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Uzbekistan's blueprint for a creative economic powerhouse
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How is AI reshaping the arts? What do modern cultural institutions look like? Is investing in creative services the key to economic growth? Global thought leaders examined these urgent questions and more at the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE).
Tashkent is a patchwork city. The buildings of the Uzbek capital tell a complicated and fascinating story about this Central Asian country's history. The capital has ties to the ancient Silk Road, its colorful mosaics hint at historical Persian, Arabic, and Turkish influences juxtaposed with imposing modernist architecture, built after an earthquake destroyed much of the city in 1966.
Now, a new wave of contemporary spaces is being added to Tashkent’s architectural mélange; and from art institutions to futuristic tech hubs, they hint at an exciting blueprint for both the capital and the country’s future.
Uzbekistan declared independence from the USSR in 1991. But since 2016, when Shavkat Mirziyoyev became president, the country has experienced a gear change. This once closed-off state, with an economy driven by oil and mineral operations, is now using 5.5% economic growth as a launch pad for its creative and technological industries and push for innovation.
The past few years have seen a slew of new cultural projects announced, from the Centre for Contemporary Art Tashkent (CCA)– Central Asia’s largest gallery, opening in 2025 – to the Bukhara Biennial set to debut in September 2025 and the State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan (architecture by Tadao Ando) by 2027. Meanwhile, a focus on IT literacy amongst the country’s population – 60% of whom are under the age of 30 and digital natives – is driving the opening of tech parks and the development of smart cities. Today in Uzbekistan, startups are nurtured, creative projects brought to life, and technology is being integrated into everyday life.
A stake in the ground on this journey is the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE), took place at the Central Asian Expo (CAEx) international exhibition center in Tashkent from October 2-4. Experts in the arts, culture, business, and government, from more than 80 countries, took part in the forum, which was first launched in Bali in 2018, and aims to highlight the potential of creative industries to decrease poverty and drive sustainable economic development across the globe.
Alongside Uzbek artisans and creatives, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, Gayane Umerova, and Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, thought leaders like HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums; Sylvie Forbin, Deputy Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); and Dr. Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation took the stage over the course of the three-day event.
This is a critical moment for the creative economy. The sector – which includes industries such as fashion, film, design, the arts and digital media – is one of the fastest-growing in the world. However, it is also undergoing extreme turbulence.
AI is rapidly changing how art and design are produced, distributed, and consumed, offering both new opportunities and raising concerns about authorship, authenticity, and intellectual property rights. Automation is reshaping creative jobs, sparking debates about the future of work in sectors that have traditionally relied on human intuition and creativity. At the same time, there is a growing divide between nations with access to advanced digital tools and skills and those without. Developed economies account for 82.3% of global exports in creative services – including graphic design, content creation, video production, web design, and branding.
All of this means the six topics that were the focus of the weekend’s talks are more urgent than ever: what a modern workforce looks like; the rise of smart cities; the future of creative education; the evolution of creative lifestyles; the future of creativity in the age of AI, and inclusively sustainable futures.
Tashkent is a fitting place to untangle these issues. When it comes to the future of creative education it’s a world leader. Reforms, supported by UNICEF and the Digital Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy, are integrating digital tools into the school curriculum. This includes AI-based platforms and workshops aimed at fostering creativity and digital skills among students. This extends to higher education, too. Uzbekistan has long been recognized as the top English-speaking country in Central Asia, with a high literacy rate of 99%. Now 25,000 citizens also graduate from its IT universities every year, feeding digital transformation in the country. There are one million Uzbek coders. In 2022, the country also launched the Uzbekistan Women Leaders Caucus to help more women progress in business.
Of course, entrepreneurial creativity can’t happen without an inspiring environment. The Uzbek government has invested in the development of its citizens' creative lifestyles as well as the country’s economic growth. This means protecting the heritage of the country: there’s a current initiative to get Tashkent’s modern buildings inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It means attracting top global talent to Uzbekistan with schemes like the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA)’s first Artist Residencies Programme, bringing together international artists to collaborate with locals. And it means supporting grassroots talent. Since its creation back in 2017, the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) has provided financial support to arts projects in the country.
All of this will help Uzbekistan shift its economy’s focus from unsustainable sources like oil and gas to more sustainable revenue streams. The development of new jobs and new educational paths into them will help create new employment opportunities for a diverse workforce – one that aligns with the government’s support of the UN’s zero discrimination project.
As the country pivots from a history rooted in resource-driven economies to one propelled by creativity and technology, the WCCE marks a significant milestone.
The forum was an opportunity for Uzbekistan to share its transformative journey and to inspire a global audience to follow suit, says Gayane Umerova, chairperson of the ACDF. “We are proud to welcome artists, policymakers, visionaries, and guests from around the world to experience Uzbekistan’s unique creative legacy.”
We are proud to welcome artists, policymakers, visionaries, and guests from around the world to experience Uzbekistan’s unique creative legacy.
Gayane Umerova, chairperson of the ACDF
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To find out more about the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation
25,000
Citizens graduate from IT universities every year, feeding digital transformation in the country.
50,860
Number of registered companies in Uzbekistan's creative industry sector (2022)
11.8%
The average number of companies comprising Uzbekistan's creative industries is growing
82.3%
of global exports in creative services, including graphic design, content creation and video production.
When it comes to blending AI and creativity, Uzbekistan is creating space for start-ups to be truly innovative. The government has streamlined business registration processes and reduced bureaucratic obstacles for creative businesses, as well as introducing tax breaks, subsidies and other incentives for investors and entrepreneurs aimed at stimulating innovation and economic diversification. A result of this is IT Park Uzbekistan in Tashkent. The facility supports a thriving community of tech entrepreneurs, developers, and innovators, helping position Uzbekistan as a burgeoning center for technological advancement. On a larger scale, this shift has led to the development of projects like the ambitious $10-15 billion smart city project in Nurafshan, led by US firm C&N Associates. This initiative aims to integrate cutting-edge technologies across sectors such as transportation, healthcare, and utilities.
Now, a new wave of contemporary spaces is being added to Tashkent’s architectural mélange; and from art institutions to futuristic tech hubs, they hint at an exciting blueprint for both the capital and the country’s future.
Uzbekistan declared independence from the USSR in 1991. But since 2016, when Shavkat Mirziyoyev became president, the country experienced a gear change. This once closed-off state, with an economy driven by oil and mineral operations, is now using 5.5% economic growth as a launch pad for its creative and technological industries and push for innovation.