Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov participated in the international panel session on the topic "Digital Future: Common Development Vectors, Problems and Solutions" organized within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The panel session was attended by ministers from Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Belarus, heads of state organizations from Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait, and representatives of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) who discussed the prospects for digital transformation, artificial intelligence and regional cooperation.

During the conversation, views were exchanged on the role of the Central Eurasian region in digital development and new economic opportunities in the context of globalization, geopolitical changes and technological progress.

In his speech, the Minister noted that Uzbekistan is consistently working to develop IT business and create a favorable environment for attracting international companies. He noted that IT companies are exempt from corporate taxes due to the benefits introduced for IT Park residents, and called on foreign companies to open their offices in Uzbekistan.
The Minister also noted that one of the country's main advantages is the potential of young people, and special attention is paid to training qualified personnel in accordance with the needs of international business.
While in 2017 only 4 companies with foreign capital operated in the IT Park, today more than 70 new foreign companies are launching their activities every month. It was noted that the main goal is to attract remote jobs and international orders to Uzbekistan, create high-paying jobs, and expand the export of digital services.
In addition, Sherzod Shermatov noted that artificial intelligence technologies should serve to increase the income of the population, improve the quality of life and increase the efficiency of the economy. The minister also invited foreign IT companies to open their offices in Uzbekistan and take advantage of the favorable opportunities created in the country.
Today, large-scale work is being carried out in Uzbekistan to create a modern computing infrastructure in the field of artificial intelligence, develop a database, train qualified specialists, support scientific research, and develop a startup ecosystem.

It was also noted that one of the priority tasks is to increase the convenience of the population, strengthen management efficiency, and ensure the competitiveness of the digital economy by introducing artificial intelligence solutions into public services and priority sectors of the economy.

The event became an important platform for presenting Uzbekistan's experience in artificial intelligence and digital transformation on the international stage and strengthening regional cooperation.