Tajikistan Unveils AI Development Strategy 2040, Calls for Enhanced SCO Digital Cooperation
Dushanbe, The Gulf Observer: Tajikistan has officially adopted its Artificial Intelligence Development Strategy 2040, outlining a comprehensive roadmap to integrate advanced technologies across key sectors and strengthen regional digital cooperation.
The announcement was made by Khurshed Mirzo, Director of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies under the President of Tajikistan, during the Fifth Meeting of Ministers of Information and Communication Technologies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The strategy prioritises the application of artificial intelligence in public administration, healthcare, agriculture, environmental protection, and information security, reflecting Tajikistan’s ambition to modernise governance and drive digital transformation.
Mirzo highlighted the growing role of IT Park Dushanbe as a central hub for innovation, supporting startups and technology enterprises through tax and customs incentives, modern infrastructure, and specialised training programmes for young professionals and entrepreneurs.
In a bid to deepen regional collaboration, Tajikistan proposed the establishment of a shared registry of best practices in ICT and artificial intelligence among SCO member states. It also called for the development of a coordinated legal framework for AI regulation, alongside enhanced digital connectivity and data exchange between national data centres.
Reaffirming its commitment to digitalisation, Tajikistan urged SCO partners to support these initiatives and expand cooperation in innovation and emerging technologies.
On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, an international forum on artificial intelligence was held, where participants underscored AI’s transformative potential in driving digital economic growth and improving public service delivery. Officials noted that the adoption of AI technologies could significantly enhance public sector efficiency and reduce operational costs by 2030.
The agency further emphasised Tajikistan’s active role in advancing regional AI cooperation, including its contribution to a United Nations General Assembly resolution on artificial intelligence for sustainable development in Central Asia. The initiative предусматривает the establishment of a regional AI centre in Dushanbe.
Officials described the forum and Tajikistan’s participation as a significant step toward strengthening SCO collaboration in artificial intelligence and fostering the development of a unified digital space across the region.
