National exhibition of information technologies – ICTExpo 2007 – opened on 25 September at Uzkurgazmasavdo exhibition complex in Tashkent. The three-day event demonstrates the country’s strong interest in the ICT development.

The exhibition has been organized by the Association of Uzbek IT enterprises and Organizations with an official support of the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information. UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan acted as official partner through its project "Assisting the Government of Uzbekistan in the formulation and implementation of ICT for development policy".

This year, the organizers have been holding exhibition in Tashkent and Samarkand simultaneously. Tashkent exhibition has taken place at Uzkorgazmasavdo and about 90 companies have been presenting their products and services in the exhibition.

Kyoko Postill, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, said at the opening ceremony: "UNDP welcomes the organization of ICTExpo, which demonstrates the country’s strong interest in the ICT development, and which encourages policy discussions during the annually organized IT week. Moreover, we are glad to be part of and witness the expansion of this year’s exhibition to outside of Tashkent as well. This proves again the growth of ICT industry and ICT market in Uzbekistan."

"We hope that ICTExpo 2007 will contribute to promoting a better understanding of the latest information technologies, create business opportunities through information exchange and, ultimately, to further advance into the information society."

Ms. Postill also added: "We look forward to our continued cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan and our other national and international partners in implementing new ICT activities for further development of the country."

Recognizing the importance and potential of the ICT for Development in Uzbekistan, UNDP has been providing support in this area for the last decade. UNDP implements ICT Policy support project and other ICT for Development projects as well as mainstreams ICT initiatives in many projects in the area of Economic Governance, Good Governance, Environment and Energy Governance in Uzbekistan.

The three largest Uzbek mobile operators – Beeline, MTS and Coscom – occupied the central place in the exhibition like last year. Such neighbourhood looked rather originally and the mobile companies oriented their exhibits – products in the sphere of GSM data transfer services – on wide groups of visitors.

This time ICTExpo has not changed its traditions and it was profile and practical. At bottom of fact the success of such level event depends on several factors. Firstly, among autumn exhibitions ICTExpo has its constant participants that display their stands and products, and secondly organizers succeeded in optimal combination of consumer and corporate expositions.

Along with quality (expansion of assortment and range of services) and quantity (sale volumes of suppliers) indicators of development and dynamics of ICT market, the exhibition reflects the situation in all its spheres. So, we hope that the IT business will be one of the most perspective in Uzbekistan next year too, and organizers will have an opportunity to make the exhibition more interesting and representative in 2008.