Marat Baiburin from “Exadel”: “One can sense oriental modesty in every detail”— lead developer about his life in Tashkent

IT Park continues to tell the stories of IT professionals who moved to live and work in Uzbekistan. This time we had a chance to speak to the lead developer of «Exadel» Marat Baiburin.

«Exadel» is an international IT company with more than 20 years of experience. The company provides a full range of services from consulting and strategy formation to development, testing and support.

Marat has been working in IT for over 20 years. He joined Exadel in 2020 as the team lead of the developers’ team.

Now Marat’s task as a lead developer is to coordinate projects from the first stage of development to the final stages of testing and technical support.

-Marat, tell us the reasons why you have chosen Uzbekistan as your destination.

- I collaborated with an international company that has a representative office in Russia. As the office in Moscow was suspended, I was offered to continue cooperation in offices in other countries. There were options such as Poland, Hungary, Georgia, Armenia and Uzbekistan. European countries now have some visa barriers, Georgia and Armenia are majorly overloaded. Uzbekistan seemed to be the most promising direction.

-Did you have any issues with paperwork and finding a place to live?

- No, there was nothing serious- all issues were resolved quickly. I hired a realtor who helped me find and rent a home, processed registration and tax documents. All the red tape took several hours. I picked up housing near the office, in a prestigious area with developed infrastructure.

- How long do you plan to stay in Uzbekistan?
- September will determine my further plans.

- What’s your impression of the country?

- I did not have time to visit other cities, but I plan to. My arrival fell on the period of Ramadan and there was practically no one on the street. I was surprised, asking myself “why is it so quiet? Where is everyone?” (laughs) Now I'm already seeing more activity, more people, more cars.

I noticed that the driving culture is relatively low, which, however, can be determined by the high congestion of the roadways.

The city view from Tashkent TV tower. Photos from Marat’s personal archive 

-How do you like Tashkent so far?

-It’s impossible not to like! Impressions are exceptionally positive! The city is clean, Tashkent is filled with greenery and flowers. I’m delighted.

I loved the climate. It was snowing in Moscow when I flew away. Upon arrival in Tashkent it was 25 degrees, warm and sunny.

The diversity of local markets and loud salesmen left a positive impression.

— What can you say about local Uzbek cuisine?

-From the local, oriental cuisine, I tried kebab, soup and somsa. I really liked the samsa - juicy, right from the tandoor. Uzbek cuisine differs significantly from what we are used to. Here vinegar, spices, and herbs are widely used.

-What’s your impression about the local people?

- Positive. Uzbekistan has kind, openhearted, and tolerant people. Oriental modesty is felt in every detail. It is exotic to see women in closed national dresses embroidered with Asian patterns.

-— Were there any difficulties that you had to face in Tashkent?

- I have not encountered any serious problems or difficulties.

If we talk about little inconveniences, I can note the sluggishness in the work of banks, slow customer service.

“Kosmonavtlar” station. Photos from Marat’s personal archive

- Do you think the reality is different from what you have expected before you moved here?

- Uzbekistan is shrouded in stereotypes. I have heard about underdeveloped infrastructure, lack of urban transport. Some even doubt that Tashkent has a metro and that it is a modern city.

-— yeah, indeed, such stereotype as that people here still ride camels and donkeys.

-Exactly (laughs). I had been in Tashkent before, so I knew where I was going. I can say that I am satisfied with everything, I like living and working here.

— Any fun stories that happened while your stay in Tashkent?

- It's a funny fact that all prices in the market and in a taxi do not have a fixed value and are determined only by the mood of the salesperson and your desire to bargain (laughs).

— Would you recommend Uzbekistan to your friends?

- Definitely! In fact, several people have already arrived here based on my personal recommendation.

— What are you going to take with you when you leave Uzbekistan?

— Only the fond memories, especially about this interview (laughs).

Magic City amusement park. Photos from Marat’s personal archive