Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 16 December, IT Park Uzbekistan officially inaugurated its representative office in Riyadh, marking a significant milestone in deepening Uzbekistan-Saudi Arabia cooperation in information technology.

The event took place at The Garage, an innovation hub in Riyadh, with support from Plug and Play Riyadh.

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies, Sherzod Shermatov, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

“Bilateral relations between the innovation ecosystems of Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia are advancing rapidly, reflecting the strong interest from our MENA region partners in the fast-growing tech sector of our country,” said Sherzod Shermatov.

The minister emphasized that such initiatives not only strengthen economic ties but also create new job opportunities and foster professional development for local specialists.

Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Nodirjon Turgunov, also addressed the attendees, congratulating them on this milestone.

“The opening of the IT Park representative office in Riyadh is not just a significant step but also a new horizon for cooperation. We are confident that this initiative will act as a catalyst for deeper partnerships, market integration, and unique opportunities for both ecosystems,” noted IT Park’s General Director, Farhod Ibragimov, in his congratulatory remarks.

Other speakers included Muhammad Alghamdi, Director of Partnerships at Plug and Play Tech Center; Rajit Nanda, CEO of DataVolt; and Muzaffar Karabayev, founder and investor of kpi.com, zip24.com, and Financial IT.

Rajit Nanda highlighted the collaboration potential, saying: “Uzbekistan’s tech sector is growing rapidly, as we see with DataVolt’s investments in high-efficiency green data centers. This demonstrates the country’s readiness to become a significant global tech hub.”

During the event, guests were introduced to Uzbekistan’s IT sector and startup ecosystem, including government-backed support programs and favorable conditions for business growth.

This year, IT Park Uzbekistan successfully showcased the country’s startup ecosystem at BIBAN-2024, presenting 12 startups. In addition, the Uzbekistan Tech Conference and multiple pitch sessions for international startups were held in Riyadh, significantly boosting Saudi investors’ interest in Uzbek projects.

Moreover, bilateral ties are strengthening through joint projects such as the construction of Green Data Centers with DataVolt (a Vision Invest holding), which plans to invest $5 billion in the initiative.

The opening of IT Park’s representative office in Saudi Arabia represents a critical step in building an international ecosystem for startups and attracting foreign investment. The office will focus on advancing digital technology collaboration, knowledge sharing, and supporting innovative projects while enabling Uzbek companies to expand their global presence.

The Riyadh office will serve as a bridge for collaboration and experience exchange between the innovation ecosystems of both nations, unlocking the following opportunities:

Simplified access for startups from the GCC region to the Central Asian market, with a population of over 80 million, via Uzbekistan.

Support for Uzbek startups entering the GCC market, with a population of over 60 million.

Co-investment opportunities at the pre-seed and seed stages for promising startups.

Reduced operational costs for GCC-based IT companies through back-office services in Uzbekistan.

This initiative marks a new chapter in fostering stronger ties between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia in the field of digital technologies.