BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28.
Kazakhstan must build a digital economy, President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev said in his Address to the People of Kazakhstan, according
to the presidential press service.
"Next, Kazakhstan is obliged to create a digital
economy. As realists who properly assess our capabilities, we must
use all the best that new technologies can offer for the well-being
of our people," Tokayev said.
He noted that construction of the core infrastructure
for the comprehensive Digital Qazaqstan strategy had already
begun.
"Two supercomputers have been launched, and a third
powerful supercomputer will be commissioned by the end of the year.
The laying of a fiber-optic backbone cable along the bottom of the
Caspian Sea has been completed, and data centers are being built,"
he said.
Tokayev added that these projects represented only a
small part of the country's digital transformation efforts.
"We are at the beginning of a long journey leading to
a new technological order. To keep pace with the times, we need to
focus on achieving practical results," he said.
However, he acknowledged that there was still more
talk than action, with digitalization sometimes being replaced by
the automation of existing processes or the organization of various
events.
"Digitalization must not be reduced to purchasing
expensive software products without understanding their practical
benefits," Tokayev said.
He noted that Kazakhstan had only begun work on the
commercialization of artificial intelligence, asset tokenization,
blockchain technologies and digital platform ecosystems. The
government is to develop a program for the practical application of
digitalization in the economy.
Tokayev also pointed to the widespread use of
marketplaces, food delivery services, taxi-booking applications and
banking services in Kazakhstan, noting that the country had
outpaced many seemingly advanced countries in some areas.
"We have everything necessary to give a powerful
boost to the development of a truly highly productive digital
economy. Our young people are educated and creative, internet
access is available in the country, and developed digital
infrastructure has been established," he said.
He added that citizens could already open bank
accounts, arrange installment payments or purchase goods from home
within minutes.
According to Tokayev, the next stage of
digitalization should focus on expanding people's capabilities
rather than simply providing access to services.
"Our goal is to build a truly people-centered digital
economy," he said.
He stressed that the internet should be viewed not
only as a space for consumption and entertainment, but also as a
virtual platform for productive activity and work. Smartphones, he
added, should become effective work tools rather than merely
leisure devices.
Tokayev said the government would establish a
simplified legal regime for digital employment by the end of the
year.
He also stressed that people's opportunities to
participate in the digital economy should not depend on where they
live.
"Citizens living in rural areas and cities alike must
learn to use smartphones as tools for earning a legitimate income,"
he said.
The government should combine existing state support
measures for entrepreneurship with the capabilities of private
marketplaces, banks, logistics companies and digital services. In
addition to loans and subsidies, further digital tools are needed
to support the production and sale of goods, Tokayev said.
Next year, the government, together with the business
community, is to launch pilot digital development projects in
several regions to help rural producers market their products.
Successful practices should subsequently be expanded to all
regions.
Tokayev also called for the full use of asset
tokenization, or the transfer of assets into the digital
environment.
"This will allow citizens to become co-owners of
companies and various assets, while enabling entrepreneurs to
attract capital directly, without excessive intermediaries," he
said.
Tokayev said the strategic goal of building a
people-centered digital economy was to use modern technologies to
improve the well-being of every citizen.
