Huawei launches flagship Tech Carnival & Partner Summit 2025 in Uzbekistan, signaling a bold new era of AI-driven growth across the Middle East and Central Asia
Tashkent, Uzbekistan — In a landmark move signaling the rise of the Middle East and Central Asia (ME&CA) as a formidable player in the global digital economy, Huawei officially opened its flagship Tech Carnival & Partner Summit 2025 in Uzbekistan — the first time the technology giant has brought this prestigious event to the country.
Held under the theme “Accelerating the Intelligent World,” the summit brought together over 1,500 attendees, including government officials, technology leaders, and strategic partners, to chart the next chapter in the region’s digital transformation journey.
A Historic City at a Digital Crossroads
Tashkent, long known for its historic significance along the Silk Road, now stands poised to become a modern gateway to digital innovation. In his keynote address, Sherzod Shermatov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies, said, “Uzbekistan stands at a crucial junction of ancient heritage and modern innovation. This event represents our commitment to becoming a regional hub for digital excellence.”
The timing couldn’t be more significant. Spanning 21 countries, with a population exceeding 500 million and a combined GDP of over $6 trillion, the ME&CA region is uniquely positioned at a digital inflection point. The global acceleration of artificial intelligence, led by breakthroughs like DeepSeek, has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for regions without legacy infrastructure to leapfrog into AI-first ecosystems.
AI as the Catalyst for Regional Transformation
Derek Hao, President of Huawei Enterprise Business Group for ME&CA, articulated the company’s vision: “Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace. Huawei has developed new digital and intelligent solutions for industries based on our global practices with customers and partners.”
Huawei’s strategy aligns with regional ambitions like Uzbekistan’s Digital Uzbekistan 2030, which aims to elevate the country’s e-Government Development Index ranking from 63rd to the global top 30.
To support this transformation, Huawei introduced a four-tier digital enablement framework tailored to varying levels of digital maturity:
- ICT Infrastructure Enablement: Integrated computing, networking, and storage capabilities.
- Cloud Platform Enablement: Unified multi-cloud application platforms that cut development cycles from months to weeks.
- Data Enablement: A lake-house solution that eliminates silos and reduces data-migration workload by up to 80%.
- AI Enablement: Tools and frameworks to accelerate real-world AI deployment across sectors.
Digital Sovereignty and Strategic Autonomy
Beyond economics, the digital transformation has profound geopolitical implications. As global tech ecosystems grow increasingly fragmented, digital sovereignty—the ability to control and govern digital infrastructure—has become a cornerstone of national strategy. Emerging “technological corridors” that connect the Gulf with Central Asia and beyond are positioning the ME&CA region as a vital bridge between East and West in a new, AI-enabled world.
Investing in People, Powering the Future
Huawei’s commitment to the region extends well beyond infrastructure. The company has established ICT academies in collaboration with local universities and launched its T.H.E. Gold Talent Programme, which aims to train one million digital professionals across ME&CA.
Working with more than 3,000 partners and supporting tens of thousands of SMEs, Huawei’s regional commercial market saw 34% growth year-over-year in 2024. These results underscore the power of strategic collaboration in driving inclusive digital growth.
A Vision for Collaborative Intelligence
Looking ahead, success in ME&CA will be driven by collaborative intelligence—the fusion of human creativity with AI-driven tools to solve the region’s most pressing challenges. As governments, enterprises, and tech innovators unite around a shared digital vision, the region is poised not just to catch up but to lead in the intelligent economy.
Derek Hao concluded with a strong commitment: “At Huawei, we are committed to working with our partners to build robust digital infrastructure and accelerate intelligent transformation across the region.”
As Tashkent sets the stage for a smarter, more connected future, Huawei’s summit marks more than a milestone—it heralds the start of a digital renaissance across the ME&CA region.
