Egypt and IT Park Uzbekistan Discuss Cooperation in the Tech Startup Sector

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) held talks with a delegation from IT Park Uzbekistan to explore opportunities for cooperation in supporting technology startups, stimulating mutual investment, and opening new markets for Egyptian companies in Central Asia, Egyptian media reported.

The Uzbek delegation included Azizbek Yusupov, Head of Exports and Investments for the Middle East and North Africa, and Abdurakhman Karimberdiev, Director for Partnerships and Investments in the same region, along with senior officials from GAFI.

The discussions focused on strengthening interaction between the Egyptian and Uzbek technology ecosystems, including the establishment of partnerships between companies from both countries, the exchange of experience in entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem development, and the identification of opportunities to attract global technology companies to operate in Egypt and Uzbekistan through the platforms and services provided by each side.

Hossam Heiba, Chairperson and CEO of GAFI, expressed his expectation that cooperation between Egypt and Uzbekistan would continue to deepen, emphasizing that the visit represents an important step toward opening new horizons for mutual investment and strengthening bilateral economic and trade ties. He highlighted the significant opportunities available in both markets, particularly in the technology and digital sectors.

Heiba stressed GAFI’s commitment to promoting international cooperation in promising technological industries, supporting the digital economy, attracting new investments, and enabling Egyptian companies to expand into regional and global markets. He added that Egypt’s investment ecosystem is supported by a variety of frameworks, including free economic zones, investment zones, and technology parks, which facilitate private sector participation and stimulate both domestic and foreign investment flows.

He also underlined the importance of maintaining ongoing communication between the parties to advance the initiatives discussed and promote investment cooperation, especially in priority sectors for both countries.

For his part, Azizbek Yusupov expressed appreciation to GAFI for organizing the meeting, noting that it reflects a genuine commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. He positively assessed recent improvements in Egypt’s business climate, describing them as a “strong incentive for expanding cooperation,” and announced that Egypt will become the first African country from which IT Park Uzbekistan will support technology companies in regional expansion and investment activities.

During the meeting, the Uzbek delegation presented key investment incentives offered by the Government of Uzbekistan to foreign companies, particularly in the ICT sector. These include tax incentives, simplified company registration procedures, and fast and flexible licensing services. The delegation also confirmed that IT Park Uzbekistan is fully prepared to support Egyptian companies seeking to invest in or expand their operations in the Uzbek market.

IT Park Uzbekistan is a leading technology hub and the official incubator under the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, specializing in supporting IT companies, developing digital industries, promoting exports, and attracting foreign investment into the technology sector.