Uzbekistan is betting heavily on technology as the next engine of economic growth, with state-backed IT Park emerging as the centrepiece of the country’s ambitions to become Central Asia’s leading exporter of digital services.

That vision was on display at the sixth International PLUS-Forum Digital Uzbekistan 2026, held in Tashkent on May 19-20, which brought together more than 2,600 participants from 38 countries, including representatives from government agencies, banks, technology firms, investors and fintech companies.

The event, organised by the PLUS Group and supported by the National Agency for Perspective Projects, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Committee, showcased the country’s growing efforts to position itself as a regional digital economy hub.

At the centre of that strategy is IT Park Uzbekistan, a government-backed technology ecosystem designed to attract foreign investment, nurture local startups and boost software and IT service exports.

Uzbekistan has set an ambitious target of increasing IT service exports to $5bn by 2030 as part of a broader effort to diversify an economy that has traditionally relied on commodities, agriculture and remittances. Residents of the park already saw a 70% increase in exports in 2024 and the pace is continuing to accelerate as Uzbekistan’s tech ambitions are moving to the “next big step up.” Last year, IT Park Ventures was forging ties with globally recognised accelerators like Startup Garage as it seeks to deepen its international contacts.

As IntelliNews reported, Uzbekistan IT outsourcing is open for business and offers a set of extremely attractive incentives for potential partners, including rent-free accommodation and subsidised wages for IT workers in the first year of operation for any company that opens an office in Tashkent.

The technology zone now hosts more than 650 resident companies, all of which are exempt from taxes and customs duties until 2028 under a package of incentives designed to attract both domestic entrepreneurs and foreign investors.

Officials hope the model can help replicate the success of outsourcing and software development centres in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia.

The government has also sought to expand the sector beyond the capital through programmes aimed at developing digital skills across the country.

One of the flagship initiatives is the “Digital Inclusion in Uzbekistan” programme, spearheaded by IT Park, which aims to provide technology training to thousands of young people, particularly in rural and remote regions where access to high-value employment opportunities has traditionally been limited.

The effort reflects a broader demographic opportunity for Uzbekistan, which has one of the youngest populations in the region and is seeking to convert that labour force into a source of export earnings through added value software development, outsourcing and digital services.

The country’s technology sector also received an unexpected boost following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As companies and technology professionals sought alternative locations across Eurasia, Uzbekistan launched a relocation programme through IT Park aimed at attracting software developers and technology firms. According to IT Park, Uzbekistan sent 12 chartered flights to Minsk shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in order to transport software developers and technology specialists to Tashkent.

The programme helped raise the profile of Uzbekistan as an alternative destination for technology companies seeking stability, lower operating costs and access to regional markets.

While the government has outlined a long-term target of reaching $5bn in annual IT exports by 2030, officials have also set an interim objective of increasing exports to $1bn by 2028.

The sector is already demonstrating an increasingly international orientation. Around 80% of Uzbekistan’s current IT exports are directed to the United States, highlighting the country's growing integration into global outsourcing and software development markets.

Alongside export growth, authorities are attempting to foster a startup ecosystem capable of generating domestic technology champions.

IT Park Ventures, the organisation’s investment arm, focuses on early-stage financing, with investments ranging from $10,000 to $1mn for promising startups.

The fund is intended to address one of the biggest challenges facing emerging technology ecosystems: access to early-stage capital.

The broader digital transformation agenda was reflected throughout the Digital Uzbekistan forum programme, which included discussions on artificial intelligence, digital banking, payment infrastructure, cybersecurity, fintech, open banking and e-government services.

Among the major participants were representatives of HUMO, Octobank, Uzum Bank, Yandex, Mastercard and other regional and international technology companies.

HUMO, which acted as the forum’s National Partner, used the event to present new projects in artificial intelligence, digital payments and financial infrastructure, while executives highlighted Uzbekistan’s growing role in the region’s digital economy.

The forum was supported by sponsors and partners including HUMO, Tyson and Octobank, reflecting growing interest from both domestic and international companies in Uzbekistan’s rapidly developing technology and fintech sectors.

While significant challenges remain, including talent development, infrastructure expansion and competition from more established technology centres, Uzbekistan’s leadership appears determined to make digital exports a major pillar of future economic growth.

For now, IT Park remains at the heart of that effort, serving as both a symbol of the country’s digital ambitions and a practical platform for attracting companies, investment and technology talent to Central Asia’s most populous nation.