Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan

As part of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, a major panel session titled “AI, Digital Governance and Innovation: The Next Investment Frontier” was held, focusing on global technology trends and the future of the digital economy.

Participants noted that artificial intelligence, big data and cybersecurity are creating entirely new investment opportunities worldwide while fundamentally transforming traditional industries. Discussions centered on the development of modern data centers, expansion of cloud infrastructure, and the implementation of digital governance mechanisms in both the public and private sectors.

Particular attention was given to the digital potential of young, rapidly growing economies with favorable demographic trends. Experts exchanged views on how countries can develop a skilled workforce and build globally competitive digital ecosystems. The session served as an important platform for discussing ways to enhance a country’s investment attractiveness through the development of digital technologies.

The session brought together international technology executives, government officials and industry experts, including:

Moderator:

• Nazim Turdumambetov — CEO, Outpost Eurasia

Speakers:

• Takehiko Matsuo — Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan
• Benedict Macon-Cooney — Chief AI & Innovation Officer, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
• Makhliyo Muksinova — Deputy Director General for Strategic Development, IT Park Uzbekistan
• Rajit Nanda — CEO, DataVolt
• Kevin Khanda — CTO/CPO, Uzum
• Davit Melikidze — CEO/General Director, UZCARD (Unified Republican Processing Center)
• Aytan Mastaliyeva — Vice President for Europe, the Americas and CIS, TAV Technologies
• Akmal Primkulov — CEO, Wildberries Uzbekistan
• Chandra Bipin — CEO and Managing Director, Esyasoft Group

Speaking at the session, Takehiko Matsuo, Deputy Minister for International Affairs at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, noted that the global competition in artificial intelligence is shifting from the development of large foundational models toward the ability to create real economic value across industries. As a result, Japan is prioritizing the development of “trustworthy AI,” as well as vertical and physical AI systems tailored to specific sectors.

Matsuo described Uzbekistan as a strategically important digital partner for Japan, citing its talented young workforce, strong political commitment to digital transformation and growing role as a regional hub.

According to him, practical cooperation between the two countries is currently focused on three key areas: human capital development, data centers and high-performance computing infrastructure, and secure communications systems.

“Japan reaffirms its commitment to long-term and effective cooperation with Uzbekistan and other like-minded countries in building an open, secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem,” he said.

Makhliyo Muksinova, Deputy Director General for Strategic Development at IT Park Uzbekistan, highlighted the country’s ongoing reforms and achievements in developing its AI and startup ecosystem.

According to Muksinova, under the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies through 2030, initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan aims to increase exports of digital products and services to $1.5 billion, engage 300,000 specialists in the sector and enter the top 50 of the Government AI Readiness Index.

To support human capital development, the country has launched the “5 Million AI Leaders” initiative, established laboratories in more than 20 universities, and planned nearly 200 AI projects for implementation across public administration.

She also announced that Uzbekistan’s first supercomputer, developed in partnership with NVIDIA, was launched in 2025 and that the first phase of a national supercomputing project is now underway.

To support data center development, special incentives have been introduced in Karakalpakstan, including measures aimed at powering facilities with renewable energy. Uzbekistan plans to increase wind power generation capacity to 9.3 gigawatts by 2030, while investors will benefit from exemptions on customs duties for electricity, water infrastructure and GPU imports.

Another speaker, Aytan Mastaliyeva, Vice President for Europe, the Americas and CIS, TAV Technologies, spoke about the strategic importance of AI-driven investments in aviation. According to her, global passenger traffic is expected to exceed 10 billion passengers by 2026 and double over the following decade.

Uzbekistan’s aviation sector is also experiencing rapid growth, with passenger traffic reaching 15 million travelers in 2025. In response, airports and airlines are increasingly turning to AI solutions to address operational complexity, model future disruptions and implement predictive maintenance systems.

TAV Technologies classifies airport development into five stages, with the highest level being the “intelligent airport” concept, where artificial intelligence is fully integrated into operations. While these technologies are already being deployed at Baku Airport, two major projects are expected to begin soon at Samarkand and Namangan airports.

The projects will introduce the Airport Cockpit management platform and a dedicated AI layer built on top of existing backend systems. According to Mastaliyeva, the solution will help airports anticipate disruptions, reduce operational stress, improve planning and enhance service quality. The company ultimately aims to support the digital transformation of all regional airports across Uzbekistan.

“Passenger traffic in Uzbekistan has grown sharply, reaching 15 million travelers by the end of 2025. However, such rapid growth also creates systemic challenges. We use artificial intelligence to eliminate unexpected disruptions and operational stress while moving airport management toward a fully planned and predictable model,” Mastaliyeva noted.

The session demonstrated the strong investment potential of Uzbekistan’s ongoing digital transformation. Strategic partnerships with global technology companies and international partners are expected to accelerate innovation across the economy and strengthen the country’s position in the global digital landscape.