BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. Kazakhstan is
steadily strengthening its position in the global digital
transformation and innovation landscape, emerging as one of Central
Asia’s leading digital economies, Secretary-General of the Digital
Cooperation Organization (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, told Trend in an exclusive interview.
“According to the Digital Economy Navigator (DEN) 2025 developed
by the DCO, Kazakhstan demonstrates particularly strong performance
in several key pillars that are essential for building an inclusive
and future-ready digital economy,” she said.
AlYahya noted that the DEN is a comprehensive global framework
that measures the maturity of the digital economy across 80
countries, representing 85% of the world’s population and 94% of
global GDP. Built on 145 indicators from internationally recognized
data sources and global surveys, the DEN evaluates countries across
three dimensions: Digital Enablers, Digital Business, and Digital
Society, with countries assessed on a scale of 0 to 100 across the
various pillars and subpillars.
“Kazakhstan’s performance reflects a balanced and
forward-looking approach to digital development. One of its
strongest areas is Digital Finance, where the country scored 75.4,
including an impressive 85.7 in access to digital banking and
finance. This highlights Kazakhstan’s rapid adoption of digital
financial services and its efforts to expand financial inclusion
through technology. These achievements indicate that Kazakhstan has
established an enabling regulatory environment capable of
supporting innovation, digital trade, and investment”, the
secretary-general said.
AlYahya pointed out that another notable strength is
Kazakhstan’s progress in digital education and workforce
readiness.
“The country scored 82.7 in Digital for Education and 74.6 in
Digital for Work and Training, reflecting significant investments
in digital skills development and technology-enabled opportunities.
Kazakhstan’s high internet access score of 93.4 further
demonstrates the country’s commitment to expanding connectivity and
ensuring broad participation in the digital economy,” she said.
At the same time, she added, the DEN highlights important
opportunities for future growth, particularly in digital innovation
and startup ecosystem development.
According to her, Kazakhstan’s strong regulatory foundations
position it well to further strengthen research and development,
attract investment into emerging technologies, and scale digital
entrepreneurship. As digital transformation increasingly shapes
global competitiveness, Kazakhstan is demonstrating the ambition
and institutional capacity needed to become an important regional
digital hub connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
“Several areas offer strong potential for deeper cooperation
between Kazakhstan and the DCO in the near future, particularly in
fields that are becoming increasingly central to economic
competitiveness and digital resilience worldwide”, AlYahya
said.
According to the secretary-general, one important area is
artificial intelligence. Kazakhstan has increasingly prioritized
artificial intelligence and emerging technologies within its
national digital transformation agenda, including through the
Digital Kazakhstan program, the development of an AI Development
Concept for 2024–2029, and recent initiatives focused on AI
governance and digital innovation.
“This policy direction is reinforced by a strong compute
foundation: the country operates two supercomputers and is
advancing a national 'Data Centers Valley' with a planned capacity
of 1 GW, positioning Kazakhstan as one of the region's emerging
hubs for AI-ready infrastructure”, AlYahya said.
She noted that AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the
global economy by 2030, underlining the importance of ensuring
countries are prepared to participate in this transformation.
According to her, cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Digital
Cooperation Organization could focus on AI policy frameworks,
talent development, digital skills, and fostering inclusive
innovation ecosystems.
Furthermore, the secretary-general pointed out that digital
governance is another promising area for collaboration. The DCO
works closely with governments and international partners to
advance agile, interoperable, and citizen-centered digital
governance frameworks that enable trusted digital services,
cross-border data flows, and digital trade.
She noted that Kazakhstan’s efforts to modernize public services
and strengthen e-government capabilities align naturally with these
priorities. Cooperation could focus on sharing international best
practices in digital public infrastructure, regulatory frameworks,
and digital inclusion policies.
“Fintech and digital finance also present significant
opportunities. Kazakhstan has emerged as one of Central Asia's
leading fintech ecosystems, supported by initiatives such as the
Astana International Financial Centre. The broader startup
landscape is maturing in parallel: in September 2025,
Kazakh-founded Higgsfield AI crossed a $1 billion valuation to
become the country's first unicorn, backed by global investors
including Menlo Ventures, a milestone widely seen as a signal that
Kazakhstan's tech ecosystem has reached a new stage of global
competitiveness. The DCO's work in enabling inclusive digital
economies and fostering cross-border digital cooperation could
support further growth in digital payments, startup ecosystems, and
SME participation in the digital economy”, she said.
AlYahya also noted that the DCO serves as a multistakeholder
platform, bringing together governments, the private sector,
international organizations, academia, and civil society to address
challenges and opportunities in the digital economy. According to
her, digital transformation requires joint efforts, with innovation
often driven by the private sector, regulation shaped by
governments, and inclusive development supported by broader
societal participation.
The secretary-general added that Kazakhstan presents strong
potential for future cooperation across areas such as digital
investment, AI governance, digital entrepreneurship, skills
development, and inclusive innovation.
