IT Park Uzbekistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Digital Technologies

Karakalpakstan to Become Data Center Hub Under Uzbekistan’s Digital Strategy

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has launched the second phase of the IT Park Uzbekistan innovation complex in Tashkent’s Mirzo-Ulugbek district, signaling a major advance in the country’s digital transformation agenda. Speaking to Uzbekistan 24, Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Xotamovich said the next stage of digital development will prioritize AI integration. Mirziyoyev has directed that AI technologies be embedded in the expansion of IT Park to foster a comprehensive national innovation ecosystem. The new phase of IT Park will accommodate AI-focused startups and modern data centers equipped with high-performance graphic processors capable of handling large-scale data processing. A flagship project is a 12-megawatt data center under construction by Saudi firm DataVolt, which is set to become the largest facility of its kind in Central Asia, purpose-built for AI applications. DataVolt intends to expand its investments in Uzbekistan, with the total capacity of future data centers expected to reach 500 megawatts. This would position Uzbekistan as a leading regional hub for data storage and processing. Mirziyoyev also identified Karakalpakstan as a strategic location for energy-intensive digital projects. He proposed transforming the region into a large-scale data center hub, offering major incentives to investors contributing more than $100 million. These include tax breaks and infrastructure support, as well as a preferential electricity tariff of five cents per kWh, significantly lower than the current average rate of about eight cents. Authorities are targeting global tech firms such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon to establish data operations in Uzbekistan. The initiative is designed to strengthen the country’s position as a regional digital hub and accelerate the integration of AI across key sectors of the economy.

Digital Development

How Uzbekistan Plans to Lead Central Asia’s Digital Future – An Interview With the Minister of Digital Technologies

Uzbekistan’s ambitions to position itself as Central Asia’s digital powerhouse took center stage during ICT Week Uzbekistan 2025 this September - the country’s largest-ever technology forum, drawing more than 20 official delegations, 300 companies, and 20,000 participants from over 50 countries. With artificial intelligence and future technologies at its core, the event showcased how Tashkent aims to turn international partnerships into lasting investment, innovation, and talent pipelines. At the forefront of these efforts stands Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies, who has overseen landmark initiatives extending IT Park incentives until 2040, launching the IT Visa for foreign specialists, and embedding AI education across Uzbekistan’s schools and universities. The Times of Central Asia spoke to Minister Shermatov to discuss how Uzbekistan plans to sustain investor confidence beyond ICT Week, prepare its workforce for an AI-driven economy, and balance rapid digitalization with data protection and national sovereignty. [caption id="attachment_37995" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] ICT Week 2025; image: The Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan[/caption] TCA: Uzbekistan showcased itself as a regional IT hub during ICT Week. What concrete steps will the Ministry take to ensure foreign investors and global tech firms remain engaged in Uzbekistan? Shermatov: In order to comprehensively stimulate and develop the activities of foreign investors and global technology companies in the Republic of Uzbekistan, a number of key preferences for IT Park residents have already been implemented. The Government of Uzbekistan has extended and reinforced the system of benefits and guarantees for foreign investors and IT Park residents, ensuring long-term stability and predictability of the investment climate. Among these measures, IT Park tax incentives have been officially extended until 2040, offering exemption from a range of taxes, a simplified foreign currency regime, and a 5% dividend tax for non-residents, provided that more than 50% of their revenue is generated from export activities. These reforms provide a reliable and attractive environment for both established global players and emerging startups. To further strengthen the country’s position as a regional digital hub, the Government has also introduced the IT Visa - a three-year visa designed for founders, investors, and foreign specialists of IT Park resident companies. The IT Visa facilitates simplified entry, residence, and employment procedures for international professionals and their family members, making Uzbekistan one of the most open and accessible markets for global technology talent. In parallel, a “One Stop Shop” service has been launched to streamline administrative procedures. It provides fast-track company registration, bank account opening, and work and residency permits, enabling investors and foreign specialists to begin operations in Uzbekistan with unprecedented efficiency. At the same time, the Ministry continues to expand cooperation between global technology partners and the national innovation ecosystem under the “ZERO Risk” and “Local to Global” mechanisms, as stated in the relevant decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. These instruments create a foundation for long-term growth, stimulate venture financing, and support the international scaling of Uzbek startups. Also, comprehensive programs are being implemented to train highly qualified IT specialists to...

Web Summit

Uzbekistan to Host First-Ever Web Summit Spotlight in Central Asia

Uzbekistan will host its first Web Summit Spotlight on September 27 in Tashkent, marking a significant milestone for the country’s growing tech sector. The Ministry of Digital Technologies and IT Park Uzbekistan, co-organizers of the event, confirmed the announcement in an official press release. The event is being held in partnership with Web Summit, one of the world’s most prominent technology conferences, which draws more than 70,000 participants each year to its flagship gathering in Lisbon. In recent years, Web Summit has expanded globally with editions in Rio de Janeiro, Qatar, and Vancouver. Tashkent will now join this lineup, positioning Uzbekistan as a rising hub for innovation and international tech collaboration. According to organizers, Web Summit Spotlight: Uzbekistan will bring together leading global experts, venture capitalists, startup founders, and IT industry executives. The program will highlight Uzbekistan’s evolving role as a center for technological innovation, opportunities for international investment in emerging markets, and current trends in venture funding. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has consistently stressed the importance of digital transformation for Uzbekistan’s future. “We are creating conditions for Uzbekistan to become a true center of innovation, where young people can turn their talent and energy into globally competitive projects,” the president said earlier this year while outlining the country’s digital development strategy. The forum comes amid rapid growth in Uzbekistan’s IT sector. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, revenues from IT outsourcing tripled to more than $300 million, following four consecutive years of annual doubling. The United States remains the primary destination for Uzbek IT exports, accounting for half of all outsourcing contracts. Authorities aim to grow outsourcing revenues to $5 billion by 2030, with a projected 300,000 people employed in the sector. IT Park Uzbekistan has played a pivotal role in this transformation. By the end of 2023, it was home to 1,652 resident companies, nearly half of which were founded that year. With attractive tax incentives and support services, the park has become a magnet for both domestic and international tech talent.