Modernizing Uzbekistan's construction standards and strengthening staff capabilities
Strong interest in building material quality and management standards, and in KCC gypsum boards
KCC invited a delegation of officials from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Construction—visiting Korea at the invitation of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport—to its Central Research Institute in Mabuk, Yongin, where it introduced the superior quality of Korean building materials and the nation's premier testing facility infrastructure, lending its support to the modernization of Uzbekistan's construction standards and the strengthening of staff capabilities.
Uzbekistan is carrying out a technical cooperation project with the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology to modernize its own construction regulations. The goal of this visit is to learn from the experience and knowledge accumulated during Korea's development, and to apply it to Uzbekistan's outdated construction standards and testing systems in order to drive their modernization. The delegation arrived on December 12 and has been taking part in seminars and various training programs; during the scheduling discussions, they repeatedly requested a visit to the KCC Central Research Institute.
At KCC, Building Materials Division Executive Director Kim Hak-kyung and relevant staff welcomed the delegation, introduced the company, and held a presentation on building material products including gypsum board and windows and doors, guided a tour of the showroom, and conducted a tour of the LAB. The delegation showed particular interest in building material quality and management standards, such as the energy efficiency grade and thermal management ratio criteria for each product.
Among the products, KCC gypsum board was by far the most popular. Uzbekistan's construction industry has grown steadily since 2012, and both the supply of and demand for gypsum board have been on a steady upward trend. The delegation showed deep interest, comparing KCC's functional gypsum boards—offering features such as sound insulation and fire protection—with gypsum board products in their own country.
In his welcoming address, KCC Executive Director Kim Hak-kyung stated, “As we mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Uzbekistan, today's meeting holds special significance, and I look forward all the more to the next 30 years we will share.” He added, “In January 2023, the Research Institute for Technical Regulation & Standardization in Construction (RITRSC) will officially launch, and we are delighted that KCC can lend even a small amount of support.”
Dusatov Botir, Deputy Director of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Construction, also said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to visit KCC, a leader in the building materials industry, in person and to cooperate,” adding, “We hope to continue this relationship as good partners and friends going forward.”
Meanwhile, through a revision of its legislation in September 2022, Uzbekistan plans to officially launch the Research Institute for Technical Regulation & Standardization in Construction (RITRSC) in January 2023, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology plan to support joint Korea-Uzbekistan construction technology seminars and construction technology training courses on the ground.
▲ A delegation of officials from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Construction poses for a commemorative photo with KCC Executive Director Kim Hak-kyung and General Manager Kim Gyu-sik during their visit to the KCC Central Research Institute.