ICTWeek Uzbekistan 2026 Opens in Tashkent with Focus on Technology and IT Market
Technology
ICTWeek Uzbekistan 2026, Uzbekistan’s annual information and communications technology week, has opened in Tashkent. The event is being held from September 22 to 25 at the CAEx exhibition center, bringing together government representatives, technology companies, IT professionals and businesses.
The program includes ICT Expo 2026, conferences, forums, summits and seminars. Over four days, participants are discussing digital transformation, artificial intelligence, investment, IT education, startups and new opportunities in the technology market. Organizers expect more than 25,000 visitors, over 200 speakers and experts, and participants from 51 countries.
One of the unusual moments of the opening ceremony was a performance by a robot conductor. It demonstrated its ability to conduct an orchestra before Alibek Kabdurakhmanov, director of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre named after Alisher Navoi and chief conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, gave the “beginner conductor” a master class. He noted that, for now, humans still perform the task better.
Speaking at ICTWeek, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov provided an update on the data center being built in Karakalpakstan. He said the first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. “This is not a castle in the air, but a real construction project and a data center that will be built in Uzbekistan. By the end of the year, you will be able to access this first ‘green’ data center,” the minister said. The facility is planned to be expanded, with total data-center capacity across the country eventually reaching at least 300 MW.
The event is also addressing Uzbekistan’s attractiveness to international companies. Bahodir Ayupov, Vice President of Global Business Development at Enterprise Uzbekistan, cited geopolitical stability and security, economic and IT-sector development, the availability of talent and opportunities for long-term business planning among the key factors.
He also highlighted the role of national IT education programs. According to Ayupov, the “One Million Uzbek Coders” program attracted more than two million young people. “We realized in time that without a critical mass of IT specialists in the market, there is no point in talking about further development of the sector,” he said.
ICTWeek Uzbekistan 2026 will continue through September 25.
One of the unusual moments of the opening ceremony was a performance by a robot conductor. It demonstrated its ability to conduct an orchestra before Alibek Kabdurakhmanov, director of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre named after Alisher Navoi and chief conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, gave the “beginner conductor” a master class. He noted that, for now, humans still perform the task better.
Speaking at ICTWeek, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov provided an update on the data center being built in Karakalpakstan. He said the first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. “This is not a castle in the air, but a real construction project and a data center that will be built in Uzbekistan. By the end of the year, you will be able to access this first ‘green’ data center,” the minister said. The facility is planned to be expanded, with total data-center capacity across the country eventually reaching at least 300 MW.
The event is also addressing Uzbekistan’s attractiveness to international companies. Bahodir Ayupov, Vice President of Global Business Development at Enterprise Uzbekistan, cited geopolitical stability and security, economic and IT-sector development, the availability of talent and opportunities for long-term business planning among the key factors.
He also highlighted the role of national IT education programs. According to Ayupov, the “One Million Uzbek Coders” program attracted more than two million young people. “We realized in time that without a critical mass of IT specialists in the market, there is no point in talking about further development of the sector,” he said.
ICTWeek Uzbekistan 2026 will continue through September 25.
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