Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has instructed government agencies to fully transfer public services to electronic format, integrate state databases and accelerate the development of digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
The instructions were issued on August 19 at the first meeting of the Council under the President for the Development of the Digital Economy in Dushanbe, according to the president’s official website.
The meeting brought together council members, government ministers and representatives of state agencies to discuss priorities under Tajikistan’s Medium-Term Digital Economy Development Program for 2026–2030.
Rahmon said the creation of the council was part of the government’s broader policy to modernize the economy, improve public administration and expand the use of digital technologies.
He noted that declaring 2026–2030 the “Years of Digital Economy and Innovation Development” and approving the corresponding state program had laid the groundwork for accelerating the country’s digital transformation.
According to the president, digitalization should primarily improve services for citizens and businesses, reduce the time and resources needed to access them, increase transparency in public administration and strengthen the competitiveness of the economy.
Public services to move online
Khurshed Mirzo, director of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies, presented proposals for the full digitalization of public services and the integration of government databases.
Rahmon outlined four key principles for the digital transformation: tangible results for citizens and the economy, a unified state digital infrastructure, the “once-only” principle for submitting data, and equal access to public services.
Government agencies providing public services were instructed to integrate them into a unified portal and gradually move them entirely online.
Before a service is digitalized, agencies must simplify the relevant procedures, eliminate unnecessary requirements and prevent citizens from being repeatedly asked to submit the same documents.
The Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies, together with the Ministry of Justice and other agencies, was tasked with preparing a phased plan for moving priority public services online.
Central and local authorities were also instructed to appoint technical specialists responsible for the development of digital systems and to maintain regular coordination with the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies.
Internet, paperless customs and digital skills
The communications service agency was instructed to implement its sector development plan, with particular attention to improving internet quality and expanding coverage in remote areas.
The Customs Service and other relevant agencies were tasked with developing a roadmap for a full transition to paperless procedures.
The government also plans to focus on digital entrepreneurship and attracting private investment. State support for such projects, officials said, should be transparent, competitive and based on measurable results.
Sulton Rahimzoda, chairman of the State Committee for Investment and State Property Management, presented proposals on attracting investment and financing digital projects.
Education and Science Minister Rahim Sayedzoda outlined measures to improve specialist training and raise digital literacy among the population.
The Ministry of Education and Science, together with other agencies, educational institutions and the private sector, was instructed to align training and retraining programs with labor market demand.
Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity
The Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies was also instructed to prepare proposals for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in different sectors of the economy and for strengthening cybersecurity.
Among the main areas of digital transformation identified at the meeting were the integration of state registries, digitalization of the real economy and social sectors, development of human capital and digital entrepreneurship, investment attraction, AI adoption and stronger cybersecurity.
Officials also proposed setting annual targets and final performance indicators for 2027–2030 to avoid duplication and prevent financing of unjustified digital projects.
Following the meeting, the government was instructed to assess the performance of ministers and agency heads based on the results of digitalization.
Senior officials will be held personally responsible for the integration of digital systems, data quality, simplification of public services, efficient use of funds and the practical results of digital projects.
