In brief
Tajikistan’s capital hosted an international artificial‑intelligence conference organized by the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, drawing roughly 200 participants from over 20 countries. The event set the country’s aim of raising the AI sector’s share of GDP to five percent by 2040 and discussed prospects, applications and international cooperation.
In Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, a crowd of roughly 200 experts convened on Friday and Saturday for an international conference on artificial intelligence. The event, organized by the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, marked the country’s first major gathering aimed at positioning AI as a key driver of national growth.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful innovation driver worldwide, with governments investing billions. In Tajikistan, the sector remains nascent but is seen as a vehicle for diversifying an economy that has long relied on remittances and commodity exports.
The conference brought together scholars, industry leaders, and policymakers from more than 20 nations. Sessions spanned the spectrum from technical research to policy frameworks, all designed to stimulate cross‑border collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Central to the discussions was the Ministry’s ambition to lift the AI industry’s share of the country’s gross domestic product to five percent by the year 2040. Presenters highlighted current output levels and outlined the steps needed for accelerated growth.
This ambition aligns with Tajikistan’s overarching national AI development strategy, which was announced earlier this year. The strategy identifies key priority areas, including agriculture, healthcare, and public administration, where AI can address productivity gaps and improve service delivery.
Delegates from countries such as China, India, Germany, and the United States offered to forge joint research projects and invite experts to local institutions. Several diplomats emphasized the importance of creating an ecosystem that supports startups and attracts foreign investment.
Key topics on the agenda included the prospects for AI integration across sectors, ethical guidelines for data use, and regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with societal safeguards. Speakers underscored that careful policy design is essential for long‑term success.
Panel discussions examined potential applications, such as precision agriculture to boost crop yields, diagnostic tools to expand rural healthcare, and smart traffic systems to ease congestion in growing urban centers. Illustrations of pilot projects in neighboring countries were presented to demonstrate feasibility.
On the cooperation front, participants explored avenues for expanding international partnerships, including joint training programs and shared infrastructure. The Ministry expressed readiness to host regional AI hubs and facilitate technical exchanges between local universities and global research centres.
While the conference did not produce binding agreements, it laid a groundwork for future engagement and signaled Tajikistan’s determination to accelerate technology uptake. Observers expect that, if the stated targets are pursued, the country could see its economy transform into a more knowledge‑based model over the next two decades.
