Uzbekistan Strengthens Cooperation with Meta in Digital Development

The Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Shermatov, and representatives of IT Park Uzbekistan held a meeting with Beth Ann Lim, Director of Public Policy, Strategy, and Campaigns for Meta in the Asia-Pacific region. The parties discussed the further development of the country's digital economy, support for technology entrepreneurship, and new initiatives aimed at enhancing digital skills among young people.

During the discussions, particular attention was given to workforce development for the digital economy and the creation of new opportunities for the professional growth of young people. Representatives of the Ministry of Digital Technologies highlighted the rapid development of Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem, ongoing support measures for technology entrepreneurs, and initiatives designed to foster innovation.

Meta representatives highly praised the country’s progress in developing its startup sector and expressed interest in expanding cooperation to support local startups, implement innovative solutions, and facilitate the entry of Uzbek companies into international markets.

One of the key topics of the meeting was the launch of the Small Business Growth Academy, the first initiative of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. The program combines Meta’s advanced AI-powered business tools, including Advantage+ and Meta Business Agent, with practical training delivered by certified local partner CoobX. The initiative aims to strengthen digital and AI competencies among startups, young people, and representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The parties emphasized the importance of such projects in preparing the workforce of the future, creating new jobs, and building a highly skilled talent pool for Uzbekistan’s digital economy.

During the meeting, information was also presented on opportunities available to residents of IT Park Uzbekistan, including tax incentives and support mechanisms provided under the Incentives program, which contribute to attracting international technology companies and startups to Uzbekistan.

Special attention was also given to prospects for cooperation in the field of cybersecurity. The participants discussed knowledge-sharing initiatives, measures to enhance the security of digital platforms, and the implementation of joint projects in this area.

Following the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their partnership in the fields of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital skills development, and cybersecurity.

The expansion of cooperation with Meta will create new opportunities for the development of Uzbekistan’s digital ecosystem, accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies, and strengthen support for startups and entrepreneurs. For IT Park Uzbekistan, this partnership will serve as an additional tool for attracting international technology companies, advancing innovative projects, and preparing highly demanded specialists capable of competing in the global market.