The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $1 million in regional technical assistance to support a digital transformation program aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable growth across Central and West Asia, Report informs, citing the ADB.
The program covers seven countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The funding will be provided as a grant from the ADB's Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF). The program is scheduled to run from September 2026 to September 2030.
The ADB's Digital Sector Office will implement the project in cooperation with the Central and West Asia Department and the bank's country offices.
Tajikistan will receive the largest share of the funding at $300,000, accounting for 30% of the total. Kazakhstan will receive $200,000 (20%), while Azerbaijan and Armenia will each receive $150,000 (15%).
Pakistan is allocated $100,000 (10%), while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will each receive $50,000 (5%).
The technical assistance will include diagnostic studies, investment project preparation and institutional capacity building.
In Tajikistan, the program will support the preparation of a feasibility study for connecting schools to the internet. In Kazakhstan, it will assess investment needs related to AI infrastructure, data lakes and cybersecurity.
Uzbekistan will receive support for preparing a project to develop the country's semiconductor industry. In Kyrgyzstan, experts will provide assistance to the "Sanarip Ordo 2" program, which focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into public administration.
The program will also support digital sector diagnostics and the development of investment portfolios in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Pakistan.
The initiative is designed to help narrow the digital divide, particularly in rural and remote areas, while strengthening cybersecurity, developing trusted data-sharing mechanisms and promoting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and geospatial data.