South Korea funds AI-driven phone survey system in Uzbekistan

The South Korean government has allocated a $3.8 million grant to support the development of Uzbekistan’s statistical system. According to the National Statistics Committee, this funding will be used to implement a CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. While field staff currently conduct in-person interviews as part of sample surveys, the new system will allow automated telephone interviews to be conducted with citizens using artificial intelligence.

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The National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan and Statistics Korea have launched a collaborative project titled "Strengthening Statistical Capacity" for the period of 2025–2028.

Funded through South Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, the $3.8 million grant will help modernize Uzbekistan’s statistical system by introducing digital technologies and international best practices.

Usmon Abdurasulov, press secretary of the Statistics Agency, provided Kun.uz with a breakdown of how the grant funds will be utilized.

“The $3.8 million grant allocated by South Korea to the Uzbek Statistics Agency is non-repayable. It’s being implemented under a bilateral cooperation agreement. The funds will be used across four main areas:

1. Capacity building: Employees will undergo professional training with the help of international experts. Some staff will also travel to South Korea to participate in training seminars.

2. Modern classrooms: Equipped with computers and audio systems, modern training facilities will be established at the Institute for Statistical Research.

3. Implementation of CATI: This system allows for telephone-based interviews. It will make sample surveys faster and more accurate. Currently, our staff conduct interviews in the field or at designated survey sites. The AI-powered CATI system will automatically call people and collect answers, saving both time and resources.

4. Data integration: A new system will be developed to manage administrative data from various government agencies such as customs and tax authorities. This will enable seamless integration and automated, reliable statistical analysis across departments,” said Abdurasulov.

Kim Kwangsub, project manager at the Korea Institute for the Development of Statistics, noted that the Korean side aims to contribute to Uzbekistan’s achievement of its sustainable development goals through this initiative.

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