At the BIT-2024 forum in Almaty, Kapital.uz reported on the Chairman of the Board of the International Alliance of Independent IT Experts, Amir Yerzhanov’s claim that Kazakh information technology (IT) companies are actively relocating to Uzbekistan in order to engineer their IT products for exportation overseas.
Mr. Yerzhanov’s proposal to cut taxes for these businesses was endorsed by other players keen to accelerate the expansion of Uzbekistan’s IT sector. One representative of a software distribution company made particular reference to how their enterprise was prospering in Uzbekistan, where following the pandemic, the market was experiencing robust growth.
Uzbekistan will soon launch a program called Zero Risk aimed at attracting more IT companies. Benefits on offer include the waiver of fees for the use of state facilities and equipment, and the provision of partial reimbursement of wages and personnel training costs.
Authorities are also planning a program to assist domestic IT companies in breaking into international markets by offering financial support to attend international exhibitions and harness the expertise of foreign specialists.
Statistics indicate that the average monthly pay for IT professionals in Kazakhstan ranges from 5.4 million Uzbek som ($431.12) to 13.1 million som ($1,045.86), and in Uzbekistan, between 3.1 million som ($247.49) and 7.6 million som ($606.76).
Starting salaries for new IT workers in Kazakhstan can reach up to 8.6 million som ($686.59) and in Uzbekistan up to 4.4 million som ($351.28).
