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      53% of companies in Central Asia and the Caucasus have already deployed AI at production scale and are seeing measurable impact — more than twice the global level of 24%.

      99% of respondents in the region see investment in advanced technologies as a key source of competitive advantage over the next three years, compared with 90% globally.      

      93% of companies in the region expect revenue growth over the next 24 months, above the global level of 89%. 

      KPMG Caucasus and Central Asia has released its latest technology trends report for the region, based on a survey of more than 70 companies in Central Asia and the Caucasus and insights from 2,500 IT executives across 27 countries.

      The findings show that companies in Central Asia and the Caucasus are entering a more mature phase of technology development — moving from cautious adoption to active scaling of innovation. The region is also demonstrating a faster transition to production-scale AI deployment than the global market.

      Whereas a year ago many companies were taking a wait-and-see approach, waiting for technologies to become more proven, businesses are now moving faster and making more deliberate decisions amid uncertainty. This shift is especially visible in artificial intelligence.

      According to the report, 53% of companies in the region have already moved AI solutions into production with measurable impact — more than double the global figure of 24%. 

      “We see that the technology agenda in Central Asia and the Caucasus has entered a phase of managed maturation. The region is increasingly moving away from the logic of waiting until everything becomes clearer and is instead making decisions in an environment where clarity often emerges only after action has been taken. In terms of the share of companies using AI in production, our region is noticeably ahead of the global market. But the next stage is critical: organizations now need to turn individual successes into sustainable capabilities, supported by clear accountability, mature governance mechanisms and stakeholder trust.”
      Konstantin Aushev

      Partner, Head of Technology Practice

      KPMG Caucasus and Central Asia.

      График

      Uzbekistan is among the regional markets showing particularly strong growth in cybersecurity investment. According to the KPMG study, 63% of companies across Central Asia and the Caucasus reported a significant increase in cybersecurity budgets, compared with 41% globally, with the strongest growth observed in Georgia and Uzbekistan.

      Companies in Uzbekistan also demonstrate strong interest in digital twins and advanced simulation technologies. All surveyed organizations in the country (100%) plan to increase investment in this area, compared with 87% on average across Central Asia and the Caucasus and 72% globally. The report links this trend to the region’s industrial profile, where capital-intensive assets and infrastructure play a significant role, including energy, mining, manufacturing and logistics. For these sectors, digital twins are not a futuristic concept, but a practical tool for improving reliability, optimizing operations and reducing technology risks. The report also notes that the region has historically shown a high degree of skepticism toward this technology, which may help explain why investment is now growing faster than the global average.

      The report finds that 99% of respondents in Central Asia and the Caucasus consider investment in advanced technologies to be a key driver of competitive advantage over the next three years, compared with 90% globally.

      Businesses in the region also remain highly optimistic about growth:

      • 91% of companies report revenue growth over the past five years.
      • 93% expect revenue growth over the next 24 months.

      Against this backdrop, technology is increasingly seen not as a cost optimization tool, but as a growth accelerator.

      The region’s rapid pace of digitalization also creates new risks. Around 50% of companies in Central Asia and the Caucasus do not systematically track the value delivered by IT initiatives, while 50% acknowledge that their AI strategy is stalling at the scaling stage.

      Another risk factor is the accumulation of technical debt. Companies in the region are actively investing in development and AI initiatives, but allocate significantly less of their IT budgets to maintaining existing systems: approximately 21%, compared with around 34% globally.

      KPMG experts note that the current stage is a turning point for the region. It will determine whether today’s technology momentum becomes a long-term competitive advantage — or remains a temporary window of opportunity.

      KPMG Tech Report 2026

      AI, Technology and Governance: Central Asia and the Caucasus

      Read the full report