As part of its visit to Dubai, the delegation of IT Park Uzbekistan, led by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Farkhod Ibragimov, held a series of meetings with IT companies and organizations from the United Arab Emirates. The discussions focused on expanding the export potential of the IT-enabled services (ITes) sector, exploring outsourcing opportunities, strengthening cooperation, and facilitating the entry of Uzbek startups into the UAE and MENA markets.
DIFC Innovation Hub
During the visit, Farkhod Ibragimov held negotiations with Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub, to explore prospects for collaboration in the fields of digital technologies and startup development. Particular attention was given to opportunities for supporting Uzbek startups in expanding into the UAE and Saudi Arabian markets with the assistance of DIFC Innovation Hub.
DIFC Innovation Hub introduced a newly developed platform designed to provide startups with access to the UAE and Saudi markets. This platform, tailored for globally oriented startups seeking to establish a presence in the region, is expected to integrate over 100,000 startups and 150 investors, fostering a robust ecosystem for venture capital attraction.
As part of the engagement, DIFC Innovation Hub organized a dedicated workshop for Uzbek startups. During the session, participants gained valuable insights into market entry opportunities in the UAE and were introduced to the new startup platform, which offers unique conditions for business registration and operations within DIFC.
This meeting enabled IT Park members to gain a deeper understanding of DIFC’s innovation ecosystem and access practical tools for scaling their enterprises. Given its status as the largest fintech hub in the MENA region, DIFC Innovation Hub offers Uzbek startups significant opportunities for integration into the global technology ecosystem.
Following the discussions, representatives of DIFC Innovation Hub recognized Uzbekistan’s substantial potential in the field of digital technologies. In turn, DIFC Innovation Hub committed to providing comprehensive support to Uzbek startups, assisting them in integrating into the regional innovation ecosystem.
DIFC Innovation Hub is the leading innovation community in the Middle East, bringing together over 1,300 technology companies, including high-growth startups, digital laboratories, and growth-stage educational institutions.
Odoo
Representatives of IT Park Uzbekistan held discussions with Youssef Zeineddine, Director of Channels and Alliances at Odoo UAE, and Rachit Goel, Head of Mid-Market and Corporate Business at Odoo UAE. The meeting focused on Odoo’s expansion plans in Uzbekistan and the broader region. Odoo’s UAE office oversees operations in Central Asia and the Caucasus and has already successfully implemented several projects in Uzbekistan.
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Last year, Odoo signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT), launching an educational initiative. Now, the company plans to establish a regional office in Uzbekistan, which will serve Central Asia and neighboring countries.
Given its rapid growth, Odoo faces a pressing need for highly skilled professionals. As the company’s technology stack is based on Python, there is a significant demand for Python developers. To address this, Odoo is actively developing its own educational programs and is prepared to train specialists in Uzbekistan.
During the discussions, the parties reached agreements on organizing a series of workshops aimed at raising awareness of Odoo among IT professionals in Uzbekistan. Furthermore, a pilot project will be launched, involving a dedicated trainer and ten developers, with the objective of facilitating the transition to Odoo’s technological ecosystem. Upon successful completion of the pilot phase, Odoo intends to establish a technical support center and a development office in Uzbekistan to provide regional services.
Additionally, representatives of IT Park Uzbekistan extended an official invitation to Odoo to participate in the Offshore Outsourcing Conference, scheduled for February 26, 2025.
Comarch
Within the framework of the visit, Farkhod Ibragimov conducted negotiations with Comarch, represented by Martin Kammer, Senior Executive Director of Comarch Middle East FZ LLC Telco, and Samir Hermassi, Sales Director of Comarch Middle East FZ LLC Telco.
The discussions focused on the establishment of a back-office in Uzbekistan and the implementation of support programs for IT Park Uzbekistan members.
Comarch, which actively operates in the MENA region, aims to expand its presence in Central Asia and considers Uzbekistan a strategic hub for the implementation of international projects. The company has expressed keen interest in launching a delivery office in Uzbekistan and recruiting local specialists, acknowledging the country's strong human capital in the IT sector.
Particular attention was given to the advantages of the Zero Risk program and the benefits of IT Park membership, which provide a favorable condition for business growth and operational risk mitigation.
Comarch views Uzbekistan as a key market for its future expansion and is prepared to engage in active collaboration. In this regard, IT Park Uzbekistan continues to reinforce the country’s position as a premier technological and business hub in Central Asia.
Comarch is a global IT company specializing in software development and systems integration. The company provides cutting-edge solutions across multiple sectors, including telecommunications, finance, banking, services, and public administration. Established in 1993 in Kraków, Poland, Comarch now operates across six continents in over 100 countries, with a network of 60 subsidiaries and a workforce exceeding 6,425 employees. The company’s annual revenue amounts to $460.9 million.
Partnerships with companies like Odoo and Comarch presents new opportunities for Uzbek startups, catalyzing the advancement of Uzbekistan’s innovation ecosystem. These collaborations will facilitate access to global investors and industry experts, promote venture capital inflows, and accelerate business scalability.
Moreover, the exchange of expertise in regulatory frameworks and investment strategies will enhance Uzbekistan’s standing as a leading innovation hub in the region, unlocking the full potential of the national startup ecosystem and fostering the creation of new employment opportunities.
