BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 5.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev places particular
emphasis on the development of artificial intelligence and digital
technologies. In this context, he declared 2026 the Year of
Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, while a dedicated
Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development was
established in 2025. The AI & Digital Bridge 2026 international
forum, held in Astana from October 1 to 3, emerged as one of the
major events of the year in this field.


According to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, more than
60 new contracts were signed during the forum. Although many of
these remain memorandums of intent, they nevertheless indicate the
key directions in which the government seeks to advance
Kazakhstan’s digital sector.


A memorandum on cooperation in the development of the
digital assets market and the application of blockchain
technologies in Kazakhstan was signed between the Ministry of
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan and
Kraken. KASE and the administration of Alatau City reached an
agreement on cooperation in the field of digital financial assets.
Astana Hub and Uzbekistan’s IT Park signed a memorandum aimed at
facilitating the entry of startups from the two countries into
international markets. The Ministry of Energy signed three
documents with Chinese partners covering joint developments in
energy, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. In
addition, an agreement was reached with the GSMA association to
hold the M360 Eurasia forum in Astana in autumn 2027.


At the opening of the forum, Tokayev proposed
compiling a list of industrial challenges for AI based on the
actual needs of the economy and launching an AI Challenge for
Kazakh and international teams on this basis. He also cautioned
that excessive regulation could encourage promising teams and
capital to move to other jurisdictions.


The following day, during a meeting of the Council for the
Development of Artificial Intelligence, the president set the task
of moving from individual digital solutions to the systematic use
of AI in industry. He referred to the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization's 2026 report: over five years, the share
of patents related to AI has increased approximately threefold,
while competition is also taking place over the pace of improving
production efficiency.


Such an approach also requires appropriate infrastructure. If AI
is to be used in enterprises, energy, and transport, Kazakhstan
needs its own large-scale computing capacity. For this purpose, the
"Data Center Valley" is being created in Ekibastuz - the largest
data center in Central Asia, with capacity expected to reach 1 GW
in the long term.


The first stage of the project is estimated at $5 billion, of
which $1 billion will be invested by Kazakhtelecom. At this stage,
around 100,000 next-generation GPUs are planned to be deployed. The
main buildings and energy infrastructure are expected to be
completed by the end of December 2026.







Kazakhstan is effectively using its advantages - access to
energy, a large territory, and its location between major markets.
The country does not produce advanced chips itself, but is focusing
on creating infrastructure for their use.


Ekibastuz, one of the country's largest coal and energy centers,
was selected for the project based on its available energy
base.


The authorities estimate the project's potential export revenue
at $3 billion per year. However, actual figures will depend on
demand for computing capacity, which may change along with the
global technology market.


To attract foreign clients, Astana is also working on the legal
framework. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial
Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev said the
government is developing a "data embassies" regime under which
major technology companies will be able to operate under a separate
international legal framework. Under the concept, foreign states
will be able to store data in Kazakhstan while retaining full legal
sovereignty over it.


Kazakhstan's task is not only to create large data centers, but
also to generate demand for their capacity. If the country can
attract foreign clients while ensuring broad use of AI across the
domestic economy, Kazakhstan's energy and infrastructure advantages
could provide a basis for developing a new area of digital
services.


This was also discussed at AI & Digital Bridge 2026. The forum
presented projects in energy, industry, transport and finance where
AI is already planned for practical use. Kazakhstan now needs to
bring these projects to implementation and ensure real demand for
them. This would allow the infrastructure being created to support
not only the development of the digital sector, but also the
economy as a whole.