Uzbekistan, located in the heart of Central Asia, is gradually emerging as a destination of interest for foreign investment in Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Services, even as global services delivery models face disruption.
The country’s economy has been growing at a notable rate (around 6% year-on-year in 2023 and into 2024), yet the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector still accounts for only a small share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (roughly US$4 billion out of an US$110+ billion economy). Services export accounts for less than US$1 Billion. This gap marks a huge potential opportunity if Uzbekistan can scale its services sector.
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What is the vision from the government bodies in Uzbekistan?
The Uzbek government has articulated a clear vision to develop a thriving services and digital economy by 2030. Under the “Digital Uzbekistan 2030” strategy, the goals are ambitious: reach US$5 billion in annual IT exports, grow to 300,000 IT professionals, and incubate 10,000 technology companies by the end of the decade.
This top-down vision was reinforced at the Global Business Services Forum (GBSF) 2025 by the Minister of Digital Technologies, Sherzod Shermatov. Shermatov emphasizes that Uzbekistan is rapidly emerging as a global IT center with a strong political will behind the digital agenda.
Notably, the government has announced the extension of all key IT sector tax benefits through 2040, assuring investors that no adverse legal changes will impair their operations during this period. These developments reflect the government’s stated commitment to strengthening the services sector and advancing its digital economy agenda of Uzbekistan.
What does Uzbekistan offer as a global delivery location?
Uzbekistan’s value proposition as a services destination rests on several pillars. Geopolitical stability is a notable advantage with the country enjoying one of the most stable environments in its region, which gives investors’ confidence in continuity. Additionally, Uzbekistan boasts a young population of about 38 million, with roughly 60% under the age of 30. This demographic wave is translating into a growing pool of trainable, tech-savvy talent.
English proficiency is on the rise (an estimated five million Uzbeks speak English), and Russian remains a widely spoken business language. Thanks to historical and cultural ties, there are also pockets of multilingual capability in languages such as Korean, Turkish, and others, a useful asset for multilingual support centers targeting various markets.
Another strength is the concerted effort to make market entry and operations investor-friendly. The government-backed IT Park Uzbekistan offers generous incentives to IT and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms. Key benefits include 0% corporate income tax, 0% VAT, 0% property tax, and zero customs duties, along with a flat 7.5% personal income tax, all guaranteed until 2040. There are also “soft-landing” programs such as the Zero Risk initiative exclusively for regions beyond Tashkent, which provides new investors with up to one year of free, equipped office space and subsidies for recruiting and training local staff.
Foreign IT professionals find it easier to relocate through the special IT Visa/IT Card scheme, allowing multiple-year stays with local benefits like access to healthcare and education.
These measures, combined with expanding infrastructure (internet access now reaches virtually the entire population and new tech parks and universities are being established), have markedly improved the business climate. Uzbekistan has also modernized its legal framework. For instance, a new Labor Code took effect in 2023 aligning labor regulations with international standards, further easing operations for foreign investors and boosting talent development initiatives.
Is this enough to compete with other leading global services delivery hubs?
No, Uzbekistan is not about to rival mature offshore hubs such as India or the Philippines in the near term. The talent pool, while growing, remains relatively small, on the order of a few tens of thousands in the IT-Business Process Management (BPM) sector today versus the millions of resources in established locations.
Large global service providers have only a nascent presence in the country so far. The ecosystem in Uzbekistan is still in the early stages of development, with many companies and processes learning the ropes of serving international clients. All of this means that, at present, Uzbekistan cannot match the scale and depth offered by leading delivery locations.
Yet, that doesn’t mean Uzbekistan cannot carve out a role. In fact, the country could succeed by targeting select niches and regional opportunities rather than head-on competition with the big players. For instance, Uzbekistan’s multilingual workforce lends itself well to Customer Experience Management (CXM) services serving nearby markets, such as contact centers supporting customers in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Central/Eastern Europe, or the Middle East where Russian, Turkish, German, etc. and other language skills are valued.
Another promising area is creative and digital tech services. Uzbek firms are already delivering work including animation, gaming, and design for global clients; one local studio has produced visual effects for brands such as Samsung and Ubisoft, exemplifying how the creative industry is gaining momentum.
Moreover, Uzbekistan’s geographic position and time zone make it a compelling nearshore option for Eurasian markets, much as countries like Armenia or Georgia began positioning themselves a decade ago. In many ways, Uzbekistan today resembles those early-stage locations: high potential, proactive government support, and an eagerness to engage, but still needing time to mature. Early movers, whether enterprises or service providers, could benefit from first access to talent, strong policy support, and the ability to help shape the emerging ecosystem.
In summary, Uzbekistan is an early-stage but high-intent market in global services delivery. The government has set a bold vision and is backing it with concrete reforms, investments, and incentives. The fundamental ingredients, political stability, youthful talent, multilingual skills, and business-friendly policies are coming together.
Realizing its aspirations will take time, and success is not guaranteed, but the trajectory is positive. Enterprises and service providers looking at frontier locations would do well to keep Uzbekistan on their radar and even engage through pilot programs to test the waters. Those who get in early could secure a strategic foothold as the sector grows.
Everest Group continues to track emerging delivery locations such as Uzbekistan. To discuss how it may fit into your portfolio, Get in touch or write to us at [email protected]m, [email protected] or [email protected]
If you enjoyed this blog, check out, Beyond The Flashpoint: Rethinking Location Strategy In The Age Of Overconcentration, A Wake-Up Call For Global Services Leaders | Blog – Everest Group, which delves deeper into another topic relating to global services.
