20.12.2023

On December 20, a videoconferencing was held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss priority tasks in the development of information technologies in sectors and regions, as well as the digitization of public administration.

Taking into account the requirements of the time, our country is paying great attention to improving the IT infrastructure, digitization of spheres and industries. This year alone, 100 programme projects have been developed as part of the digital transformation of sectors such as education, banking, finance, customs, agriculture, geology and cadaster. More than 500 new IT companies have been created and the sector has received $475 million in foreign direct investment.

It is expected that by the end of the year the volume of services provided by the industry will reach 10 trillion Uzbek soums and their export will exceed 300 million dollars. This indicator grew at a high rate in Tashkent, Samarkand and Andijan regions. The export of IT services in the Surkhandarya region for the first time exceeded $1 million. More than 20 thousand young people in the regions are independently engaged in programming and selling their products through international online platforms.

It was decided to create additional conditions for the development of the industry:

- IT companies in the regions will be housed in unused buildings free-of-charge for one year;

- Talented programmers will be provided with computers and equipment in annual instalments;

- Companies employing more than 50 IT specialists will be reimbursed up to 15% of their salary costs during the year;

- Exporting companies will be reimbursed 50% of the cost of hiring foreign specialists and attending international conferences.

In order to take the IT park to an international level, branches will be opened in Germany and Saudi Arabia,

In general, the new opportunities will double the volume of IT services by 2024.

First and foremost, this will require a workforce proficient in foreign language and technological skills. In this regard, the Ministry of Digital Technologies is tasked with selecting 8,000 of the most talented young people next year and training them in a programme that meets the standards of prestigious international companies.

Next year, the "At least two programmers in every makhalla" project will be launched, and 20,000 people will be employed as part of the "Inclusive Digitization" joint project with American partners.

In 2026, the International Olympiad in Informatics will be held in our country for the first time. Competitions will be held to prepare for it, and the best students will be trained with the support of qualified foreign coaches.

The President stressed that digitization should start at the makhalla level.

Currently, makhalla workers are provided with tablets and computers. However, they do not take full advantage of digital solutions. For instance, a citizen applying for a subsidy from a youth leader has to bring a certificate of unemployment from the makhalla chairman, the assistant to the hokum, or the labour office.

Therefore, officials have been instructed to set up a unified "Digital Makhalla" platform and to train the "Makhalla Seven" in the use of information systems.

The status of digitization in ministries and sectors was analyzed at the meeting. It was emphasized that cost reduction in economic sectors can only be achieved through digitization.

Work on digitization has been slow in some ministries and agencies. For example, the Digital Health project has been delayed, which is hampering the introduction of inter-medical insurance. The lack of an electronic register of cancer patients has led to delays in the payment of benefits to them.

In agriculture, a digital system to control the trade and use of pesticides has not been introduced. In the city of Tashkent, the "Khalk Nazorati" system, which has been well received by the population, needs to be improved.

The need to quickly fill these gaps and accelerate digitization in all areas was stressed.

- A leader who refuses digitization is a leader who does not want to end corruption," said the President.

The issue of improving the sphere's infrastructure, in particular increasing the speed of internet access, was raised. It was noted that in some regions the Internet speed is low, 20% of international highways are not covered by mobile Internet. The task of attracting foreign investment for the development of digital infrastructure was set.

At the same time, it was pointed out that it is necessary to strengthen cybersecurity, develop and introduce uniform cybersecurity requirements for all electronic payment systems.

The President instructed to carefully work out plans to achieve next year such indicators as increasing the volume of IT services up to 20 trillion Uzbek soums, exports up to 800 million dollars, introduction of 130 information systems and full digitization of 750 state services.

The Head of State exchanged views with ministers, khokims and young programmers on current challenges in the sphere.