Uzbekistan Forges Dual Partnerships with U.S. for Investment and NVIDIA for AI Advancement

Strengthening Economic Ties with the United States

Uzbekistan has taken a significant step to deepen its strategic economic partnership with the United States through the establishment of the Uzbekistan-U.S. Business and Investment Council. This new platform was formalized by a presidential decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on November 12, 2025. The council's creation follows President Mirziyoyev's participation in the C5+1 Summit and subsequent meetings with American business leaders in Washington from November 4-6, 2025.

The council is designed to coordinate strategic business initiatives, promote major investment and trade projects, and foster commercial cooperation between the two nations. It will be co-chaired by Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, and a representative appointed by the U.S. administration. Key objectives include establishing a special investment fund with the involvement of institutions such as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The council also aims to promote Uzbekistan's export potential, particularly in IT services, and diversify its investment portfolio.

Further diplomatic and economic engagement measures include the introduction of a new position, Adviser-Envoy of the Presidential Administration, at Uzbekistan's Embassy in Washington starting January 1, 2026, to coordinate investment initiatives. Plans are also underway to open additional consulates in U.S. cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago, Orlando, and Seattle. Additionally, a visa-free regime for U.S. citizens, allowing 30-day stays, will commence on January 1, 2026, to boost business travel and investment flows.

Pioneering AI Development with NVIDIA Partnership

In parallel with its economic initiatives, Uzbekistan has announced a strategic artificial intelligence (AI) partnership with U.S. technology giant NVIDIA. This collaboration was unveiled by Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov during his visit to the United States in early November 2025. The partnership is set to significantly advance Uzbekistan's AI infrastructure and digital capabilities.

The collaboration focuses on three core areas: knowledge and experience exchange, education and talent development, and infrastructure development. NVIDIA will share international best practices on AI governance, ecosystem development, and industry use cases. Central to the educational aspect is the establishment of an AI Center of Excellence, which will leverage NVIDIA technologies and educational programs to train faculty and specialists. The government plans an investment of approximately $3 million to establish an Industrial AI Center of Excellence, evaluating NVIDIA technologies for digital twins, robotics, and industrial AI solutions, with an expected launch in 2026.

Infrastructure development includes plans to launch two national AI clusters with a combined computing capacity of up to one megawatt by 2026. One cluster will be dedicated to education and research, while the other will support projects in digital government, healthcare, and industrial AI. Top universities in Uzbekistan are also slated to receive NVIDIA-powered supercomputing systems, with procurement targeted for the fourth quarter of 2025. The partnership will also integrate NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI) programs into university curricula to enhance AI education.

Uzbekistan's Vision for Digital Transformation

These dual partnerships underscore Uzbekistan's ambitious national strategy for digital transformation and economic modernization. The country has been actively pursuing its 'Digital Uzbekistan 2030' strategy, aiming to become a regional IT hub and place among the top 30 countries globally in e-government development by 2030.

The initiatives with the U.S. and NVIDIA are expected to attract substantial foreign investment and foster a skilled workforce, crucial for realizing Uzbekistan's long-term goals. By strengthening ties with international partners and investing in cutting-edge technologies like AI, Uzbekistan seeks to enhance its economic competitiveness, improve public services, and create new opportunities for its citizens.