Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The GCC–Uzbekistan Digital and Tech Forum was held in Samarkand, bringing together representatives of government institutions, IT companies, venture funds, and startup communities from Uzbekistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The event was organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies and IT Park Uzbekistan.

The forum attracted more than 700 participants, including around 300 international guests from 39 countries, including representatives from the Asia-Pacific region, the United States, and Europe. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about Uzbekistan’s achievements in the digital economy and discuss potential areas of collaboration with investors, IT companies, and digital strategy developers.

Key topics at the forum included the development of digital government, Uzbekistan’s export potential in IT outsourcing and creative services, the startup ecosystem, smart infrastructure and digital education, as well as regional initiatives in investment and technology partnerships.

The forum was opened by Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov. In his speech, he emphasized: “Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, our country is undergoing large-scale transformations. Back in 2017, the President set us the ambitious goal of turning Uzbekistan into an IT hub. Thanks to his visionary leadership, we can confidently state that this year, Uzbekistan's ITES exports will exceed one billion dollars for the first time. And this is only the beginning — by 2030, we plan to increase this figure to five billion dollars annually. Why are we so confident? Because we are already seeing real progress. In 2017, there were fewer than ten companies with foreign capital in the country. Now, more than 30 foreign company branches are opening every month. During the forum, I personally met with representatives of firms that have just opened offices in Uzbekistan. This is a clear sign that the country is firmly on the path to becoming the region’s IT hub.”

This was followed by a presentation from IT Park Uzbekistan, showcasing the country as one of the fastest-growing locations on the global IT map. The forum continued with focused sessions. IT Park Ventures presented strategic proposals for collaboration with funds and companies from the Gulf region within the startup ecosystem. The CEO of KPI.COM shared insights on entering GCC markets, while IT Park representatives discussed Uzbekistan’s capabilities in game development and digital content production.

Abdulahad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, highlighted that in recent years, Uzbekistan has become a reliable partner for hundreds of companies worldwide. Currently, the number of IT Park residents is approaching 3,000.

During discussions, participants addressed cross-border technology cooperation, investment support for Uzbek projects, and the expansion of export potential. One of the key outcomes of the forum was the signing of several strategic agreements aimed at strengthening practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Gulf states.

In particular, Abdulahad Kuchkarov and DIFC Innovation Hub CEO Muhammad Alblooshi signed an agreement to launch a joint initiative supporting startups and outsourcing services in Uzbekistan. The cooperation will be implemented through “IGNYTE,” DIFC’s investment platform focused on developing fintech and digital technologies in the Gulf and beyond.

Additionally, a trilateral memorandum of understanding was signed between IT Park Uzbekistan, Al-Farabi Innovation Hub, and XPENCE. An agreement was also reached between IT Park and Trescon Group, marking a significant step toward promoting Uzbekistan’s tech ecosystem on the global stage.

The forum concluded with the networking session “Expert Networking Corner,” where participants engaged informally with experts in IT, investment, and international business development.