Tajikistan Secures Major AI Investments at Dushanbe Conference, Advancing National Strategy

AI Conf 2025 Concludes with Landmark Agreements in Dushanbe

Dushanbe, Tajikistan, recently served as the focal point for artificial intelligence innovation, hosting the AI Conf 2025 on October 25, 2025. The conference, officially titled 'AI Beyond Heights,' brought together over 100 global leaders from more than 20 countries, including ministers, policymakers, AI pioneers, and investors. Organized by the Artificial Intelligence Council under the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, in collaboration with zypl.ai and Area AI, and supported by the Government of Tajikistan, the event underscored the nation's ambitious drive to become a leading AI hub in Central Asia. The Prime Minister of Tajikistan, H.E. Qohir Rasulzoda, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the country's commitment to leveraging AI for sustainable development.

Pioneering Green AI Infrastructure with International Partnership

A significant outcome of the conference was the signing of a strategic collaboration agreement for the development of a 'green' AI data center. darya.ai Ltd, a Tajik company focused on sustainable AI infrastructure, partnered with Yotta Data Services, an Indian AI and hyperscale data center provider. This landmark agreement, formalized on the sidelines of AI Conf 2025, aims to establish a state-of-the-art facility in Darvoz, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). The data center will be powered entirely by Tajikistan's abundant renewable hydropower, a resource that accounts for over 60% of the region's potential. It is designed to provide high-density AI compute services for:

• Enterprises
• Government agencies
• Research institutions
• Startups, offering access to NVIDIA GPUs

This project represents the initial phase of a broader strategy to position Tajikistan as a crucial link in the global AI supply chain between South and Central Asia.

Transforming Education with 'Project Soro'

Further solidifying its commitment to AI integration, Tajikistan officially launched 'Project Soro,' a nationwide initiative to embed artificial intelligence into its national education system. This pioneering project is a collaborative effort between the Tajikistan AI Council, UNICEF, and technology firm zypl.ai, with the agreement signed during AI Conf 2025. 'Project Soro' aims to:

• Make digital learning accessible to all students
• Equip youth with future-ready skills
• Integrate AI as a compulsory school subject by 2027

The initiative is projected to impact 4,000 schools and 2 million students, train up to 2,000 AI specialists, and is estimated to generate $150 million in economic impact over five years. This aligns with Tajikistan's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS-2040), which targets deriving 5% of its GDP from AI by 2040.

Establishing 'Area AI' as a Global Innovation Hub

The conference also marked the official launch of 'Area AI,' heralded as the world's first Special Artificial Intelligence Zone. The establishment was formalized through the signing of the Area AI Investment Consortium in Dushanbe, bringing together leading global companies in the AI sector. This dedicated zone is envisioned as a comprehensive hub for:

• AI research and development
• Ethical AI deployment
• International collaboration
• Investment attraction and technology transfer

'Area AI' is expected to foster a vibrant ecosystem for AI innovation, further cementing Tajikistan's emerging role as a technological center in Eurasia and a leader in responsible AI development.