Uzbekistan targets 70% digitization of public services by 2026
Tashkent pushes major e-governance reforms as part of broader plan to expand AI, tech exports, and nationwide digital access
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan is aiming to digitize 70% of public services by 2026, part of a sweeping effort to modernize state institutions and expand the country’s digital economy.
The plan was presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 1 during a government briefing on digital governance, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications. According to Daryo News, the proposal outlines a transition toward full-scale “Digital Government” integration across key public sectors, including education, healthcare, housing, and municipal services.
Uzbekistan has already digitized over 760 public services, with more than 10 million citizens using digital platforms in the past year. The new phase aims to increase accessibility, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and support digital infrastructure development nationwide.
The briefing highlighted rapid growth in the country’s IT sector. Uzbekistan’s tech parks now host 2,800 companies—752 of them foreign—with 40,000 professionals employed across the industry. Export revenue from the sector has increased nearly six-fold over five years, reaching close to $1 billion.
Internet speeds have multiplied sevenfold, and mobile data consumption has grown 4.5 times. In 2024, Uzbek startups attracted $70 million in venture capital funding.
These developments have boosted the country’s global digital profile. Uzbekistan climbed 12 places in the Global Startup Index and 17 spots in the International AI Readiness Index—ranking first in Central Asia. The government now aims to enter the top 55 in the UN’s E-Government Development Index.
Officials also reviewed progress on Uzbekistan’s National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies, adopted under a presidential resolution in October 2024. The strategy includes a $50 million investment in AI infrastructure, development of a national AI model, and plans to train one million specialists by 2030.
Digital Technologies Minister Sherzod Shermatov reported on efforts to upgrade broadband infrastructure and attract foreign tech firms. Expanding access beyond Tashkent remains a key priority, with the government pledging to support regional hubs and decentralize the country’s tech ecosystem.
While Uzbekistan has made substantial progress, analysts say inclusive growth and consistent regulation will be critical to ensuring long-term success. The government’s digital targets reflect a broader trend across Central Asia, where states are seeking to modernize economies through AI and e-governance.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
