Makhliyo Muksinova, Services Export Development Director, IT Park Uzbekistan

1) How do you use your role to ensure that technology and policy are truly inclusive?

In my role, I focus on removing as many barriers as possible for companies entering Uzbekistan.

When I speak with international IT leaders, I highlight not only our generous incentives - like zero corporate taxes for IT Park residents, simplified hiring of foreign specialists, and full foreign ownership - but also the human side of our ecosystem.

Uzbekistan has a young, ambitious population, and more than five million English speakers ready to grow with global companies. 

My work is about turning this combination of talent and favorable conditions into a welcoming and predictable environment where global teams feel confident operating and expanding. 

2) What’s a moment in your career when you saw firsthand how technology or a new policy changed a citizen’s life for the better?

One moment I always remember was when a foreign BPO company joined our Zero Risk Program. Because the policy provides free office space, equipment, and partial salary compensation for up to a year, the company was able to launch operations almost immediately.

Within a few months, they had grown their export team far beyond initial expectations. Watching them scale so quickly made it clear how powerful the right incentives can be when they address real business needs. 

3) What was the most impactful project you worked on this year, and how did you measure its success in building trust and serving the needs of the public?

This year, expanding the Zero Risk initiative across new regions had the biggest impact. It gave export-oriented IT and BPO companies a smoother, faster way to start working in Uzbekistan.

I see its success not only in the numbers - more jobs created, higher export volumes - but also in the confidence companies have gained. When I speak with them after their first months in Uzbekistan, many say the programme allowed them to focus on building strong teams instead of worrying about startup costs or infrastructure. 

4) What was one unexpected lesson you learned this year about designing for real people? This can be about a specific project or a broader lesson about your work.

I learned that flexibility can be more important than even the most generous financial incentives.

For many companies, the fact that they can hire foreign specialists without permits, use a virtual  office, or operate exterritorially matters just as much as tax benefits. Another lesson is that transparency and speed are essential.

Global teams operate in fast cycles, and even small administrative delays can affect their decisions. This has shaped the way I approach service design - always prioritising clarity, responsiveness, and personal support. 

5) We hear a lot about AI. What's a practical example of how AI can be used to make government services more inclusive and trustworthy?

AI is already becoming a practical tool for strengthening our export potential. For example, BPO centres can use AI-driven quality control and language models to improve service accuracy and reduce onboarding time for new agents.

International software teams working in Uzbekistan also use AI to streamline testing, documentation, and communication. What I like most is that AI gives our young specialists a chance to contribute to high-value global tasks from day one. 

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6) How are you preparing for the next wave of change in the public sector? What new skill, approach, or technology are you most excited to explore in the coming year?

We are preparing by making our regulatory environment more adaptable and by building institutions that can support long-term digital growth - such as the International Digital Technology Center named "Enterprise Uzbekistan".

Personally, I’m excited about the rising interest in cloud services, AI engineering, data-centres and cybersecurity. These areas align perfectly with Uzbekistan’s young talent pool, and they allow our country not only to participate in global markets, but to shape new niches within them. 

7) What advice do you have for public sector innovators who want to build a career focused on serving all citizens?

My advice is to think globally from the very beginning. Build products with international users in mind, invest in strong English-language and customer-focused skills within the team, and take advantage of the unique benefits IT Park offers.

I also encourage founders to engage with global communities - mentors, accelerators, and partners. The world is more accessible than ever, and Uzbek products deserve their place in it. 

8) Who inspires you to build a more inclusive and trustworthy public sector?

I’m inspired by the energy of Uzbekistan’s youth. Their ambition and curiosity make me believe that we can build a truly global tech ecosystem here. 

I’m also motivated by the idea of positioning our country as a cultural and economic bridge between East and West - a place where innovation is shaped by diversity, creativity, and a forward-looking mindset. 

9) If you had an unlimited budget, what would your dream project be?

With unlimited resources, I would focus on three things: massively expanding digital education, creating turnkey operational hubs for international companies, and building regulatory sandboxes that allow innovators to experiment and scale safely.

If we combine world-class talent development with an effortless soft-landing process and flexible, modern regulation, Uzbekistan could become one of the most attractive IT destinations in the entire region. 

10) Outside tech, what excites you the most?

What motivates me most is the impact this work has on people’s lives. When a young specialist from a small region joins a global company, improves their skills, and builds a career without leaving home - that is incredibly meaningful. 

I’m also motivated by the belief that Uzbekistan is entering a new era. Helping shape that transition, and seeing the country become more open and connected, is both a responsibility and a source of inspiration for me.