Growth Point Forum: Uzbekistan Emerges as a New Hub for Digital Business

On May 21, the forum “Growth Point: Uzbekistan for Digital Business” commenced in Tashkent, jointly organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan and IT Park Uzbekistan. The forum brought together over 160 participants from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, including representatives of IT companies, BPO centers, digital and marketing agencies, game development studios, and international experts. The event was attended by Ambassador of the Russian Federation Oleg Malginov, Ambassador of Belarus Aleksandr Ogorodnikov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Beibut Atamkulov, and Fariz Mammadov, Advisor to the Ambassador of Azerbaijan.

The forum marked a significant milestone in the advancement of the region’s digital and creative economy. For the first time in Uzbekistan’s industry-specific event history, the program included representatives from the game publishing and multimedia production industries — a notable signal of the expanding game development and media segment in the country.

The opening remarks were delivered by Oleg Pekos, First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies, who stated:

“We offer the IT industry a unique environment: tailored project support, tax and regulatory incentives, and clear, transparent rules. In IT sphere, there are no borders — we welcome all who are ready to scale their ideas.”

Among the keynote speakers were Dmitry Falaleev, CEO of Voice Solutions VB; Elnara Velieva, Director of Forward Gateway; and Hasan Salikhov, Director of Artcraft Studio. They shared practical case studies on expanding outsourcing and creative businesses in Uzbekistan — highlighting the country’s competitive advantages, including a strong talent pool, favorable tax regime, and streamlined administrative processes.

Azamat Rakhmon-Zoda, Head of Export Development for CIS, MENA, and Turkey at IT Park Uzbekistan, outlined the strategic benefits of partnership with IT Park:

“Uzbekistan, with a population of 38 million — over 60% of whom are under the age of 30 — is rapidly developing its digital ecosystem. A modern 6.3-hectare IT Park campus has been established in Tashkent, with 14 regional branches across the country. Between 2017 and 2024, the number of member companies increased 18-fold, while the number of companies with foreign capital grew by a factor of 173. We offer a unique value proposition to foreign investors: free office space, equipment, salary subsidies, recruitment and training support — all with zero risk to the business.”

Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, emphasized:

“We remain open to cooperation and are fully committed to supporting all those who seeking to build and scale their IT business in Uzbekistan.”

As part of the forum agenda, international delegations participated in site visits to leading companies and educational centers playing a vital role in Uzbekistan’s digital ecosystem. Guests visited School 21, an innovative IT training center utilizing a peer-to-peer, instructor-free methodology focused on logic, algorithmic thinking, and teamwork.

Participants also toured UIC Group, one of the country’s largest outsourcing centers delivering IT services, and visited Vention, an international IT company delivering product deemed and outsourcing services to global clients, to explore approaches to managing distributed teams and digital export operations.

At Telecontact, a company specializing in omnichannel customer support and modern contact center solutions, discussions focused on scalable outsourcing models and the localization of business processes. The program concluded with a visit to East Games Studio, offering insight into Uzbekistan’s growing game development sector and its potential for international cooperation in game production and publishing.

On May 22, a series of workshops and practical consultations were held for international participants. Companies were introduced to the procedures for business establishment in Uzbekistan, the Zero Risk program, available tax incentives, and human capital resources — including support mechanisms for recruiting local professionals.

On May 23, a “One Stop Shop” Day will take place with the participation of the Public Services Center, allowing participants to complete all administrative steps for legal entity registration and company setup in Uzbekistan within a single day.

The Growth Point forum reaffirmed the strong interest of international companies in Uzbekistan as a rising destination in the global digital landscape. The country continues to demonstrate steady growth in IT service exports, expansion of the creative industries, and the development of a business-friendly environment. IT Park Uzbekistan remains committed to bridging local talent with global opportunities — forging new pathways for growth, innovation, and international partnership.