TOKYO, October 25. /Dunyo IA/.  The 27^th “BHN Human Development Program”, aimed at advanced training for information and communication technology specialists and exploring the applications of artificial intelligence for social development, has successfully concluded in Japan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Program took place from October 1^st to 17^th under the theme “Information and Communication Technologies for Social Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”. It brought together specialists from Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.

At the closing ceremony, nine participants presented the outcomes of their work, sharing their acquired knowledge and practical experience. Upon completing the training, they were awarded certificates.

On the sidelines of the event, representatives of the Embassy of Uzbekistan met with the leadership of the “BHN Association”. The parties discussed the prospects of cooperation in digital technologies, AI and the training of highly qualified personnel.

Hideo Inoue, President of the “BHN Association” highlighted the potential of Uzbekistan's youth and the development of the country's digital infrastructure. According to him, the programme contributes to the professional growth of Uzbek specialists, supports innovative development and strengthens the technological partnership between the two nations.

“Uzbekistan, situated at the strategically vital center of Central Asia and possessing a young population with high demographic potential, has all the prerequisites for further accelerated economic growth in the coming years. Due to the special attention paid to the development of digital infrastructure, Uzbekistan will undoubtedly become an active participant in international cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies and artificial intelligence”, Head of the organization stated.

Yasuhiko Yoshida, President of the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS) also emphasized the significance of the programme for studying modern technologies and technical solutions. He expressed readiness to continue cooperation with BHN and to expand engagement with Uzbekistan.

Cooperation has spanned over two decades. According to the organizers, BHN, in collaboration with the Japanese company NTT, has been implementing training and professional development programs for Uzbek specialists since 1998. To date, 21 specialists from Uzbekistan have completed internships in Japan, and modern computer equipment has also been transferred to them.

“We are delighted to welcome specialists from Uzbekistan and other countries within the framework of this programme. It enables participants to deepen their knowledge of the latest technologies and advanced technical solutions in the field of information and telecommunications technologies, President noted. - We intend to continue our long-standing cooperation with the BHN Association, as well as to strengthen engagement with developing countries, including Uzbekistan”.

Rumila Dautova, Lead Specialist of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan:

- Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan has been cooperating with the BHN programme for over 20 years. Typically, one or two employees of the Ministry undergo training under this programme annually.

The one-year programme consists of two semesters. The first semester is conducted in an online format in cooperation with Malaysia. During this period, we study the principles of artificial intelligence, advanced technologies and innovative solutions that can be applied in Uzbekistan.

The second semester takes place in Japan in an in-person format. In addition to lectures by Japanese professors, we had the opportunity to directly familiarize ourselves with the modern technologies already implemented in Japan.

Visits to research and development (R&D) centers were particularly beneficial for us. We familiarized ourselves with cutting-edge developments and gained insights into innovative products and technologies that may enter the market in the coming years and find application in Uzbekistan.