Prospects for advancing cooperation with Finland in digitalization discussed

Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov held a meeting with Ilkka Räisänen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The meeting began with a presentation on the extensive activities of IT Park Uzbekistan, future development plans, as well as the achievements to date in the export of IT services and the measures being taken to further scale them.

A video was also presented showcasing Finland’s experience in digital transformation, underscoring in particular the importance and role of identification systems in ensuring effective delivery of digital services.

In the course of the discussions, the parties reviewed in detail the prospects for bilateral cooperation. Specific attention was devoted to the development of digital connectivity policies in Finland and Central Asia, the enhancement of the regulatory framework in the field of digitalization, and the strengthening of collaboration with European partners, including Finland, France, and the Baltic states.

The Minister highlighted the steady progress in relations with European countries, noting the active expansion of partnerships with companies from Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, and Saudi Arabia, while a number of leading international IT companies are joining IT Park Uzbekistan as members. He emphasized that particular importance is attached to intensifying cooperation with European partners.

Discussions also addressed the creation of quality employment opportunities for youth, the expansion of their prospects in the IT sector, and, as a result, the broader geographical reach of IT service exports. In this context, the parties exchanged views on attracting Finnish companies to Uzbekistan, fostering investment partnerships, and making effective use of the Embassy of Finland’s potential in advancing these initiatives.