Caspian Energy (CE): Uzbekistan has demonstrated impressive growth in global digitalization rankings. What are the Ministry’s priority tasks for the next three years to solidify the country’s status as the leading IT hub in Central Asia?
Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan: One of our central priorities is the development of a strong startup ecosystem and globally competitive tech products. We are shifting from a service-based growth model toward building scalable, product-driven companies that can succeed in international markets. To achieve this, we are expanding targeted programs such as the Digital Startup Program, which supports early-stage founders with funding, mentorship, and market access. At the same time, Uzbekistan launched a new nationwide startup support framework — from idea to global scaling. On February 11, Presidential Decree No. PP–59 was signed, introducing a structured system that makes the startup journey clearer and more predictable — from early-stage ideas to international expansion. For founders, this means easier access to support, clearer growth pathways, and stronger opportunities to build, launch, and scale startups both locally and globally.
By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to reach 5,000 startups, $2 billion in venture investment, 20,000 new jobs, and hundreds of startups entering international markets.
Ultimately, our goal is not just to increase the number of startups, but to build a pipeline of high-growth companies capable of competing globally and positioning Uzbekistan as a source of innovation, not just talent.
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