The Samarkand Follow-Up: New Opportunities for US–Uzbekistan IT Cooperation

IT Park Uzbekistan convened a meeting with representatives from Lincoln Labs, a U.S.-based technology firm, and its project Truss, which specializes in recruiting and employing IT professionals for global businesses. The discussions centered on Uzbekistan’s potential as a hub for building engineering teams, facilitating international recruitment, and supporting the expansion of U.S. technology companies into the region.

The meeting included Azamat Rakhmon-Zoda, Head of the Export Development Department at IT Park Uzbekistan, representatives from the Global Business Services (GBS) division, Lincoln Labs representative Eric Giroux, and Truss representative Ilhom Ikramov.

Uzbekistan as a Destination for International Recruitment

A central topic of the meeting was the potential adoption of the Employer of Record (EOR) model in Uzbekistan. This model allows companies to hire professionals through a legally registered employer, eliminating the need to establish a local legal entity in the country.

The participants examined various employment arrangements, including hiring foreign professionals, enabling remote work, and managing payments to employees based outside Uzbekistan. Special attention was given to the regulatory and legal framework for implementing the EOR model, including the provisions outlined in Presidential Decree No. 286.

Following the discussions, the parties agreed on next steps to develop a pilot project with Truss to evaluate the practical application of the EOR mechanism.

Opportunities for Expanding US Business Operations

Lincoln Labs is broadening its technology consulting operations and is considering the formation of a small development team to explore new markets. Uzbekistan is one of the potential locations under review for this initiative.

Notably, Farrukh Umarov, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Lincoln Labs, is originally from Uzbekistan. This personal connection offers a solid basis for strengthening professional relationships between the U.S. technology sector and Uzbekistan’s local IT ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Truss assists international companies in sourcing, hiring, and integrating engineers into their existing teams.

During the meeting, representatives from IT Park Uzbekistan showcased the capabilities of the country's IT ecosystem, including the experience of member companies collaborating with international clients such as UFC, HBO, and ESPN. They also outlined the current support mechanisms available for foreign businesses, including the Softlanding Program.

Next Steps and Future Cooperation

Beyond the proposed pilot project, the parties explored opportunities to expand cooperation in the US market. Truss expressed its interest in assisting IT Park Uzbekistan in establishing connections with potential international member companies and introducing US businesses to the opportunities available in Uzbekistan.

Representatives from Lincoln Labs and Truss were also invited to participate in the Offshore Outsourcing Tour, which is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan in spring 2027. Further engagement may also occur through upcoming international events.

The development of this cooperation could generate additional opportunities to attract international technology companies, expand cross-border employment, and enhance the integration of Uzbek IT professionals into global engineering teams.