BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Uzbekistan is actively oriented towards the development of a digital economy, the First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan Olimjon Umarov said during the “INMerge Innovation Summit” organized by PASHA Holding for the fourth time, Trend reports.
He noted that the new economy is a combination of digital transformation, innovation, and knowledge, and its main focus is on technological progress.
“The government of Uzbekistan attaches special importance to the development of the IT sector, creative industry, and innovative business, in particular, the startup ecosystem. The new economy is being formed by introducing digitalization and innovation in traditional sectors such as agriculture, industry, and information technology, as well as creating a digital ecosystem including IT services, e-commerce, and financial technologies. The core element of this strategy is the development of human capital through education and infrastructure that supports innovation and digital development. In general, Uzbekistan is actively oriented towards the development of a digital economy,” he said.
The deputy minister emphasized that to implement this strategy, the government has created a strong ecosystem, including an IT park, an innovation park, and acceleration centers.
“The investment amounted to $350 million last year and already $500 million during the last nine months of this year. The goal is to reach $5 billion. To achieve this, it is necessary to prepare people with digital skills. Through a special educational platform, about 1.3 million young people have already received IT certificates, which helps to improve digital literacy. Uzbekistan provides tax benefits for IT companies and outsourcing companies and simplifies regulations,” he added.
The deputy minister noted that the reforms modernized the legal framework for digital businesses and facilitated online commerce.
To note, "INMerge Innovation Summit", organized by PASHA Holding, aims to contribute to the development of the innovation ecosystem in Azerbaijan by bringing together startups and investors, providing opportunities for cooperation, as well as creating a platform for the exchange of ideas and experience between all participants of the innovation ecosystem.