ISLAMABAD, Oct 03 (APP):Uzbekistan is steadily strengthening its position in the global technology outsourcing market, transforming its domestic IT sector into an export-oriented industry encompassing software development, business process outsourcing (BPO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), creative industries and professional services. The rapid expansion of the sector is reflected in the growth of IT outsourcing services, which increased from $3.2 million in 2019 to $716.4 million in 2025. During the same …
Uzbekistan emerging as global hub for technology outsourcing
ISLAMABAD, Oct 03 (APP):Uzbekistan is steadily strengthening its position in the global technology outsourcing market, transforming its domestic IT sector into an export-oriented industry encompassing software development, business process outsourcing (BPO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), creative industries and professional services.
The rapid expansion of the sector is reflected in the growth of IT outsourcing services, which increased from $3.2 million in 2019 to $716.4 million in 2025. During the same period, the number of IT companies surged from 369 to 3,400, while the overall volume of IT services reached $2.8 billion, said a release issued by embassy of Uzbekistan in Pakistan here on Saturday.
This transformation highlights Uzbekistan’s growing role in the international technology services market, as the country moves beyond conventional software development towards providing comprehensive corporate and business support functions to international clients.
A major factor behind this growth is the country’s young and expanding workforce. With a population of approximately 38 million, around 60 percent of whom are under the age of 30, Uzbekistan offers a substantial talent pool for technology-driven industries. Its working-age population is estimated at 21 million.
More than 220 universities are operating in the country, including 145 offering IT-related programmes.
Specialized IT universities produce around 25,000 graduates annually, while more than 350,000 people study foreign languages each year. Uzbekistan currently has an estimated 500,000 IT professionals working in areas such as software development, data engineering, DevOps and UI/UX design.
The country’s outsourcing industry is also expanding beyond software development, with business process outsourcing emerging as another important growth area.
More than 540 companies and over 14,500 specialists are currently working in the BPO segment, compared with only 136 employees in 2020. The sector provides services ranging from customer support and data processing to administrative and operational management.
Knowledge process outsourcing is also gaining momentum, with more than 300 companies operating in the logistics sector, alongside an expanding professional services industry covering accounting, auditing, recruitment, marketing, consultancy and human resource management.
Uzbekistan’s growing international outreach is reflected in its export destinations. North America accounts for 54 percent of exports by companies within the ecosystem, followed by the European Union and the United Kingdom with 17 percent. The CIS and Asia-Pacific regions collectively account for 22 percent, while the Middle East and North Africa contribute approximately seven percent.
The composition of exports further demonstrates the diversification of the sector, with IT services accounting for 45 percent, BPO and KPO for 35 percent, creative industries and Game Development for 13 percent, and Software as a Service (SaaS) for seven percent.
Meanwhile, foreign investment and international business participation are contributing to the development of the country’s technology ecosystem.
More than 4,000 companies are operating within the IT Park Uzbekistan ecosystem, including over 1,100 companies with foreign capital. Businesses from 75 countries are represented, creating more than 56,000 jobs.
To attract further international investment, Uzbekistan has introduced facilitation mechanisms, including the Soft Landing framework and the Zero Risk programme, which provide support in areas such as office facilities, equipment, recruitment and initial operational arrangements.
While competitive operating costs remain an attraction for international businesses, the country’s longer-term strategy is increasingly focused on improving the legal and institutional environment for technology companies.
In this regard, the establishment of Enterprise Uzbekistan marks another step towards developing comprehensive infrastructure for international technology businesses. Its special legal regime covers commercial and civil disputes, intellectual property protection, personal data, banking and government services, taxation, customs and regulatory sandboxes.
The country’s next phase of development is expected to focus on attracting larger international outsourcing contracts, expanding highly specialized services and increasing the share of high-value-added exports.
With its growing pool of skilled professionals, expanding technology infrastructure, diversified outsourcing services and increasing international business presence, Uzbekistan is positioning itself as an emerging destination in the global technology outsourcing industry.
It is pertinent to mentioned that there is enormous potential for expanding cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in technology, IT outsourcing, software development, business process outsourcing (BPO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and other emerging digital sectors.
Both countries can benefit from their skilled human resources, growing technology ecosystems and strategic geographical connectivity, Joint ventures, knowledge sharing, professional training, investment partnerships and business-to-business collaboration can open new avenues for mutual growth.
