Tajikistan proposes Central Asian AI development center at C5+1 conference

September 30, 2026 at 10:41 AM2 min

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Tajikistan's First Deputy Director of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies, Hakim Ismoilzoda, proposed creating a Central Asian regional AI development center at the C5+1 SI conference in Astana on September 29. He invited international partners, including US companies and the US government, to join the initiative. The proposal came as Tajikistan plans to raise AI's contribution to GDP from 5% to 8% and expand AI use across 17 economic sectors.

Key Facts

Tajikistan proposed creating a Central Asian regional AI development center at the C5+1 SI conference in Astana on September 29.
Tajikistan plans to increase AI's contribution to GDP from 5% to 8% and expand AI use across 17 economic sectors.
Tajikistan plans to allocate 100 MW of green energy for AI data centers, with capacity to reach 1 GW by 2030.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Mark Cameron announced $5 million through CRDF Global to support cybersecurity and the digital sector in Central Asia.
The C5+1 SI conference opened on September 29 at Hilton Astana and continues on September 30 with sessions on AI startups, venture investment, and university cooperation.

Tajikistan's AI Proposal

First Deputy Director of Tajikistan's Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies Hakim Ismoilzoda presented the proposal at the C5+1 SI: Digital Innovation for Economic Growth conference in Astana. He said the center could serve as a platform for regional cooperation, experience exchange, technology development, and investment attraction. Ismoilzoda invited international partners, including US companies and the US government, to participate in the initiative. He emphasized that closer coordination among Central Asian countries would help form a single regional digital technology market and create new opportunities for investors.

Energy and Infrastructure Plans

Ismoilzoda highlighted energy infrastructure as a key condition for AI development. Tajikistan plans to allocate 100 MW of green energy for AI data centers, with capacity to increase to 1 GW by 2030. He stated that without clean energy and connectivity, it is difficult to develop digital technologies and AI. Tajikistan is revising its national AI development strategy to increase AI's GDP contribution from 5% to 8% and expand AI use across 17 economic sectors.

C5+1 SI Conference

The C5+1 SI: Digital Innovation for Economic Growth conference opened on September 29 at Hilton Astana with representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States. Participants discussed AI development, digital infrastructure, data centers, cybersecurity, and technological cooperation. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Mark Cameron announced $5 million through CRDF Global to support cybersecurity and the digital sector in Central Asia. The second day on September 30 focuses on digital economy workforce training, AI startups, venture investment, and university-research cooperation. A session by Silkroad Innovation Hub and MIT examines Central Asia's readiness for AI adoption.