ТASHKENT, January 19. /Dunyo IA/. Today, an opening ceremony was held for a specialized online course on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity for Uzbek diplomats, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The educational initiative is being implemented within the framework of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Diplomatic Academy under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) and India’s Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, with support from the diplomatic missions of both countries.

The opening ceremony was attended by Abdusamad Haydarov, Director of the UWED Diplomatic Academy; Sardor Rustamboev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India; Raj Kumar Srivastava, Dean of the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and Smita Pant, Ambassador of India to Uzbekistan.

The training program is scheduled for three days and is designed to be intensive and hands-on. During the course, Indian experts will introduce diplomats to modern tools aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of their professional activities.

The sessions focus on artificial intelligence technologies and cybersecurity fundamentals, which are becoming an integral part of contemporary diplomacy. As part of the intensive program, participants will gain practical skills in working with large volumes of data, analysing digital threats and using AI tools to forecast international processes.

As emphasized during the event, artificial intelligence has ceased to be merely a “technology of the future” and has become an integral part of international politics. A modern diplomat must be prepared to protect not only the political but also the digital borders of their country.

Special attention was also drawn to the importance for young diplomats - seen as the vanguard of national reforms under the “Uzbekistan - 2030” strategy - to master new technologies.

The organization of this course reflects the high level of the steadily developing and increasingly substantive strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and India. In particular, infrastructural projects in the field of information technology, such as the IT parks established in Tashkent, Samarkand and Namangan, are being successfully implemented, underscoring the commitment to advancing digital capabilities.

The “digital bridge” established between the two countries is helping to transform Uzbekistan into a digital hub of Central Asia, combining India’s innovations with Uzbekistan’s potential.

The launch of joint educational programs represents a natural continuation of the ongoing dialogue between Uzbekistan and India, demonstrating the mutual interest of both sides in training personnel equipped to meet the demands of the digital era.