Outcomes of the visit to the United States: new partnerships for IT exports and outsourcing

A delegation from IT Park Uzbekistan, headed by Startup and Investment Development Director Elyor Maksudov, visited the United States, where they engaged in discussions with Cohere AI, Armanino, Saber Interactive, PomPom Fairy, CosmicBrain AI, and members of the Uzbek diaspora in California and New York. The conversations centered on the implementation and localization of artificial intelligence technologies, the growth of IT export services, the establishment of offices and research centers in Tashkent, and the enhancement of connections with compatriots employed in prominent global firms.

A significant highlight of the visit was the “Tech Ambassadors & Compatriots Meet-up,” held at the Silkroad Innovation Hub, where the promotion of Uzbekistan as a regional center for digital technologies was a key topic. These agreements aim to boost IT exports and expedite the country's integration into the global innovation landscape.

Cohere AI: AI solutions for public services and a national LLM

During discussions with Cohere AI, the parties explored the localization of solutions in Uzbekistan, including deployment on national GPUs and within local data centers. The Uzbek delegation introduced the initiative “One Million Uzbek AI Prompters” and the digitalization strategy for public services through 2030. Additionally, they discussed a pilot customized version of the North model and the development of a national large language model (LLM) for the Uzbek language, leveraging Cohere’s international expertise. The company expressed its willingness to support educational initiatives and participate in ICT Week Uzbekistan 2025.

Cohere AI specializes in enterprise solutions based on large-scale language models, focusing on a cloud- and chip-agnostic approach, sovereignty-compliant deployment options, and its North product line for corporate integration.

Armanino: Outsourcing and consulting in Uzbekistan

Discussions with Armanino revolved around the conditions for IT and BPO in Uzbekistan, including tax and regulatory incentives available to IT Park members, the comparative cost advantages of local services, and the talent pool in fields such as accounting, outsourcing, consulting, and customer support. The parties agreed to conduct a detailed requirements analysis, present opportunities to potential clients, investigate the establishment of an office in Uzbekistan, and plan a visit during ICT Week Uzbekistan 2025.

Armanino is a global consulting and CPA services firm that focuses on audit, advisory, and outsourcing, catering to clients looking to expand into new markets.

Saber Interactive: Prospects for a GameDev Center in Tashkent

During a meeting with Saber Interactive, the Uzbek delegation showcased the potential for game development studios, quality assurance, publishing, and back-office operations, bolstered by tax incentives, complimentary office space, and simplified visa processes. Both parties agreed to maintain ongoing discussions and plan to reconvene at the Tokyo Game Show 2025 in September to explore partnership opportunities and evaluate Uzbekistan’s viability as a new GameDev center.

Saber Interactive is a worldwide game development firm with studios in various countries, including Armenia and Georgia, and possesses significant experience in AAA and AA projects, porting, and supporting prominent game franchises.

PomPom Fairy: Interest in Establishing an Office in Uzbekistan

PomPom Fairy indicated a desire to set up an office in Tashkent and investigated available government support measures, such as tax incentives, office facilities, and streamlined visa processes. Both parties confirmed their shared interest, agreed to maintain consistent communication, and considered the company's involvement in events in Uzbekistan, such as ICT Week, as a means to foster closer ties with the local ecosystem.

PomPom Fairy is an international product and outsourcing firm with offices in New York, London, and Tbilisi, along with development teams in Romania, Armenia, and Moldova, serving major clients in the United States.

CosmicBrain AI: A Multimodal AI Office and Service Exports

Discussions with CosmicBrain AI centered on the establishment of an office in Tashkent and the recruitment of 20–30 developers to create scripts and multimodal models, with anticipated annual service exports reaching up to $2 million. The company expressed interest in partnering with universities on research initiatives and educational programs. The Uzbek delegation affirmed its willingness to offer tax incentives, office space, and visa assistance.

CosmicBrain AI was founded by Chi Chiu, an engineer with over 25 years of experience in cutting-edge technologies, including nearly two decades at Google, and specializes in multimodal AI.

Tech Ambassadors / Compatriots: The Diaspora as a Bridge for Innovation

During the meeting with compatriots, IT Park Uzbekistan outlined membership requirements and its Enterprise Uzbekistan strategy.

Startup founders from Silicon Valley have shown interest in Uzbekistan as a promising platform for business and innovation. The involved parties have agreed to form a team of Tech Ambassadors to enhance engagement with diaspora members and to conduct regular meetings in both the United States and Uzbekistan.

Tech Ambassadors / Compatriots is a network of Uzbek diaspora members alongside technology ambassadors. On August 25, a Meet-up took place at the Silkroad Innovation Hub in California, featuring specialists from prominent U.S. companies.

These agreements are expected to promote the growth of IT exports, facilitate the localization of cutting-edge AI technologies, and lead to the establishment of new offices and research centers in Tashkent. Together, these efforts will strengthen Uzbekistan’s connections with leading global innovation hubs, ranging from Silicon Valley to New York.