‘I might stay here’ – PHP developer at Itransition Evgenii Krysanov about his life in Uzbekistan

IT Park continues to tell the stories of IT professionals who moved Uzbekistan for work.

This time we had a chance to speak to 38 year-old PHP developer at Itransition company, Evgenii Krysanov.

Itransition Group (Itransition) is an international IT company in software solutions development and IT consulting, a resident of the Belarus Hi-Tech Park (HTP) and a member of the science and technology association Infopark. It is one of the five largest software exporters among HTP resident companies. Representative offices of Itransition are located in the USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and the development center is in Belarus.

‘I have been working at Itransition for a year. We support the western online shopping website that sells clothes. We develop a new functionality, support it, fix if something goes wrong’.

Evgenii has been working as a developer for a long time. Initially, he was engaged in projects just for himself - in this way he studied innovations in the field and realized his creative potential. After Evgenii received a specialized education.

‘I started learning the basics of programming long before university. After the university, I worked as a system administrator for a bit, then I decided that I needed to go completely to the Internet and website development - because I like it the most’

Moving to Tashkent

In March of this year, Evgenii decided to move to Uzbekistan.

‘In spring I decided to leave Russia. There was a list of countries that I considered. I did not want to go to Europe, so I chose from three countries: Georgia, Armenia, Uzbekistan. Since an office of our company has already been established in Tashkent, I chose this city. I am very happy to be here!’

According to Evgenii, it was very easy to move. The only requirement at that time was to pass a PCR test, and of course, to have a passport.

‘IT Park helped me with the transfer: I was met at the airport and taken to the hostel. Already on the second day of my stay in Tashkent, I found a place to live. I dealt with registration and other issues quite quickly,’ he says.

Uzbekistan’s IT industry

When asked what he thinks about the IT sector in Uzbekistan, he answers that it is developed quite well.

‘I am not an expert in the IT industry of Uzbekistan and I know it only as a user. Of course, there are problem areas. For example, I used banking applications and, in my opinion, something can be improved - I would like more reliability in financial instruments. But I can note that the sphere is quite developed, it is clear that Uzbekistan has taken its own way. The quality of the Internet is at the required level, everything works well.’

The relocatee notes that CLICK and Payme are something that he has not seen in Russia.

‘These applications are convenient, especially for small businesses. Perhaps in Russia there is such a thing, but here everything is very simplifiied and fast,’ added Evgenii.

Impressions of Uzbekistan

As developer admits, the country had an indelible impression on him.

‘How can you not like Uzbekistan? It's warm, the city is green and everything is tasty here. The locals are friendly, kind and helpful. I am always invited to cafes, treated. I was lucky with the owner of the apartment: he helped me a lot, took me on business, helped with registration, treated me to pilaf, took me to the bazaars. I also noted an interesting fact for myself: when local residents call me “brother”, putting their hand to their chest, it is so conducive to communication.’

Evgenii managed to visit popular tourist places in the capital city, visit a flower exhibition, and even found his favorite coffee spot on the Square and made friends with a barista.

‘I went to the local markets. I especially remember Chorsu - a colorful place, I imagined the oriental bazaars in this way. As soon as I went there, they immediately began to offer me something to buy, treated me, asked where I came from, and I tried to bargain with them.’

He was also delighted with the Tashkent metro - from time to time he likes to ride on this transport and admire the beauty of the capital's metro stations. Among his favorite stations, he listed Kosmonavtlar, Bodomzor, Pakhtakor and Alisher Navoi.

In addition to Tashkent, Evgenii managed to visit Samarkand which he recalls with fascination:

‘Samarkand is very different from Tashkent. The capital, it seems to me, is more like modern large Russian cities, while Samarkand is original, more eastern, you will often find national clothes there, for example. I am fascinated with the city!’

As part of a tourist group, he visited the Registan, Gur-Emir, the Siyab Bazaar, the Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Ulugbek Observatory, the Mausoleum of St. Daniyar.

‘The trip to Samarkand for us, IT-specialists who moved to Uzbekistan, was organized by IT Park. In addition to the sights, we were shown new buildings, schools, and even taken to the new international airport. I note that it is quite spacious and modern, and the prices for domestic flights are pleasing, everything is affordable. I am grateful to IT Park for organizing this trip at the highest level.’

Uzbek cuisine also did not leave Evgenii indifferent. As the he admits, the food is certainly tasty.

‘I tried pilaf, two types of lagman, beshbarmak, local barbecue, samsa, and delicious local bread. Everything here is too tasty to describe in words. Fruits, vegetables, berries - everything is different and insanely delicious.’

Future plans

Evgenii admits that he considered Tashkent for a long period, but now he does not exclude the possibility of staying here for good.

‘I liked the country, the city. I'm thinking about staying here. But first, I want to see everything, including to understand if I can withstand the hot Tashkent summer. This is one of the main criteria that will affect my final decision.’

Now Evgenii enjoys every minute of life in Tashkent, goes bowling, various quizzes, tries to learn Uzbek.

‘I have only learned a few expressions and counting to ten so far. In general, I want to learn Uzbek. If I stay here, I need to know the language. And if I leave, I will take with me a little knowledge in Uzbek language, along with Kokand halva sweets and ‘doppi’ (local men’s headwear).’