Central Asia looks to build a single digital market for more than 80 million people

Central Asian businesses and experts are proposing closer digital integration across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, with the aim of making it easier for technology companies to operate across a regional market of more than 80 million people.

The proposal would bring digital rules across the five countries closer together, covering electronic documents, digital identification, personal data, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The ambition is not to replace national legislation, but to make the systems behind five separate digital markets more compatible.

The proposals were discussed in Astana at a regional round table on the integration of Central Asian countries into the digital agenda. The discussion comes as the region looks for ways to turn growing digital cooperation into practical mechanisms for businesses operating across borders.

For technology companies, greater compatibility could make regional expansion easier. Instead of adapting legal and digital processes to a different set of requirements in each country, companies could eventually rely on compatible systems and recognised digital tools when entering neighbouring markets.

One of the central proposals is the mutual recognition of electronic documents and digital identification. The initiative also calls for greater compatibility in rules governing personal data and cybersecurity, as well as common principles for the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

The economic argument is to reduce administrative barriers as technology companies expand across the region. A more interconnected digital market could also make Central Asia a more attractive proposition for global technology companies, cloud providers, telecom operators and investors by providing a more compatible environment across the five jurisdictions.

Artificial intelligence is a separate part of the initiative. A proposed Code of Ethics for the Responsible Use of AI in Central Asia is intended to establish common principles without creating a supranational regulator. It would not introduce mandatory certification or accreditation of AI systems, while national legislation would remain the priority in each country.

The proposals are expected to feed into the 2027 B5+1 Regional Business Agenda. For now, however, they remain recommendations from businesses and experts rather than binding rules agreed by the five governments.

That distinction is central to the initiative’s prospects. The challenge will be turning broad support for regional digitalisation into systems that work across national borders, while preserving each country’s regulatory framework.

Read more:

• Uzbekistan and the Persian Gulf: Why is the Middle East looking at Central Asia’s tech market?
• EU plans up to €12 billion for Middle Corridor linking Central Asia and Europe
• Central Asia, South Korea target $20 billion trade as critical minerals deepen ties

Tags

News Central Asia Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Digital integration business cooperation