She pointed to several practical examples of the DCO’s
cooperation model, including the Digital Foreign Direct Investment
Forum in Pakistan, which brought together more than 700 delegates
from over 45 countries and helped attract over $700 million in
digital economy inflows, as well as the WE-Elevate initiative,
which supports women-led SMEs in transitioning to digital-first
businesses and has trained more than 10,000 enterprises, with 2,500
already engaged in cross-border trade. According to her, these
initiatives reflect the DCO’s approach of adapting successful
models to local priorities while connecting countries with global
expertise, investment opportunities, and implementation
partners.
“This creates strong potential for Kazakhstan to explore
tailored initiatives that build on its own digital ambitions while
benefiting from experiences and lessons learned across the DCO
ecosystem”, she said.
AlYahya added that there is a significant opportunity to explore
similar collaborative initiatives adapted to the country’s own
priorities and strengths. As Kazakhstan continues advancing its
digital economy ambitions, the DCO stands ready to support efforts
that foster innovation, attract investment, strengthen digital
skills, and ensure that the benefits of the digital economy are
accessible to all segments of society.
“The DCO sees significant potential for Kazakhstan to further
strengthen its role as a regional digital hub connecting Central
Asia with broader markets across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Kazakhstan combines several important advantages: strong government
commitment to digital transformation, expanding digital
infrastructure, expanding innovation ecosystem, and a strategic
geographic position that naturally supports cross-border digital
connectivity and trade”, she said.
Furthermore, AlYahya noted that over the past several years,
Kazakhstan has made notable progress in areas such as e-government,
fintech, digital public services, and emerging technologies.
“According to the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index,
Kazakhstan ranked 24th globally and was among the world’s
top-performing countries in online government services, reflecting
the country’s substantial investments in digital governance and
public sector modernization,” she said.
The secretary-general pointed out that the country is also
seeing steady growth in its digital economy. E-commerce accounted
for 14.1% of total retail trade in 2024, with the government
targeting an increase to 18.5% in the coming years. Kazakhstan also
ranked 47th globally in the 2025 ICT Development Index,
highlighting continued progress in connectivity, digital
infrastructure, and technology adoption, she said, citing official
data.
According to her, these trends demonstrate both growing consumer
participation in the digital economy and sustained institutional
commitment to digital transformation.
“Kazakhstan is also positioning itself as an important digital
connectivity corridor between Asia and Europe. Ongoing investments
in fiber-optic infrastructure, data centers, cloud services, and
next-generation telecommunications are strengthening the country’s
ambitions to become a regional technology and data transit hub,”
AlYahya said.
She noted that Kazakhstan’s innovation ecosystem continues to
expand. Astana Hub, the country’s international technology park for
IT startups, has become one of the region’s fastest-growing
innovation platforms, supporting over 1,800 startups and technology
companies while attracting international partnerships and
investment.
According to her, Kazakhstan’s growing digital entrepreneurship
ecosystem, combined with its increasing focus on AI development and
digital skills, reflects a broader ambition to position itself as a
leading technology player in the region.
“Importantly, Kazakhstan’s potential extends beyond technology
itself. The country can play a broader regional role by
facilitating digital cooperation, encouraging knowledge exchange,
and helping connect regional markets and talent ecosystems. As
digital transformation increasingly reshapes global economies,
countries that can bridge regions, foster trusted digital
environments, and support innovation ecosystems will play an
increasingly strategic role,” the secretary general said.
She added that from the DCO’s perspective, Kazakhstan is
well-positioned to become not only a national success story in
digital development but also a key regional partner in shaping a
more inclusive, connected, and resilient digital economy across
Central Asia and beyond.
“My recent meeting with H.E. Madiyar Menilbekov, Ambassador of
the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was an
important step toward strengthening dialogue and exploring future
avenues for cooperation between Kazakhstan and the DCO,” AlYahya
noted.
She said that a key focus of the discussions was the Digital
Economy Navigator (DEN) 2025 report and the insights it provides
into Kazakhstan’s digital transformation progress and future
opportunities. In this context, the meeting provided an opportunity
to exchange perspectives on Kazakhstan’s digital development
priorities and discuss areas where greater collaboration could
create long-term value.
"Looking ahead, the next practical steps are expected to focus
on deepening institutional engagement and identifying areas of
mutual interest where cooperation can be translated into concrete
action. This includes continued coordination between the DCO and
relevant stakeholders in Kazakhstan’s public and private sectors",
the secretary general said.
AlYahya added that there is also strong potential for follow-up
technical engagement around areas such as digital economy
measurement, innovation ecosystems, digital investment, AI
governance, digital skills, and inclusive digital transformation.
Through platforms such as the DEN, the DCO seeks not only to
provide data and analysis but also to help countries connect with
international expertise, successful policy models, and cross-border
cooperation opportunities.
"Importantly, the DCO approaches cooperation as a long-term
partnership built on dialogue, shared priorities, and practical
implementation. Importantly, the DCO approaches cooperation as a
long-term partnership built on dialogue, shared priorities, and
practical implementation. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all
model, the organization works closely with countries to understand
national priorities and identify initiatives that can deliver
meaningful and sustainable impact," she said.
AlYahya noted that as discussions continue, both sides share a
common interest in fostering innovation-driven growth,
strengthening digital resilience, and ensuring that digital
transformation remains inclusive and beneficial to all segments of
society.
