The Uzbek IT sector: a rising star in Central Asia?
Uzbekistan’s IT sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with an average annual expansion of 42% since 2020. Its contribution to gross value-added rose from 0.4% in 2020 to 1.3% in the first half of 2024, driven primarily by computer programming and consultancy. Support from the government, particularly through the IT Park, played a pivotal role in this. The IT Park provides infrastructure, tax incentives and a special visa regime for foreign specialists.
Though still smaller than in peer economies, Uzbekistan’s IT sector is rapidly catching up. Employment has grown significantly, alongside wages that are three times higher than the national average – though still modest by international standards. IT exports surged from USD 42 m in 2020 to USD 447 m in 2023, turning Uzbekistan into a net exporter of IT services, with the US and UK emerging as key markets.
This positive trajectory is expected to continue. Ambitious targets, such as reaching USD 5 bn in annual IT exports by 2030, appear achievable – especially if the government addresses key challenges, including improving school-level education and removing regulatory bottlenecks that hinder investment.
Strong growth of the IT sector
Uzbekistan has recorded robust economic growth in recent years, averaging 6% annually since 2020. Growth in the IT sector has been even more pronounced, with an average annual real growth rate of 42%. This rapid expansion has increased the sector’s share of gross value added from 0.4% in 2020 to 1.1% in 2023 and 1.3% in the first half of 2024.
The IT sector, as commonly defined in statistics, comprises the following activities:
- Computer programming and consultancy
- Information services
- Computer manufacturing
- Media production services
The principal driver of this growth has been computer programming and consultancy. The sub-sector’s contribution rose from 0.04% of gross value added in 2020 to 0.3% in 2023.
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The broader economic transformation of Uzbekistan is generating rising demand for IT services. Yet government measures have also significantly contributed to the strong expansion, in particular the establishment of the IT Park. It provides a wide range of membership incentives, including substantial tax exemptions and customs duties as well as infrastructure. Foreign IT specialists additionally benefit from dedicated visa arrangements. Further incentives are offered for firms investing outside Tashkent in one of the 14 regional branches of the park.
As a result of the provided incentives and infrastructure, the number of IT Park member companies has grown significantly, from 369 in 2019 to 2,923 in July 2025. Particularly noteworthy is the increase in foreign companies: from none in 2021 to 778 in July 2025, highlighting the effectiveness of this government initiative in attracting FDI.
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At the same time, it needs to be mentioned that Uzbekistan’s IT sector is developing from a comparatively low base. The sector share in gross value added was in 2023 still lower than in peer countries such as Kazakhstan (1.5%), Russia (2.1%), Ukraine (3.0%) and Belarus (3.4%). Nevertheless, the strong growth dynamics of the Uzbek IT sector demonstrate that it is on a convergence path towards the levels observed in peer economies.
Employment and wages
Building on this strong dynamic, the Uzbek ICT sector (no figures are available for the IT sector alone) is experiencing strong employment growth. The number of people employed in the sector increased from 59,000 in 2020 to 99,000 in 2023, representing 0.7% of total employment. Both wage levels and wage growth in the sector outpace those in the wider economy. This reflects a high demand for skilled labour, particularly at senior levels. In 2024, the average monthly wage in the sector amounted to UZS 13.2 m (USD 1,043), which is three times as high as the overall economic average. However, by international standards, wages in the sector remain relatively low.
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International trade
The strong growth of the sector had also an impact on trade relations. IT goods and services exports rose markedly from USD 42 m in 2020 to USD 447 m in 2023. This expansion was primarily driven by IT service exports, which grew at an average annual rate of 209% and reached USD 346 m in 2023. During the same period, Uzbekistan imported IT services worth USD 132 m, thus becoming a net exporter of IT services. The US and the UK have emerged as key markets for IT service exports. However, Uzbekistan remains a net importer of IT goods with USD 654 m of imports compared to USD 81 m of exports in 2023. Most IT goods originate from Asia, particularly China, the Middle East and South Korea.
Government goals, prospects, and challenges
The Uzbek government has set ambitious goals for the IT sector under its Digital Vision 2030 strategy. Export volumes are targeted to reach USD 5 bn per year by 2030. While this target is highly ambitious, it remains achievable if international investment continues to grow and export momentum is sustained in the coming years.
The supply of qualified IT specialists will be essential to reach the goals outlined in the government strategy. Current demand for IT professionals is matched by growing student interest in IT disciplines. The number of graduates has risen from 2,600 in 2017 to 11,400 in 2023, while share in total graduates increased from 3.9% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2023. This is a higher share than in Georgia or Azerbaijan for example. However, according to the PISA survey, the performance of 15-year-old students in mathematics and science, subjects closely related to IT, remains below the level observed in many peer countries.
Additional challenges include regulatory requirements such as the obligation to store personal data of Uzbek citizens locally, which impose extra costs and may deter foreign investment.
Overall, the sector’s growth is expected to continue in the coming years. If these remaining challenges are addressed, Uzbekistan’s IT sector has the potential to evolve into a leading IT hub in Central Asia.
This newsletter is based on the Policy Briefing IT sector monitor Uzbekistan
