Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam: VEON), a global digital operator that provides mobile connectivity and services, announces today its plans to increase investment in the Uzbekistan economy over the next five years, with US$250 million assigned to develop the communications infrastructure and ecosystem of digital services in the country.

The announcement follows a meeting in Tashkent between VEON CEO, Kaan Terzioglu, and the Minister of ICT of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Shermatov.

VEON Group, which serves nearly 220 million subscribers in 9 countries, has been serving Uzbekistan with its operating company Beeline since 2006.  In line with its Digital Operator strategy, the company’s investment into Uzbekistan’s ICT landscape will expand into creation of a digital ecosystem: It will include generating IT  jobs in Uzbekistan,  with the goal of increasing the export of information technology services to the the region and further abroad. 

Among the specific projects that are in focus is the development of IT testing services for foreign companies. BeeLab, a subsidiary of Beeline Uzbekistan, will hire software testing specialists and lead this campaign. 

“Digitalisation is the main driver of economic growth in our age, and sustainable growth of economies is dependent on their success is developing  digital ecosystems – not only specific digital applications, but also the skilled workforce that produces and sustains them  ,” said Kaan Terzioglu CEO VEON. “Through this agreement, we are linking our future to the prosperity of Uzbekistan. VEON is ready to assist in the training of personnel and development of skills. This will allow Uzbekistan to become an independent hub of information technologies, creating successful digital products for its own economy, but also becoming a regional hub of technology – all with the support of its highly skilled workforce.