On December 18, 2018, an agreement was signed on the establishment of the Uzbek-Korean scientific-technological Center for rare metals and alloys at the JSC Almalyk Mining-Metallurgical Complex (MMC) within the framework of the execution of the presidential resolution on measures to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea. 
 
After transferring the state-owned share at the JSC Almalyk MMC to the company “SFI Management Group”, the production capacity of the plant has made way for innovation and modernization. 
 
At the Uzbek-Korean center, it is planned to produce new types of rare metals and alloys. The center includes five laboratories in advanced areas of activity. Today, the most actual direction in the metallurgy is making alloys from the pure insoluble metals, especially from tungsten and molybdenum by the help of the nanotechnology and advanced chemical-metallurgical technologies. Another important aspect is the opportunity to train young scientists and engineers of the JSC Almalyk MMC at the best enterprises and scientific laboratories of South Korea. 
 
In the course of the signed agreement, metallurgical cooperation will result in the introduction of joint scientific-research and experimental-constructive projects, enrichment of mineral raw materials, creation of new alloys and materials and finally, production of competitive products. 
 
Establishment of the scientific-technological Center of two countries is a bright example of the wide-ranging transformation and the modernization of the country’s economy.