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

Uzbekistan is embarking on a significant digital transformation initiative aimed at modernizing public administration and strengthening the IT and telecommunications sectors. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently reviewed a comprehensive package of proposals designed to accelerate this transition, including the creation of a national navigation system and the launch of a unified digital platform for public administration.

Strategic Digital Infrastructure Initiatives

The national navigation system aims to reduce Uzbekistan’s reliance on foreign geospatial platforms by establishing a unified standard for spatial data. This infrastructure will enhance transport, logistics, emergency response, urban planning, and government service delivery by providing consistent and reliable geospatial information.

Currently, government databases and information systems operate in silos across various agencies, impeding efficient data analysis and policy implementation. To address this, officials proposed the development of a unified integrated digital platform. This platform will consolidate data on regional economies, investment, environmental factors, public safety, citizen feedback, infrastructure, and spatial mapping into a single system powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

"The AI-driven platform is expected to identify regional challenges early, monitor policy outcomes, optimize resource allocation, and enhance overall public administration effectiveness," officials noted during the presentation.

President Mirziyoyev directed that a pilot version of this digital governance platform be launched in Tashkent within the current year, with nationwide rollout planned for the following year.

Financial and Regulatory Measures to Support IT and Telecom Growth

The government also plans to establish a unified national classification system for goods and services, currently fragmented across customs, tax, and statistical bodies. This standardization is set to reduce compliance costs, improve data exchange between agencies, and enhance official statistical accuracy.

In terms of financial targets, Uzbekistan aims to increase annual IT exports to $5 billion by 2030, foster a startup ecosystem with 5,000 active startups, and attract $2 billion in investment. The country’s global startup ecosystem ranking has recently surged, reflecting accelerated ecosystem growth, with Tashkent leading in Central Asia and Samarkand and Fergana entering the global top 1,000.

To facilitate foreign investment and talent inflow, the government will launch a Talent Hub program enabling remote business registration, banking, and payment card issuance for foreign specialists and investors. Additional incentives for IT Park resident companies include tax benefits extended through 2040 and support programs such as payroll cost reimbursement, certification expense compensation, and relocation assistance to attract foreign clients and specialists.

More than 20 startup acceleration initiatives are also planned in Bukhara and Fergana to help local ventures expand internationally.

Regarding telecommunications, coverage has expanded dramatically, with service availability in populated areas rising from 41% to 98% and total internet bandwidth increasing 65-fold. However, challenges remain, including low broadband penetration in remote regions and limited private sector investment.

Proposed regulatory reforms include merging licensing categories for telecom network design and construction into a single streamlined license with a reduced application timeframe from 25 to 10 working days. Additionally, new apartment buildings must incorporate high-speed internet infrastructure from the design phase onward to ensure optical fiber connectivity.

Financial support for telecom entrepreneurs will be provided through concessional loans up to UZS 530 million under the Future Entrepreneur program, featuring a seven-year term, two-year grace period, and a 15% interest rate. Preferential tariffs are also planned for operators serving rural and remote areas.

Following the review, President Mirziyoyev approved the proposals, emphasizing the importance of integrating government data systems, enhancing digital public service quality, strengthening cybersecurity and personal data protections, and fostering a conducive environment for private sector participation in the digital economy.

These measures collectively position Uzbekistan to accelerate its digital economy growth and improve financial and administrative efficiencies across government and industry sectors.