Tajikistan Hosts First-Ever Artificial Intelligence Forum at IT Park Dushanbe
Dushanbe, The Gulf Observer: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming business, education, healthcare, and creativity across the globe, and Tajikistan has joined the conversation with its first-ever national forum dedicated entirely to AI.
The AI NEXT FORUM, held on August 16 at IT Park Dushanbe, marked a milestone in the country’s digital transformation journey. The venue, now a hub for technological innovation, welcomed young professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, and business leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption.
The forum opened with welcoming remarks from organizers, followed by a dynamic program of expert presentations, panel discussions, and practical workshops. The atmosphere was described as both businesslike and inspiring, as participants engaged in lively debates on how AI can reshape Tajikistan’s future.
Panel Discussions and Key Insights
A highlight of the event was a panel discussion led by Mahmud Davlatov, head of the Association for Digital Development of Tajikistan. Representatives from IT Park Dushanbe, the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies, UNICEF, Alif Bank, and Tcell joined the dialogue, stressing the importance of government, business, and international cooperation in advancing digital transformation.
Speakers included Temur Khisamutdinov, director of IT Park Dushanbe, who outlined the benefits of IT Park residency and emphasized that several resident companies are already developing AI-driven solutions.
Zarina Achilova, founder and CEO of Tamos Consulting, highlighted the growing role of AI in customer service. She explained how AI assistants can increase call center accuracy to 97%, speed up employee training, boost revenues by 20%, and cut maintenance costs by 30%.
Journalist Alina Valamat-Zadeh explored the impact of AI on creative professions, drawing parallels between today’s technological revolution and the industrial revolution of the past. While acknowledging public concerns about job displacement, she emphasized that professions will evolve rather than disappear.
Malik Malikov, co-CEO of Lido, presented a practical perspective, noting that businesses lose up to 80% of applications due to slow customer responses. He argued that AI-powered automation offers a solution by providing instant, tireless, multi-channel communication.
Other experts, including Rustam Gulov, Manuchehr Gafforzoda, Mirzodaler Mukhsinzoda, Sergey Shulgin, and Shokhrukh Rustamov, shared insights on AI’s influence on business, education, and investment.
Workshops and Practical Applications
Parallel workshops gave participants hands-on exposure to AI tools for content creation, educational technologies, and business process automation. These sessions attracted significant interest, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
Looking Ahead
Organized by IT Park Dushanbe, the Association for Digital Development of Tajikistan, and the A.I. Sino Club, with support from the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies under the President of Tajikistan, the forum was hailed as a success.
Key partners included the Council on Artificial Intelligence under the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, Dushanbe City Bank, UNICEF Tajikistan, Honor, and 28 Monkeys.
Organizers confirmed that the AI NEXT FORUM will not be the last, promising more initiatives to strengthen Tajikistan’s digital ecosystem and encourage greater collaboration between innovators, businesses, and policymakers.
