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Uzbekistan’s digital landscape is set to undergo a significant transformation following the signing of an investment agreement with the UAE. In line with Uzbekistan’s ambitious Digital Uzbekistan-2030 strategy, the collaboration seeks to drive the nation towards exponential advancement in the digital sphere.
The memorandum, inked by UAE’s Minister of Investment, Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies, Sherzod Shermatov, lays the foundation for a strategic partnership in digital infrastructure, particularly focusing on data centre and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives in the Central Asian nation.
Alsuwaidi underscored the memorandum’s significance, highlighting its crucial role in fostering this transformative journey. “This memorandum builds on the strong relations between the two nations, reflecting our commitment to mutual prosperity through collaboration in economically crucial sectors,” he said.
The memorandum outlines plans to explore joint investment opportunities for establishing new data centres in Uzbekistan, catering to both private enterprises and government entities by providing cloud and AI solutions. Additionally, it seeks to attract major cloud service providers, delve into super-computer projects, develop Uzbekistan-specific language models, and cultivate a local talent pool specialising in AI and computing.
Shermatov echoed the sentiment, underscoring the promising investment prospects for UAE firms and envisioning shared growth and prosperity through collaboration. He remarked, “This partnership presents unparalleled investment opportunities for UAE-based companies to tap into Uzbekistan’s vast potential, leveraging our country’s strategic location and favourable business environment.”
In 2023, non-oil trade between the UAE and Uzbekistan reached $1.9 billion, doubling from the previous year. The UAE’s ascent as Uzbekistan’s 17th largest global trading partner in 2022 reflects a significant surge in bilateral trade, underscoring the deepening ties between the two countries.
