Digital Leadership Forum: new opportunities for foreign companies in Uzbekistan

Farhod Ibragimov, the Head of IT Park Uzbekistan, announced the launch of programs for global IT companies with unprecedented capabilities that are not available in any other country in the world. These programs include Zero Risk, Global Excellence, and Local 2 Global.

On July 7th, the first day of the Digital Leadership Forum took place, which is one of the most significant events in the field of digital leadership. The forum, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Digital Technologies and IT Park, attracted global experts and representatives of more than 300 IT outsourcing companies from around the world to discuss the historical changes and opportunities provided by the IT and BPO sector of Uzbekistan.

The first day of the forum was filled with impressive speeches, idea exchange, and the launch of new projects. One of the forum speakers was Farhod Ibragimov, the CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, who presented the organization's achievements and emphasized the efforts made in recent years to create a solid foundation for the development of Uzbekistan's IT ecosystem. The team has actively worked on improving regulatory frameworks and legislation with the support of the Government and feedback from resident companies.

According to Farhod Ibragimov, there are currently 1,424 IT companies registered in IT Park, including 442 IT and BPO service exporting companies. He emphasized that the interest in Uzbekistan as a new outsourcing hub is growing every day, with 213 of these companies being established with foreign capital.

The CEO of IT Park highlighted the importance of the relocation and soft landing program for companies considering opening offices in Uzbekistan. He also presented new conditions and opportunities that will be launched in 2023 to attract foreign companies and position Uzbekistan as a new center for IT outsourcing.

Among these conditions, the Zero Risk program was announced, offering a wide range of opportunities for foreign companies. It aims to improve the business climate in Uzbekistan, attract foreign investments, and stimulate export activities. The program is financed by the ICT Development Fund (FRICT) and IT Park, jointly providing financial support and privileges for participating companies.

"In the near future, we will publish new conditions for IT outsourcing companies opening offices in the regions. The privileges include providing fully equipped office spaces free of charge for up to one year. We will also cover up to 15% of specialists' salaries in the first year, share expenses for mentors from partner countries, and compensate for HR services. These programs and opportunities make Uzbekistan one of the most attractive destinations for IT and BPO services in the global market. Careful analysis has shown that these privileges have not been announced in any other country; they are designed to simplify business operations for future foreign residents and provide maximum comfort,"  - emphasized Farhod Ibragimov.

New strategic approaches were also presented to attract more foreign companies, such as Global Excellence, which involves working with FDI consultants to attract direct foreign investments through fixed contracts, and Local 2 Global, a program that offers a 50% compensation for export consulting services.

In the near future, a sponsorship program will be organized for trips to Uzbekistan for clients of foreign companies. The opportunity to participate in an export mentoring program, compensation for business trips abroad, and free training on the Coursera platform for specific target audiences will also be provided.

Farhod Ibragimov emphasized that Uzbekistan aims to create favorable conditions for the development of the information technology sector, attract foreign companies, and increase IT exports. He also expressed confidence in the success of future projects and collaboration with international companies.