The role of IT Park in supporting foreign entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan

Tawney Kruger, a media expert at Financial IT and tech entrepreneur behind ventures including PraaktisGO, Zaytra.ai, and kpi.com, shared insights on Uzbekistan’s IT Park. In her piece, she highlights how the national platform supports international founders with streamlined registration, tax incentives, export support, talent pipelines, and regional infrastructure — making it easier for startups and established tech companies to grow in Central Asia. She aims to provide practical guidance on everything from navigating legal frameworks to scaling regionally and accessing skilled talent.

Tawney Kruger, city — Tashkent, media professional and tech entrepreneur, linkedin

 

When I first arrived in Uzbekistan — working initially in education and later in media — I experienced the uncertainties that come with entering any new market. The questions were familiar: How do you navigate the legal system? Where do you find the right talent? How do you integrate into an unfamiliar business ecosystem? For foreign entrepreneurs, these challenges can feel daunting.

Yet, as I began working with ventures such as kpi.com, Datasite Technologies, and PraaktisGO, I encountered an environment unlike any other I had worked in before. Uzbekistan had built something rare: a system designed not only to support local innovation but also to actively welcome international entrepreneurs. At the heart of this transformation is IT Park Uzbekistan — a national institution that has quickly become a cornerstone for the country’s digital economy.

IT Park: A national gateway to opportunity

 

To understand the current momentum, it’s important to recognize what IT Park represents. It is not just an incubator or coworking space. Established by presidential decree and aligned with Uzbekistan’s Digital Uzbekistan 2030 strategy, IT Park functions as a national platform. It connects global innovators to local opportunity and positions Uzbekistan as a global IT hub.

This strategic status provides several advantages that foreign entrepreneurs will immediately notice:

Streamlined registration and residency pathways, making market entry faster and less bureaucratic.

Credibility through government endorsement, which helps in building trust with clients, partners, and regulators.

Access to an integrated ecosystem, from skilled professionals to modern infrastructure and local business networks.

For entrepreneurs like myself, this alignment has meant one critical thing: the ability to move quickly. What could take months in other markets—finding a foothold, building legitimacy, and securing local partners—can happen in weeks when working through IT Park.

From incentives to real impact

What makes IT Park unique is not only its vision but also the tangible, practical benefits it provides.

1. Tax Incentives

IT Park members benefit from significant tax exemptions, including corporate income tax, social tax, and customs duties. For export-focused companies, these incentives are guaranteed until 2040 — a level of certainty that is exceptionally rare in emerging markets. For startups and scale-ups, this allows resources to be reinvested directly into people, technology, and growth, rather than drained away by operational costs.

2. Talent Pipeline

 

Uzbekistan’s young population is one of its greatest strengths, with a total population of over 38 million, more than half of which are under the age of 30. IT Park has harnessed this asset by partnering with universities and specialized training programs. Initiatives like IT Talents ensure a steady flow of developers, engineers, and IT specialists. For companies like Datasite Technologies, this pipeline has been instrumental in scaling quickly with a workforce that is both skilled and affordable compared to many global markets.

3. Export Support

Beyond the domestic market, IT Park helps firms go global by assisting with certification, marketing, and international outreach. Over the past seven months of 2025, 481 new exporters and 232 foreign companies joined IT Park. This proves the model is working — Uzbekistan is not only attracting foreign capital but also enabling businesses to grow outward.

4. Zero Risk Program

One of the most compelling initiatives for international entrepreneurs is the Zero Risk program. It allows foreign IT companies to establish offices in regions of Uzbekistan without upfront costs for rent, recruitment, or basic operational expenses during the initial phase. IT Park effectively absorbs the early risks, giving founders freedom to test the market without fear of heavy financial losses. For investors, this represents an extraordinary opportunity to explore Central Asia with built-in safeguards.

5. Infrastructure across the Regions

With hubs not only in Tashkent but also across Uzbekistan’s regions, IT Park ensures that opportunities are not concentrated in a single city. From coworking spaces and innovation labs to full-scale modern office facilities, the infrastructure is designed for accessibility and speed of setup. For foreign founders, this is another reason why Uzbekistan is one of the easiest places in the region to establish operations.

International Success Stories

The results of IT Park’s initiatives are clear. Between January and July 2025, 481 new export-driven companies joined IT Park’s ecosystem — 232 of which were backed by foreign investors from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Luxembourg, Turkey, and beyond. These firms span outsourcing, software development, and gaming — sectors where Uzbekistan is rapidly building global credibility.

Multinational firms such as EPAM Systems, Almalence, and FIBO CLOUD have been members for many years. When asked how IT Park helped their businesses, they had this to say:

Eugene Panich, CEO of Almalence, highlights the ease of doing business: “The efficiency of IT Park’s support in regulatory compliance and administration has streamlined our operations. We strongly endorse IT Park to any software company seeking a supportive environment to thrive and innovate.”

For EPAM Uzbekistan, the benefits have been equally tangible. “Since 2019, we’ve grown to over 700 employees,” says Renat Akhtyamov, Office Head. “Tax incentives, modern housing, and state-of-the-art office infrastructure provided through IT Park have been pivotal in our success.”

From Mongolia, Natsagdorj Ganjiguur, CEO of FIBO CLOUD, underscores the value of OSS: “For someone like me with limited connections and language barriers, IT Park’s One Stop Shop handles everything — from legal setup to ongoing support. It has made expanding into Uzbekistan not only possible, but smooth.”

Together, these stories demonstrate how IT Park has become a magnet for international companies — removing barriers, lowering costs, and enabling both startups and established players to thrive in Central Asia’s growing IT landscape.

Building human capital

None of this would be sustainable without investment in people. That’s why education is a cornerstone of IT Park’s mission.

The launch of IT Park University, in partnership with EPAM, is a prime example. The university delivers industry-aligned curricula that prepare students for real-world demands. Students not only graduate with theoretical knowledge but also gain hands-on experience and international internships. This direct alignment between education and industry ensures that the pipeline of talent remains strong — and globally competitive. In 2025, IT Park University celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of 75 students — over 80% of whom have already secured positions with leading IT employers such as EPAM, IT Park, TBC Bank Uzbekistan, Payme, Alif, and Beeline.

For entrepreneurs, this matters because access to skilled talent is often the difference between scaling quickly and stalling early. In Uzbekistan, the pool of young, motivated, and well-trained professionals continues to grow.

Regional leadership and future growth

Today, IT Park supports more than 2900 member companies spanning IT services, education, game development, and business process outsourcing. Its residents export to 90 countries, with strong demand in North America, CIS, Europe, and MENA regions.

The momentum is not slowing. Looking forward, IT Park has already launched IT Park Ventures, a $10 million fund dedicated to early-stage startups with a portfolio of nine startups. Combined with new global education partnerships, these initiatives further strengthen the ecosystem, making Uzbekistan an even more attractive base for founders and investors alike.

A launchpad for global founders

Every entrepreneurial journey involves risk, but Uzbekistan — through IT Park — has made those risks more manageable. For foreign founders, the Park offers:

Strategic clarity through regulatory alignment and state support

Cost efficiency with tax breaks, infrastructure, and talent access

Credibility and community, opening doors to partnerships and clients both locally and globally

As Uzbekistan accelerates its digital transformation, IT Park stands as both an open invitation and a structured platform. For entrepreneurs ready to explore Central Asia’s IT frontier, it offers something rare: a launchpad that combines security, opportunity, and growth potential in equal measure.