Uzbekistan Advances Digital Economy with National Navigation and Unified Public Administration Platform

Uzbekistan's Digital Transformation Strategy

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed and approved a comprehensive package of initiatives designed to accelerate Uzbekistan’s digital transformation. Central to this strategy are the development of a national navigation system, the launch of a unified digital platform for public administration, and a series of enhanced measures to support the IT and telecommunications sectors.

Currently, Uzbekistan relies heavily on foreign navigation platforms. Officials highlighted the need for a national navigation system that would create a unified standard for geospatial data. This system aims to optimize transport management, logistics, emergency response, urban planning, and public administration services by providing standardized, reliable geospatial information.

Unified Digital Platform for Public Administration

Government agencies in Uzbekistan have historically developed databases and information systems independently, leading to inefficiencies in data analysis and decision-making. To address this fragmentation, the government plans to implement a unified integrated digital platform consolidating data across regional economies, investments, environmental monitoring, public safety, citizen feedback, neighborhood wellbeing, spatial data, infrastructure, and digital mapping.

"Powered by artificial intelligence, the platform will enable early identification of regional challenges, real-time monitoring of policy implementation, and more effective resource allocation," officials explained.

President Mirziyoyev instructed that this digital governance platform be introduced in Tashkent within the year and rolled out nationwide starting next year, marking a significant step toward streamlined and data-driven public administration.

Standardization and Support for IT and Telecom Sectors

Another key initiative is the creation of a unified national classification system for goods and services. At present, customs, tax, and statistical bodies use differing classification schemes, which complicates compliance, reduces statistical accuracy, and hinders inter-agency data exchange. The new system is expected to simplify business processes and improve official statistics reliability.

Uzbekistan aims to reduce dependence on foreign digital platforms by strengthening domestic digital infrastructure. The government targets IT exports of $5 billion by 2030, establishing 5,000 active startups, and attracting $2 billion in investments. Notably, Uzbekistan made significant progress in the international StartupBlink rankings, climbing 31 positions and becoming the world’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem. Tashkent leads Central Asia, while Samarkand and Fergana entered the global top 1,000 startup cities.

The planned Talent Hub program will facilitate foreign specialists and investors registering businesses remotely in Uzbekistan, including opening bank accounts and obtaining international payment cards, enhancing the fintech ecosystem.

To nurture the IT sector, officials proposed extending tax incentives for IT Park employees until 2040, expanding visa programs like IT Visa and Zero Risk, and introducing financial support such as partial payroll reimbursements and compensation for international certifications. Startup acceleration programs will also be launched in Bukhara and Fergana to help local companies scale internationally.

Telecommunications Sector Enhancements

Telecommunications coverage has expanded from 41% to 98% of populated areas, with internet bandwidth increasing 65-fold. Yet, challenges remain in attracting private domestic investment and expanding fixed broadband in remote regions.

To stimulate growth, licensing reforms will merge two existing telecom network design and construction licenses into one and reduce approval times from 25 to 10 working days. New residential buildings will be required to include high-speed internet infrastructure with optical fiber connectivity from the design phase.

Entrepreneurs entering the telecom sector can access concessional loans under the Future Entrepreneur program, with favorable terms including a seven-year repayment period and a two-year grace period. Preferential tariffs will also be offered to businesses operating in underserved rural areas.

Commitment to Cybersecurity and Digital Economy Growth

Following the presentation, President Mirziyoyev mandated strengthening government data system integration, improving digital public service quality, enhancing cybersecurity and personal data protection, and fostering a more favorable environment for private sector engagement in the digital economy.

These initiatives position Uzbekistan to achieve significant advancements in its fintech landscape, digital governance, and technology-driven economic growth, underscoring its commitment to becoming a leading digital economy in Central Asia.