A delegation from the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, led by First Deputy Minister Oleg Pekos, and accompanied by Jakhongir Radjabov, Business Development Director of IT Park Uzbekistan, and Azamat Karamatov, Chief Executive Officer of IT Park Ventures, took part in the VII International Forum Digital Almaty 2025.
About Digital Almaty 2025
The VII International Forum Digital Almaty 2025 Forum took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with this year’s central theme being "Industrial AI: Technologies for a New Era", focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into industry, finance, healthcare, education, and ESG. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, the Almaty City Administration, and Astana Hub.
The forum was attended by the presidents of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Armenia, and Iran, as well as representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission. The program included a plenary session of the prime ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states and the Industrial AI Battle — a startup competition in the field of artificial intelligence, with a prize fund of $60,000.
Presentation of Uzbekistan’s IT Potential
Within the framework of the forum, the delegation from Uzbekistan highlighted the country’s emergence as a rapidly developing IT hub, offering a conducive environment for IT-enabled services (ITes) companies, including tax incentives, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and access to a highly skilled workforce.
IT Park Uzbekistan was represented at a dedicated exhibition stand, where the ITes potential of Uzbekistan was showcased, attracting considerable attention from conference participants. During the event, 67 business negotiations with local companies, 29 meetings with startup projects, and 8 bilateral discussions with international companies were conducted. These engagements revealed a strong interest among potential partners in establishing collaborative ties and exploring opportunities to become members of IT Park.
Notably, companies from the United States, Qatar, and Denmark, including Netcracker and Snoonu, expressed particular interest in establishing their presence in Uzbekistan. They acknowledged the advantages of Uzbekistan’s IT ecosystem for outsourcing and business expansion.
Netcracker
Netcracker Technology, a leading U.S.-based company specializing in software development and outsourcing solutions for mobile operators, explored Uzbekistan’s talent pool, tax incentives, and support programs available to IT Park members. The company expressed its intention to establish an office in Uzbekistan and recruit local IT professionals.
Snoonu
Representatives of Snoonu, a prominent provider of digital solutions, assessed potential of Uzbekistan’s IT workforce, the availability of English-speaking specialists, as well as the conditions for membership and the investment climate in the country. The company indicated its interest in participating in the Offshore Outsourcing Conference 2025 to further evaluate opportunities for collaboration.
i-Sys
i-Sys, a global company specializing in cybersecurity and software development with operations in over six countries, reviewed the support programs for IT Park members, including tax and investment incentives. The company conveyed a strong interest in opening an office in Uzbekistan and has initiated a detailed assessment of membership conditions.
Aloqan
Aloqan, a fintech startup providing money transfer and online payment services, examined the conditions for startups within IT Park, including tax incentives, and the benefits of membership. Aloqan is considering the possibility of joining IT Park as a member company.
SherlockAI
SherlockAI, a company developing artificial intelligence solutions for business process automation and consulting, explored opportunities for integrating its technologies into the Uzbek market. During discussions, company representatives expressed a strong interest in obtaining member status at IT Park and further developing their solutions in Uzbekistan.
Prorobot
Prorobot, a startup specializing in robotics with a track record of success in national and international competitions, familiarized itself with IT Park’s ecosystem, the robotics sector, and available incubation programs. The company is considering joining IT Park as a startup member to advance its research and development initiatives.
The negotiations with international companies underscore the growing recognition of IT Park Uzbekistan as a strategic platform for business development, talent acquisition, and international market expansion.
In addition to these discussions, the IT Park delegation held significant talks with government agencies in Kazakhstan regarding the development of startups. A meeting was also conducted with the Minsk City Technopark, during which prospects for bilateral cooperation were explored. The parties reached an agreement to sign a memorandum of cooperation and to develop joint initiatives in the fields of innovation and technology.
Productive Cooperation Between the ITes Sectors of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
The year 2024 has witnessed significant growth in the number of IT Park Uzbekistan members with Kazakhstani capital, accompanied by a substantial increase in exports and employment figures. The number of Kazakhstani member companies has reached 43, reflecting a 65% increase compared to the previous year, while the total workforce within these enterprises has exceeded 450 employees.
A particularly noteworthy trend is the expansion of export potential: the number of IT enterprises providing services to Kazakhstan has risen from 41 to 109 (+166%). Moreover, the total export volume of IT Park members to Kazakhstan has experienced a 2.5-fold surge, growing from $4.84 million in 2023 to $12.2 million in 2024 (+252%). These indicators underscore the successful integration of Kazakhstani IT businesses into Uzbekistan’s ecosystem.
Following the Digital Almaty 2025, it is anticipated that a number of Kazakhstani ITes companies and startups will establish back-office operations in Uzbekistan, contributing to the development of regional cooperation, employment generation, and the continued expansion of export activities.
Advancement of the Innovation Ecosystem
As part of the forum, IT Park Ventures formalized two strategic memoranda of cooperation with prominent regional investment entities — Astana Hub Ventures and MOST Ventures. The agreements were signed on behalf of IT Park Ventures by CEO Azamat Karamatov, while Astana Hub Ventures and MOST Ventures were represented by Tanat Uskembaev and Alim Khamitov, respectively.
These memorandums are set to facilitate new investment channels and international expansion opportunities for startups in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other Central Asian nations. The partnership is structured around the following key objectives:
In addition, Azamat Karamatov engaged in discussions with White Hill Capital, various venture capital funds, and key investors, while also holding negotiations with emerging startups from Kazakhstan.
“The signing of these agreements represents not merely a partnership but a pivotal milestone in the development of the regional startup ecosystem. The collaboration with Astana Hub Ventures and MOST Ventures will provide technology entrepreneurs with access to new investment channels, international markets, and global opportunities.
Our objective is to establish a seamless connection between startups in Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and the broader global market. These agreements will enable the attraction of new investments, facilitate project scalability, and contribute to positioning the region as a key technological hub,” — emphasized Azamat Karamatov, CEO of IT Park Ventures.
More than 40 startups have expressed their intent to join IT Park, among them Aloqan, SherLockAI, SPACELAB, PROROBOT, Cerebrum Tech, and several others.
The participation of IT Park Uzbekistan in Digital Almaty 2025 has reaffirmed the strong interest of the international IT community in Uzbekistan’s capabilities. The negotiations conducted and agreements secured during the forum open new avenues for investment and strategic partnerships in Uzbekistan’s technology sector. These developments, in turn, foster job creation, bolster export potential, and solidify Uzbekistan’s standing as a global IT hub.
