Uzbekistan goals to export at the least $5 billion (€4.3 billion) of IT and AI providers by 2030, because it seeks to rework synthetic intelligence from a digital coverage precedence to a broader financial sector.
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Applied sciences Sherzod Shermatov, whose annual IT exports have elevated from lower than $1 million (850,000 euros) in 2017 to just about $1 billion (850 million euros), stated the subsequent stage will depend upon expertise, funding and the flexibility to use AI throughout companies and public providers.
In interviews with Euronews on the sidelines of the Tashkent Worldwide Funding Discussion board, officers, traders and AI consultants outlined the challenges confronted by the rising demand for computing energy, digital providers and employees who can use AI instruments in each day financial actions.
From outsourcing to AI providers
Uzbekistan’s digital financial system is creating in a rustic with a rising younger and more and more linked inhabitants. Based on official statistics, originally of 2025 there have been 9.6 million individuals aged 14 to 30 within the nation, however the web penetration charge reached 89% by the tip of 2025.
This provides Uzbekistan a possible home base for digital coaching, however its financial targets are overseas. Service exports by IT park members reached $191.8 million (169 million euros) within the first quarter of 2026, as Uzbekistan goals to broaden from outsourcing to higher-value digital providers, in response to the State Statistics Committee.
Shermatov stated Uzbekistan desires to draw corporations from Uzbekistan which can be in search of human sources, distribution facilities and multilingual groups that may serve international markets.
He added that the objective shouldn’t be solely to assist corporations cut back outsourcing prices, but additionally to assist them “broaden into third markets by means of Uzbekistan.”
This consists of not solely established IT corporations but additionally start-ups. Shermatov stated international startups can qualify for help in the event that they create back-office operations and jobs in Uzbekistan, whereas the federal government can also be looking for extra corporations constructed round AI.
Benedict Macon-Cooney, chief AI and innovation officer on the Tony Blair Institute for International Change, stated nations like Uzbekistan may see alternatives in AI providers and purposes, slightly than making an attempt to compete immediately with the US or China in constructing cutting-edge AI fashions.
The purpose is to attach expertise, corporations and information infrastructure to providers that may be offered past the home market.
Flip vitality into digital providers
Knowledge facilities stay on the coronary heart of Uzbekistan’s AI plans, however they aren’t the ultimate vacation spot. These are cloud providers, AI instruments, and the infrastructure wanted to help digital exports.
Shermatov immediately linked the info heart push to vitality coverage. “AI requires computing, and computing requires vitality,” he stated. He added that Uzbekistan doesn’t wish to export electrical energy solely as uncooked materials, however promote it “within the type of AI information heart providers.”
He additionally stated that traders in AI information facilities can make the most of incentives reminiscent of cheaper electrical energy, residence in IT parks, duty-free surroundings and exemption from import duties on AI gear.
Rajit Nanda, CEO of DataVolt, stated demand for information facilities is being pushed by “the explosive adoption of AI” by enterprises, governments and digital platforms. However infrastructure alone shouldn’t be sufficient, he argued.
“Capital, vitality and expertise are all equally vital,” he stated, including that no single issue is enough for profitable AI implementation.
Expertise for utilizing AI each day
Uzbekistan has already launched the “5 Million AI Leaders” program, which goals to unfold AI literacy throughout faculties, universities, lecturers, and civil servants. Shermatov stated greater than 1 million individuals have accomplished this system.
The aim isn’t just to coach engineers. It is about making ready employees throughout sectors to make use of AI instruments of their jobs.
Vladimir Norov, president of the Central Asia Synthetic Intelligence Affiliation, stated the area ought to focus not solely on coaching engineers, but additionally on a “primary understanding” of know-how and the flexibility to make use of it.
He cited schooling, healthcare, agriculture and logistics as areas the place these expertise could be utilized throughout Central Asia.
Using AI in authorities
For Macon-Cooney, the primary problem is implementation.
“That is at all times the federal government’s problem,” he stated. It is about “reworking bodily paper into communication and motion.”
A number of the early positive aspects might come from mundane however vital administrative areas reminiscent of types, compliance checks, tax administration, and fraud detection.
Mr Macon-Cooney stated substantial financial savings might be made in these areas if governments had robust information methods.
Wider adoption additionally is determined by belief. Fraud, cyber-attacks and information misuse can rapidly erode public belief, and cybersecurity is a part of the financial challenges going through Uzbekistan’s AI plans.
