Fleeing Russians Help Uzbekistan Chase IT Dreams
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published April 07, 2022 | 09:20 AM
Tashkent, April 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Apr, 2022 ) :Hit by regular power cuts and with popular sites like Twitter and TikTok blocked, the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan hardly seems a likely candidate for a tech boom.
But with Russia's invasion of Ukraine driving an exodus of IT specialists to former parts of the Soviet Union, authorities in Uzbekistan are hoping to speed up plans to modernise an economy best known for its vast production of cotton.
It took only one day after Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine for Uzbekistan to launch a one-stop government relocation programme for IT specialists and companies.
Offering visas, housing and child care support to individuals, and registration assistance and tax exemptions to companies, the programme has already attracted some 2,000 foreign IT specialists, the government said.
People like Anastasia Markova, a Russian citizen who recently became a public relations manager at Uzbekistan's state-run IT Park in the capital Tashkent.
Markova, 22, had been due to be married in Russia in April, but left Moscow with her fiance -- an employee of a company registered at the park -- for Tashkent and the two are now seeking permanent residence.
Markova said she feels comfortable in the city, where Russian is still widely spoken three decades after Uzbekistan gained independence during the collapse of the Soviet Union.
"The country accepted us as one of their own. The people are so friendly and hospitable," she said.
- Thousands in IT leave Russia - Markova was more keen to speak about her new home than the country she left behind, saying only that her decision to leave Russia had been "rushed, as it was for many people" and due to "a number of social and economic factors".
Several other Russian citizens contacted by AFP after moving to Uzbekistan and neighbouring Kyrgyzstan refused to talk, saying they feared the consequences of potentially being seen as critical of Russia.
The IT Park in Tashkent is home to some 550 companies and at the heart of plans to increase Uzbek IT exports to more $1 billion by 2028, a 25-fold rise from last year's figure.
The park's motto, "START local and GO Global" is emblazoned on a wood panel facade at the entrance. Inside, young support staff in casual attire and headsets work at desks.
The IT Park is already seeing benefits from the relocation programme dubbed TashRush -- "a name that seemed most suited to the phenomenon we are witnessing," the park's deputy director Bakhodir Ayupov said.
The Russian Association of Electronic Communications, a lobby group, said on March 22 that 50,000 to 70,000 specialists had left Russia and up to 100,000 more may follow them out of the door this month.
For the moment, Uzbekistan is a less popular destination for departing Russian IT workers than Georgia, Turkey or Armenia.
Uzbekistan has lagged behind other ex-Soviet nations in developing the sector. The country has of late battled winter energy shortages, while power cuts are not uncommon, even in Tashkent.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's visit schedule being discussed
Govt decides to procurement wheat from farmers
Deputy PM to pay 4-day visit to China from Monday
Pakistan seeks foreign investments in diverse sectors: PM
Digital transformation key priority for govt to improve tax collection: Aurangze ..
President-designate of COP29 for collective efforts to deal with climate change ..
Punjab Assembly Speaker suspends 27 members
World Migratory Bird Day being observed today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 11 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 11 May 2024
Taxing cigarettes a way forward for public and economic health
3 Gawadar attack victims funeral offered
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Collective efforts vital to eradicate drugs addiction
2 days ago -
Concerted efforts urged to ease traffic flow on city roads
7 days ago -
Land degradation: A threat to food security
7 days ago -
Revamping health sector, a gigantic task ahead
7 days ago -
American band promotes intercultural harmony thru music fusions
8 days ago -
Waste Management – A persistent challenge for MWMC
9 days ago
-
Experts for ending child labour
11 days ago -
Labour Day - A reminder for better facilities to workers
11 days ago -
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
13 days ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
14 days ago -
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
14 days ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
15 days ago