Digitalization is becoming a new avenue for attracting investment to Kazakhstan. While foreign capital was previously concentrated mainly in the oil and mining sectors, investors are now increasingly turning their attention to technology projects. One of the key initiatives is the Data Center Valley, which is set to become a hub for computing infrastructure and AI development. Major international technology companies are already involved in the project. The relevant ministry notes that such initiatives bring the country not only capital, but also access to advanced technologies and new expertise. This potential is expected to be unlocked by the Action Plan for implementing the Digital Qazaqstan national strategy for large-scale digitalization through 2029. The plan was presented in Astana following its approval by the Government. The document covers three areas: digital solutions for citizens, businesses, and the system of public administration.
«Kazakhstan is already among the top 10 countries in terms of the development of its eGov platform and ranks 24th in the UN ranking. Accordingly, this will bring, first and foremost, new investment. Take the Data Center Valley project, for example. You probably know about it. The President launched a major project in the city of Ekibastuz, where agreements have already been signed with Firebird and NVIDIA. These companies will actively participate in its implementation. First, there is economic growth, as they bring in investment. Second, there are new technologies. Not every country has the opportunity to simply acquire these chips and install them. And third, there is new expertise,» noted Bakhtiyar Mukhametkaliyev, Kazakh Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.
«We are actively working to integrate AI into the delivery of public services and to digitize government services, which has already enabled us to significantly reduce the number of visits to public service centers. Comparing the first half of this year with the first half of last year, we have seen a 30% decline in the number of visits to public service centers. This is because we have been actively working on the top 10 government services, which account for 79–80% of all requests from citizens,» said Rostislav Konyashkin, Kazakh First Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.
Specific targets also include cutting the time required to deliver public services and social support measures by at least half through proactive services, digitalizing key sectors of the economy, and increasing exports of domestic IT services and solutions by at least 50%. Particular emphasis is placed on education. According to the plan, by 2029, at least 80% of graduates of schools, colleges, and universities are expected to have basic AI skills. At the same time, some of these solutions are already being put into practice.
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