Uzbekistan will become a full member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) from January 1, 2027, allowing the country to participate directly in the development of international standards for electrical, electronic and related technologies.
The announcement followed talks between Uzbekistan's Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov and IEC Secretary-General Philipp Metzger. The parties discussed expanding cooperation with the organization, applying international standards in Uzbekistan and increasing the participation of Uzbek specialists in their development.
Under full membership, Uzbekistan will be able to participate in IEC technical committees responsible for developing and updating international standards. According to the Ministry of Digital Technologies, Uzbekistan will become the first full member of the IEC in Central Asia. The parties also agreed to expand cooperation in training national specialists and increasing their involvement in the commission's technical committees. Another area of cooperation will be the development of conformity assessment systems, which are used to determine whether products, services and systems comply with established standards.
Potential areas for further cooperation include information technology and artificial intelligence, electrical engineering, energy efficiency and green energy. As part of the visit, the IEC delegation was presented with information on the development of Uzbekistan's technology sector and the activities of IT Park. Representatives were also briefed on the work of Uzinfocom and UzSoc and projects related to digital infrastructure and information security.
The International Electrotechnical Commission is a non-profit international standards organization responsible for preparing and publishing standards for electrical, electronic and related technologies. Its activities also cover conformity assessment related to the safety and compatibility of devices and systems, including consumer electronics, office equipment and medical equipment.
The IEC was established in 1906. According to the information provided, the organization currently includes approximately 170 countries participating through different membership arrangements, including 64 full members. Around 30,000 experts participate in its activities, while the organization has developed more than 10,000 international standards.Uzbekistan began cooperation with the IEC in 2015 under the organization's Partnership Programme. In 2023, the country obtained associate member status.
Since beginning cooperation with the organization, Uzbekistan has adopted approximately 2,000 IEC standards. Full membership from 2027 will expand the country's role from primarily adopting international standards to participating in their preparation and revision through the IEC's technical structures.
