Beyond well-trodden paths: Uzbekistan

There are questions we ask ourselves before every new mission: is this the right moment?
In the case of Uzbekistan, the answer was clear, yes, and for quite some time now. What follows is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of National Economic Cooperation of Uzbekistan. Ahead of us lie several meetings that only confirmed what we are already seeing on the ground – this country is developing faster than many expected.

An MoU that opens doors

The agreement, signed by Rafał Magryś, Chairman of the Board of 8Foundry Alliance, and Farrukh Fazliyev, Chairman of the Board of the Association of National Economic Cooperation of Uzbekistan, sets a framework for concrete cooperation: innovation and digital transformation, export support and internationalisation, technologies for the food and textile industries, logistics, as well as investment and grant-based projects.

We are starting cooperation with an organisation that actively supports the development of economic relations, investment flows and export activity in Uzbekistan, while also building bridges for international partnerships. In practice, this means access to an environment where business is built on relationships, presence and trust.

A university looking towards the future

On the same day, we also visited Nizami National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan, where discussions focused on academic cooperation, internationalisation, and connecting the academic world with business and technology.

We had the opportunity to meet Rector Khilola Umarova, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration for Education System Reform as well as representatives of the university leadership: Zafarjon Rakhmanov (Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs), Farkhod Alisherov (Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation), and Vahobjon Rajapov (First Vice-Rector for Youth Affairs and Spiritual-Educational Affairs).

For 8Foundry Alliance, this is a strategically important direction. Within our ecosystem, we already collaborate with multiple universities. We strongly believe that the most valuable projects emerge where academic knowledge meets real market needs.

Uzbekistan is rapidly developing its educational, skills and technological base. This creates space for joint educational programmes, R&D initiatives and international cooperation projects.

A country choosing to catch up with the future

Uzbekistan is a nation of more than 38 million people – the largest population in Central Asia, with a remarkably young society and an economy undergoing deep transformation since 2016. The opening to foreign investment, economic liberalisation, digitalisation of public administration and improving credit ratings are not promises – they are already happening.

For us, Uzbekistan is not interesting because it is exotic. It is interesting because it is at a stage of development where real partnerships carry real value.

A first step in a longer journey

This is only the beginning of our presence in the region. Ahead of us are further meetings, discussions and work on projects with real implementation potential.

At 8Foundry Alliance, we do not enter markets just to mark presence.
Because often, the most interesting opportunities appear where few are looking yet.