Uzbekistan plans to raise $2.5bn to develop the country's digital infrastructure. Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov announced the move, speaking at the International Digital Almaty Forum held on February 5.
“Modernizing mobile communications and setting up effective e-government are the priorities,” he said.
According to Aripov, the funds would help to launch three new data centres, to be located in Tashkent, Bukhara and Kokand. The government plans to give all schools and districts a quality internet connection, he added.
Aripov noted that the expansion of digitalisation in the fields of healthcare and agriculture, as well as transformation in the banking sector, were among main tasks. He emphasised that the demand for digital services has significantly increased in the country, and the number of users of electronic payment systems has already exceeded 14mn people.
The Uzbek government last year approved the 800-page strategy “Digital Uzbekistan – 2030”, according to which the share of the digital economy in Uzbekistan`s GDP is expected to reach at least 7% in coming years.
By 2023, the country is expecting to invest $676.8mn in ICT.
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