Central Asia Eyes $5Bn AI Export Market as Digital Ambitions Accelerate
Central Asia is stepping up efforts to become a global hub for artificial intelligence services, with Uzbekistan leading a regional push to generate $5 bn in AI and IT service exports by 2030. Governments and industry leaders are investing in digital infrastructure, data centres and workforce development to capture growing global demand for AI-powered services.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, officials said the region aims to move beyond traditional outsourcing towards higher-value AI solutions, cloud computing and digital exports. Uzbekistan’s IT Park has already reported strong growth in service exports, while incentives for foreign technology companies include tax benefits, reduced electricity costs and support for AI-focused investments.
Industry experts argue that Central Asia’s competitive advantage lies not in building the world’s largest AI models, but in providing AI applications, multilingual digital services and computing capacity for international markets. Expanding data centre infrastructure, backed by growing renewable energy capacity, is seen as a key pillar of the strategy.
The regional push reflects broader ambitions to diversify economies beyond natural resources and position Central Asia as an emerging destination for global technology investment and AI-driven exports.
