Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 13 February, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on development of information technologies and creation of modern infrastructure necessary for this purpose.

2020 has been declared as the Year of Science, Enlightenment and Digital Economy Development in Uzbekistan. E-government system is being widely implemented to ensure openness, transparency and efficiency in all spheres. In particular, 178 services have been provided through a Single portal of interactive public services, which saves time and reduces the costs of population.

Digital economy’s contribution to gross domestic product of the United States is 10.9 percent, in China this figure is 10 percent, in India – 5.5 percent. In Uzbekistan, this figure does not exceed 2 percent.

In order to further develop and increase the export potential of this sphere, IT Park is being created in Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Society of Software Technology Parks under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India. The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a corresponding resolution on 10 January 2019, and construction of an IT Park started in Mirzo Ulugbek district of Tashkent city.

On 20 November 2019, the Head of the state visited the IT Park and got acquainted with created conditions here, he laid the symbolic first stone for the construction of a new stage of the park.

Currently, 350 domestic enterprises in information technology are residents of the IT Park. It employs 4 thousand specialists. 1 Million Programmers project is being implemented together with foreign partners.

In 2020-2024, it is planned to organize IT Park’s branches in 14 regions, triple the number of residents and increase the number of employees to 40 thousand. This will increase the volume of computer services and programming, as well as their export.

Issues of construction of the technopark and its branches, and creation of high-tech infrastructure were discussed at the meeting.

Instructions have been given on organization of IT Academy, IT laboratory, co-working center, Mobile Applications Development Center and Remote Information Technology Center.

The need for widely introducing modern digital technologies such as Internet of things, artificial intelligence and big data in all spheres and industries was noted.

A proposal has been forwarded to establish a mechanism for developing and implementing modern software for spheres and industries on the basis of the state order.

The importance of keeping up with global trends, actively introducing new developments and developing cooperation with leading technoparks was noted.

Special attention was paid to construction of a multi-storey housing, hotels, sports complexes for employees and specialists of the IT Park attracted from abroad.

Responsible persons reported on the progress of construction and design work.