[E-Daily Reporter Ham Ji-Hyun ] Daewoo Construction ( DaewooEngineering&Construction(047040)) announced on the 16th that it is seeking to foster cooperation with Turkmenistan by joining the “Karakum Canal Modernization Project.”

According to DaewooEngineering&Construction, the company signed a “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Cooperation on the Karakum Canal Modernization Project” with the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan at the Korea-Turkmenistan Business Forum held at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong on the 15th.

This MOU was signed to strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two sides in conjunction with the 1st Korea-Central Asia Summit and to lay the groundwork for the modernization project of the approximately 250-kilometer section of the lower Karakum Canal, in which DaewooEngineering&Construction is considering participation. Building on this, both sides plan to explore opportunities for cooperation on promising projects in the water resources and environmental sectors within Turkmenistan.

The Karakum Canal, which originates from the Amu Darya River in the north and crosses Turkmenistan from east to west, is the world’s largest canal for irrigation and water supply, measuring 25–30 meters in width and approximately 1,100 kilometers in length. Since its completion in the 1960s, it has played a vital role in supplying water for agriculture, domestic use, and industry in Turkmenistan. Recently, there has been a growing need for modernization to ensure efficient water resource management and a stable water supply.

An official from DaewooEngineering&Construction stated, “This MOU is highly significant as it lays the groundwork for our entry into Turkmenistan’s water resources and environmental infrastructure construction market,” adding, “Based on DaewooEngineering&Construction’s technical expertise and experience in civil engineering, we will support the successful implementation of this project and expand cooperation across various fields.”

DaewooEngineering&Construction first entered the Turkmenistan market in May of last year by securing the contract for the “Turkmenistan Mineral Fertilizer Plant.” The facility, capable of producing 350,000 metric tons of phosphate and 100,000 metric tons of ammonium sulfate annually, is scheduled for completion in 2028. Building on this success, DaewooEngineering&Construction is actively exploring opportunities to secure additional contracts in the industrial and infrastructure construction sectors in Turkmenistan.

During the Korea-Central Asia Summit, Chairman Jeong Won-ju met with President Serdar Berdymukhamedov at the Korea-Turkmenistan Business Forum, where he outlined DaewooEngineering&Construction’s plans for additional projects and requested cooperation from the Turkmenistan government. In addition, Chairman Jeong plans to build broad cooperative relationships with various Central Asian countries by attending events such as the state dinner at the Blue House and the Korea-Uzbekistan Business Forum during the Korea-Central Asia Summit.