The Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan recently hosted a high-level meeting aimed at shaping the nation’s technological future. Minister Sherzod Shermatov held strategic talks with Nicola Caprez, Vice President of Global AI Infrastructure at NVIDIA—the world’s leading semiconductor corporation—and the leadership of Firebird.
The meeting was also attended by Oleg Pekos, First Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies, along with Firebird President Alexander Yesayan and Managing Director Razmig Hovaghimian.
A regional AI data center
The central focus of the negotiations was an initiative proposed by NVIDIA and Firebird to establish a large-scale data center specialized in Artificial Intelligence computing power. The project’s strategic parameters are estimated as follows:
- Power capacity: An initial phase ranging from 125 MW to 250 MW.
- Outlook: Designed for long-term scalability to evolve into a primary regional hub.
This infrastructure will provide the essential GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) foundation required for developing complex AI models and processing Big Data within Uzbekistan.
Government support and strategic reforms
The international partners were briefed on the Uzbek government’s priority plans for the AI sector, including:
- Special incentives: Unique tax and infrastructural preferences offered for the construction of data centers in the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
- Talent development: Programs aimed at training international-standard specialists and enriching educational curricula using NVIDIA’s cutting-edge technologies.
Global stature of the partners
- NVIDIA: One of the world’s most valuable companies and the absolute leader in the AI chip market. Its solutions serve as the backbone of the global AI revolution.
- Firebird: An international operator with extensive experience in developing digital and energy infrastructure across emerging markets.
The partnership being forged with NVIDIA and Firebird is set to significantly boost Uzbekistan’s IT export potential while positioning the country as the central technological hub of Central Asia. Such large-scale infrastructure projects provide local startups and the scientific community with unprecedented access to world-class technology. At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties agreed on the next steps and technical frameworks for the project’s implementation.
