Personal experience: How I established a company in Uzbekistan in three days and even visited Samarkand

My name is Aleksandr Antipin, and I am at the helm of Metabula Games, a studio focused on developing mobile games and IT solutions for businesses. Recently, I became familiar with the IT Park Uzbekistan ecosystem and would like to share my insights. Within just a few days in Tashkent, I successfully registered a company, opened a bank account, secured a digital signature, and even had the opportunity to visit Samarkand — a city boasting over 2,500 years of history.

This experience illustrates that Uzbekistan today is not only a nation rich in cultural heritage but also a swiftly emerging hub for the IT industry.

Photo: personal archive

In a landscape where collaboration with international clients from Russia has become increasingly challenging, Uzbekistan offers transparent and efficient mechanisms for international transactions. IT Park Uzbekistan allows companies to operate legally and engage directly with clients from the United States, Europe, and Asia, without the need for intermediaries.

For the government, this serves as a tool to encourage IT service exports; for businesses, it presents a chance to receive payments from foreign clients securely and effectively. By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to achieve the ambitious target of raising IT service exports to $5 billion annually — with IT Park playing a pivotal role in this initiative.

Photo: personal archive

Simplicity and Support

Establishing a company with IT Park is easier than assembling furniture from IKEA. The process is handled online through my.it-park.uz: an application is submitted along with a business plan, and within 15 working days, the company is granted member status. Since my company was prepared beforehand, in Tashkent, I only needed to open a bank account and obtain a digital signature.

On my first day, I opened the account and completed all necessary paperwork. The entire process, including receiving a bank card, took about two hours. The digital signature was issued the next day. This signature, provided by the tax authority on a flash drive, is essential — acting as a universal key for conducting business.

It is also advisable to arrange a PINFL (personal identification number) in advance, especially if you intend to open a bank card. I obtained mine remotely through a proxy, so it was ready upon my arrival.

IT Park also provides members with the option of utilizing a virtual office address, which is particularly beneficial for companies not planning to rent physical premises right away.

The assistance offered by IT Park staff is particularly commendable: they provide consultations, help with documentation, and strive to make the process as transparent as possible. This fosters a sense of genuine welcome for new members. The staff delivers authentic support: they direct you on where to sign and what forms to complete, and they even follow up to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Recommendation: Ensure you bring all necessary documents with you — passport, tax identification number, and articles of association.

Photo: personal archive

Tax Incentives and Advantages

Membership in IT Park grants access to a variety of tax and administrative benefits:

As a result, the government is cultivating a supportive environment that enables IT companies to thrive while keeping a strong emphasis on the global market.

Photo: personal archive

Life in Uzbekistan

To my surprise, I was greeted not by intense heat, but by rain and a pleasant 15°C instead of the typical +30°C, which made my visit especially comfortable. The city itself felt inviting: broad avenues, lush greenery, and an overall delightful atmosphere.

Tashkent struck me as a modern and livable city. Affordable transportation, excellent service in restaurants and cafés, and a well-developed infrastructure — from ride-hailing apps to major retailers — create familiar conditions for expatriates.

I devoted my last day to cultural exploration. A visit to Samarkand felt like stepping back in time: 2,500 years of history, magnificent mosques, mausoleums, and the captivating ambiance of an Aladdin-like tale. I wandered through Registan, savored traditional plov at a teahouse, and captured countless photographs. If you find yourself in Uzbekistan, allocate a day for Samarkand — you won’t regret it.

I traveled to Samarkand on the high-speed Afrosiyob train and reached the capital of Amir Temur in just two hours.

Photos: personal archive

Lessons and Recommendations

While the overall process is relatively simple, there are certain nuances to keep in mind:

Photo: personal archive

Uzbekistan as a New IT Hub

IT Park Uzbekistan signifies much more than tax incentives and streamlined registration processes. It serves as a platform that grants IT companies access to international markets, aids in client acquisition, and contributes to the advancement of the national digital economy.

For me, this experience confirmed that Uzbekistan is genuinely becoming a new IT hub in Central Asia, with IT Park acting as the primary gateway for companies looking to broaden their business internationally.

Photo: personal archive.