IT Park Uzbekistan presented investment opportunities for U.S. companies at the C5+1 Conference in Washington

The C5+1 Tenth Anniversary Business Conference took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., uniting representatives from governments, businesses, and innovation sectors from Central Asian nations and the United States. This event focused on enhancing economic partnerships, advancing digital technologies, and fostering sustainable development in the region.

The conference included five thematic sessions: “Strengthening U.S.–Central Asia Supply Chains,” “Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence,” “Connecting Through the Digital Economy,” “How to Invest in the U.S.,” and “How to Invest in Central Asia.”

Uzbekistan’s Address at the Plenary Session

A significant part of the conference was the plenary session titled “Harnessing the Power of AI,” where attendees explored opportunities for implementing advanced AI solutions in both public and private sectors, the creation of innovative ecosystems throughout Central Asia, and the investment landscape in the region.

Notable participants included representatives from prominent companies such as Google, Meta, Perplexity AI, Scale AI, StartX, Zypl.AI, among others.

Uzbekistan was represented by Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, who delivered a speech that underscored Uzbekistan’s investment potential for American firms, national initiatives aimed at supporting startups, and the country’s commitment to enhancing its startup ecosystem.

Kuchkarov highlighted Uzbekistan's ambition to become a regional technology hub, promoting international collaborations and establishing a conducive environment for foreign investors and tech companies.

For IT-enabled services (ITES) firms, Uzbekistan provides various support mechanisms, including the “Zero Risk” and “Softlanding” programs, a dedicated IT Visa, as well as tax and customs incentives. Furthermore, the “Enterprise Uzbekistan” initiative will introduce enhanced conditions to attract major foreign technology firms.

“Uzbekistan is building a low-risk, innovation-friendly environment for technology businesses. We are open to cooperation with U.S. investors and ready to serve as a bridge between the United States and Central Asia,” stated Abdulakhad Kuchkarov.

Talent Development and IT Education

Uzbekistan remains committed to investing in human capital and technology education.

In a nation with a population surpassing 38 million, over 7 million individuals are skilled in foreign languages, which include English, German, Korean, Japanese, and Arabic.

As part of its ongoing educational reforms, Uzbekistan has introduced the “School of Artificial Intelligence” model, backed by UNESCO, which incorporates AI fundamentals into the national school curriculum.

Uzbekistan’s increasing proficiency in IT education is underscored by its designation as the host for the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026), highlighting the country’s expanding capability in cultivating technology talent.

Startup Support Programs

Uzbekistan provides a wide array of startup support initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and enhancing international partnerships. Through the 1+1 Co-Funding scheme, the government co-invests in startups that secure foreign venture capital, contributing up to $100,000 per project.

Additionally, the state covers participation fees for leading accelerators, offers grants for education and mentorship, and provides interest-free, collateral-free loans of up to $23,500 to assist startups in scaling their solutions.

These initiatives establish Uzbekistan as a distinctive platform for U.S. and international firms to test, scale, and co-develop innovative technologies.

Participation of Uzbek Startups

During the Startup Showcase organized with the support of Silkroad Innovation Hub, three Uzbek startups—Tilmoch, GrowMe, and Numeo—were featured at the conference. The teams presented solutions in artificial intelligence, education, and digital services, garnering interest from international experts and venture investors.

Tilmoch AI is an AI-driven translation and language platform that accommodates a variety of Turkic languages—from Uzbek and Kazakh to Turkish and Uyghur—connecting an audience of over 180 million speakers.

GrowyAI is an intelligent platform that leverages AI to improve team performance and management decision-making. It assists businesses in analyzing team dynamics, automating feedback collection, and generating personalized recommendations to enhance productivity. Currently, more than 5,000 users are engaged in GrowyAI’s digital coaching pilot programs.

Numeo AI serves as a “smart logistics assistant” that develops digital employees to automate business processes. By utilizing machine learning, the platform optimizes supply chains, analyzes routes, and predicts demand.

Under the leadership of entrepreneur Akmal Paiziev, Numeo AI solutions are currently being utilized by logistics firms in the United States, showcasing significant scalability potential in international markets.

The involvement of Uzbek startups is a key component of IT Park Uzbekistan’s strategy to elevate national startups on global platforms and enhance the nation’s status as a burgeoning technological innovation center in Eurasia.

IT Park Uzbekistan’s engagement in the C5+1 Conference has created new avenues for expanding collaborations, securing venture investments, and incorporating Uzbek innovations into the worldwide technology landscape.