The country’s information technology sector has been developing dynamically in recent years. If there were 147 IT companies seven years ago, today, their number has exceeded 2,000. They employ 30,000 people in highly-paid jobs, and more than 70,000 young people are engaged in IT independently.
The Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy plans to increase the volume of exports in this area to $5 billion and provide employment for 300 thousand young people. The organization of IT towns has begun in remote areas.
In particular, the number of residents of the IT Park in Karakalpakstan has tripled compared to the end of last year, reaching 108 people. They provided jobs for 310 specialists. In the first half of 2024, the volume of services increased by 2.4 times and the volume of exports by 1.7 times.
Residents trained and improved the skills of 25 thousand young people and civil servants. As part of the “One Million Uzbek Coders” project, 18 thousand were trained through the online platform in 2023, and 29 thousand young people over the past period of 2024. This year, it is planned to train more than 33 thousand.
These results are a reflection of the created conditions. During a visit to the region in 2021, the Head of state gave instructions to build a new building for the IT Park. In accordance with this, a modern 17-storey building was erected in the center of Nukus. There are IT education and co-working centers, offices, a conference room, and office rooms. The building will also accommodate residents of the IT Park, investors working in the industry, and foreign outsourcing enterprises.
The fact that the IT Park, which was previously opened in a two-story building, has now moved to a majestic complex testifies to the scale of the plans.
The President was informed about the work done, results, and plans in the sector.
For example, Beknazar Abdikamalov from Karakalpakstan, who previously worked for the American company Amazon, returned to his homeland and attracted $4 million in investments in his startup HUPO. The Head of state talked to him and supported his initiatives.
The Head of state talked with the IT Park residents, specialists working in information technology. Having listened to the opinions of young people, he instructed the responsible persons to support their proposals.
“If we implement startups in this area, then the efficiency in the industries will increase, and government spending will decrease, and jobs will be created for young people”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
The building also houses a branch of the UZINFOCOM center. The center will train young people in the region in modern professions through the uStudy program. Personnel who have improved their qualifications will be employed in modern companies.
The President emphasized the need to build multi-story buildings for IT parks in all regions based on the public-private partnership.
“They should have such an atmosphere that young people feel free. Let there be everything for food, recreation, sports, and others. It is best to locate the buildings in the center of cities, in a place convenient for young people”, the Head of state said.
Instructions were given on linking this IT Park with schools in the regions of Karakalpakstan, training young people interested in the sphere, and attracting them to highly profitable work in the future.
