Fresh off attracting $4.3 billion in foreign investment and loans during the first half of 2026, Tashkent is using the Global Business Services Forum (GBSF) to showcase Uzbekistan's growing appeal as a destination for international investment in technology, outsourcing and artificial intelligence.
More than 450 executives, investors, government officials and industry experts from more than 45 countries gathered in the Uzbek capital for the two-day forum, which focuses on global business services, the digital economy and AI.
The event comes as Tashkent continues to outpace the national economy, recording 13.3% economic growth in the first half of the year, launching 249 investment projects, creating nearly 10,000 jobs and increasing exports by 43%.
The forum is designed to connect international businesses with Uzbekistan's expanding technology ecosystem and encourage new investment partnerships.
Speaking at the forum, Digital Technologies Minister Sherzod Shermatov said years of economic reforms, digital transformation and improvements to the investment climate have positioned Uzbekistan as an increasingly attractive destination for global business services and high-tech investment.
John Kilmartin, Team Leader at Saviday and an adviser to Enterprise Uzbekistan, said international forums play an important role in attracting investors, even if the results are not immediate.
"These events are important because they give international businesses a reason to come to Uzbekistan, experience the country and gain confidence in the market," Kilmartin told AnewZ. "That confidence may not translate into investment immediately, but further down the line it often does."
He added that companies operating across multiple jurisdictions value predictable regulation and clear communication when governments introduce legal reforms.
"Countries should take into account the importance of communicating legal changes so companies can prepare for them," he said, noting that stable regulatory frameworks help strengthen investor confidence.
Forum organisers highlighted the rapid growth of IT Park Uzbekistan, which now hosts more than 3,800 resident companies, including more than 1,000 international firms. Exports of digital services have surpassed $1 billion, reflecting the country's growing role in the global technology sector.
The government is also promoting investment incentives through IT Park, including 0% corporate, property, land and social taxes for eligible residents, a reduced personal income tax rate of 7.5%, and business support initiatives such as the Zero Risk programme, designed to help export-oriented technology and business services companies establish operations in Uzbekistan.
Among the companies attending the forum was Indian consultancy Beratung Consultants, which advises multinational businesses on engineering and sustainability projects.
Director Mihir Save said Uzbekistan has increasingly appeared on the radar of international companies looking to expand into Central Asia, particularly in IT and data centres.
"BPO businesses have been moving places, and of late Uzbekistan was on the map," Save told AnewZ. "There are also data centre businesses looking to expand into Central Asia, where Tashkent is becoming a focal point."
He said the government's long-term investment incentives provide confidence for international investors.
"When incentives are extended over a long horizon, investors have confidence to enter the country, test the market and scale their businesses," he said.
At the same time, Save said continued investment in skilled local talent, reliable infrastructure and stable government policies would remain essential to sustaining long-term growth.
The forum concluded with the signing of cooperation agreements aimed at expanding IT outsourcing, strengthening digital transformation and supporting technology companies operating in Uzbekistan.
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