazakhstan and abroad. And the account of the equipment that has come off the assembly lines is already approaching the mark of 200,000 units.