BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 25. Information technologies in Uzbekistan have become one of the key and well-developed sectors of the country's economy, Chief Executive Officer of UZINFOCOM LLC, a unified integrator for the creation and support of Uzbekistan's state information systems, Emil Gimranov told Trend in an exclusive interview.
He stated that the government of Uzbekistan has been paying increased attention to promoting innovation and digitalization of the country's economy over the past few years.
“Modern technologies are being introduced into such areas as education, healthcare and public administration. The experience of advanced countries and the desire to digitalize the maximum number of sectors of the economy is one of the main strategies for the country’s development,” he emphasized.
The CEO noted that there has been a significant boost in the development of the information technology infrastructure in the country over the past few years.
“Uzbekistan is investing in the development of the IT sector, including the construction of data processing centers, network infrastructure and modern telecommunications networks. During 2023, there was a leap in the domain zone of the country due to the introduction of DNSSEC technology and the installation of the K-root root server of the RIPE NCC Internet registrar,” Gimranov said.
Meanwhile, UZINFOCOM launched the first K-root server in Uzbekistan at the CAPIF 2 International Forum, held in Tashkent in September 2023. Placing the root server in Uzbekistan is aimed at speeding up the process of accessing web resources and reducing dependence on foreign servers.
Speaking about the company’s plans to expand the digital infrastructure of Uzbekistan, Emil Gimranov noted that UZINFOCOM plans to launch social projects in all regions of Uzbekistan so that in the near future every resident of Uzbekistan can access the network.
“The first and most striking example of the activities of the UZINFOCOM is the opening of the IT Village educational complex. The educational village in the most remote area of Samarkand is a social project accessible to children from nearby areas of Samarkand,” Gimranov noted.
The CEO explained that the IT Village program includes specialized subjects important for basic knowledge in the field of information technology, such as robotics, English and programming.
“UZINFOCOM sincerely hopes that the IT Village project will be a big step in the development of education in inaccessible areas of Samarkand,” he emphasized.
Gimranov said that in the near future the company plans to launch similar social projects in all regions of the country.
“We hope that our experience will become an example for many other regional companies. Meanwhile, we will not stop there and will continue to develop the digital and information infrastructure of Uzbekistan,” he added.
Further speaking, Gimranov noted that the government is striving to create a favorable environment for the development of the IT sector and attracting investment in this industry.
“Uzbekistan provides various economic benefits and tax preferences for IT companies and startups. As a rule, these include reduced tax rates and exemptions from certain types of taxation,” he said.
Gimranov also emphasized that the government is investing in the development of digital infrastructure, constructing data centers, as well as developing network infrastructure and telecommunications networks.
The CEO noted that despite being a key industry and playing an important role in the economic development of Uzbekistan, the information technology sector, like any other sector of any country's economy, faces a number of challenges that need to be addressed.
“One of the main challenges is the lack of qualified personnel. This can limit industry growth and innovation opportunities, so there is active promotion of study abroad: the government provides scholarships and support for young professionals who want to gain education and experience in foreign universities,” he said.
The CEO noted that over the past few years, the government of Uzbekistan has actively invested in the development of educational programs and courses on information technology.
“Financing restrictions are also a challenge. Many IT projects require a large amount of investment, and sometimes it can be difficult for startups and small businesses to access the necessary funds,” said Gimranov.
Further, Gimranov noted that registration and interaction with government agencies can sometimes be quite complex and time-consuming, and this, in turn, can create certain difficulties for business owners.
"To solve this problem, the government is gradually simplifying business registration procedures, reducing the number of required documents, and is also introducing electronic services that allow you to interact with government authorities online and help young entrepreneurs save time," he said.
Moreover, the CEO emphasized that the regulatory framework in the field of information technology and data security requires constant improvement to ensure the reliability and confidentiality of information.
“Uzbekistan is actively developing methods to combat the protection of personal data, e-commerce and cybersecurity. Educational programs and trainings are being conducted for IT and cyber security specialists to ensure that the local workforce meets global standards,” he added.
Gimranov noted that Uzbekistan is actively developing infrastructure to ensure cybersecurity, including the creation of national centers for monitoring and responding to cyber threats.
“With regard to Internet access, the uneven distribution of high-speed Internet and modern IT infrastructure limits access to IT services in some regions,” he said.
Gimranov noted that the government of Uzbekistan is investing in the development of telecommunications and IT infrastructure in underdeveloped regions.
“This includes the creation of high-speed Internet networks and modern data centers, as well as the creation of digital educational and innovation centers in different regions for training and development of projects in the field of information technology,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ICT sector of Uzbekistan has developed rapidly over the past few years. The value of digital services provided in Uzbekistan from January to November 2022 amounted to 13.1 billion soums ($1.1 million). This is 21.9 percent more than in the same period in 2021 (10.8 billion soums, or $953,600).