Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 13 February, the Uzbekistan-Japan IT Cooperation Forum was held at the Congress Hall of the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan.

The forum brought together top executives, investors, and IT industry experts from both countries to discuss collaboration prospects, knowledge exchange, and investment opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital sector.

Participants included representatives from companies such as IB-SYSTEM, Marubeni Corporation, Symphodia Phil Co. Ltd, Mynavi Corporation, and others.

Akihiro Sakurai, Advisor to the Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, highlighted the significant potential for IT collaboration between Uzbekistan and Japan, emphasizing the forum's role as an important step in realizing this potential.

Yuta Ichinose, General Director of JETRO Tashkent, described the forum as an effective platform for IT cooperation between the two countries, pointing to great opportunities for technological and innovation development. Meanwhile, Abdulkahad Kuchkarov, General Director of IT Park Uzbekistan, stressed that joint projects and experience sharing would strengthen both Uzbekistan and Japan’s positions in the global IT market.

The growing momentum of collaboration supports these expectations: while only one Japanese company was operating as an IT Park resident in 2023, by the end of 2024, the number had increased to ten, with three already exporting IT services. Additionally, in 2024, five Uzbek IT Park companies began exporting their services to Japan, highlighting the growing interest in joint initiatives.

Key topics discussed at the forum included Uzbekistan’s digital transformation, opportunities for Japanese companies in the local IT ecosystem, technological innovation, workforce development, investment strategies, and cross-border cooperation.

The event featured presentations from Uzbek and Japanese IT firms, B2B meetings, and networking sessions, facilitating direct connections between business communities.

As a result of the forum, three Japanese companies expressed their intention to open offices in Uzbekistan to expand their operations in the region.

The Uzbekistan-Japan IT Cooperation Forum marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations, paving the way for new joint projects and investments in digital technology and innovation.