Tajikistan has inaugurated Central Asia’s first national artificial intelligence (AI) cluster and unveiled the country’s pioneering AI technopark, Area AI. The official launch ceremony reportedly took place in Darvoz district of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) on June 25 and was attended by President Emomali Rahmon.
An official source within the AI Council told Asia-Plus that the launch marks a pivotal step in implementing the National AI Strategy, which was introduced in 2022 under the president’s initiative. The strategy sets an ambitious target: by 2040, AI should contribute at least 5% to the country’s GDP. These efforts aim to strengthen Tajikistan’s technological sovereignty and advance its digital economy.
The AI cluster, developed by the domestic tech company darya.ai, is focused on building language models, computational infrastructure, and applied research — with a strong emphasis on the Tajik language. It provides a platform for education and the development of cutting-edge AI solutions, including open-source models.
The Area AI national technopark is poised to become a central hub for research, pilot projects, and international cooperation. It will bring together researchers, businesses, government agencies, and investors to apply AI across key sectors such as energy, finance, healthcare, and education.
An exhibition held during the event showcased innovations by local AI companies and initiatives led by the AI Council.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the signing of strategic agreements with three international partners:
· ATRC (UAE): to jointly develop Tajik-Arabic language models and cross-border AI projects;
· Presight AI (UAE): to integrate AI into public services, cybersecurity, and smart city development;
· Scale AI (USA): to enhance Tajik language models and scale up AI solutions.
The event reportedly also drew participation from representatives of leading global tech and investment firms, including OpenAI, NVIDIA, G42, Mistral AI, Qatar National Bank, and others.
