EU supports Tajikistan in strengthening cybersecurity governance
Through the Global Gateway–Team Europe Initiative on Digital Connectivity in Central Asia: Cybersecurity Component, the European Union is supporting Tajikistan in strengthening its national cybersecurity capacity, with expertise from eGA. At the Taj-Tech 2026 International Forum in Dushanbe, eGA experts highlighted current cybersecurity challenges and shared the results and lessons learned from the cooperation.
eGA, as part of Team Europe, has worked with Tajik partners to strengthen cybersecurity governance and legislation, develop cyber incident response capabilities, and build the skills of cybersecurity professionals.
International cooperation is another important part of this work. Through study visits, expert exchanges, international forums and cyber diplomacy, eGA has connected Tajik cybersecurity experts with the wider international cyber community, creating opportunities to exchange practical knowledge and experience.
Hannes Astok, during a working meeting with the Agency of Innovation and Digital Transformation of Tajikistan, highlighted the importance of cybersecurity collaboration in building more open, safe and secure cyberspace. “As the cyber threats cross national borders and AI allows malicious actors to increase the speed and scale of their operations, effective cybersecurity increasingly depends on capable institutions, skilled professionals, and strong international cooperation. Supporting Tajik government in building professional skills and international networks, eGA helps Tajikistan respond more effectively to cyber incidents,” said Hannes Astok
At the Taj-Tech 2026 second-day opening panel, Merle Maigre, eGA project team lead, shared eGA’s progress achieved in Tajikistan and highlighted the European Union’s and Estonia’s approach to cybersecurity and trusted digital environment. „Estonia learned from firsthand experience that the government’s transparency surrounding its digital services is only as valuable as its ability to adequately explain complex technical systems to everyday citizens. People need to understand how their data is used, stored, and protected. While AI is clearly the tool of the moment, it is not about the technology, but fundamentally about the value you want to create for the people,” said Merle Maigre.
The strong visibility of EU support at Taj-Tech 2026 provides a solid foundation for the next steps in cooperation between eGA and the Agency of Innovation and Digital Technologies of Tajikistan. The partnership will continue under the EU-supported Team Europe Initiative on Digital Connectivity in Central Asia: Cybersecurity Component under the Global Gateway initiative.
