At the meeting of the Council for Improving the Investment Climate chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, issues of strengthening interaction between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and international business circles were discussed. Investment opportunities in the fields of digitalization and artificial intelligence were considered.

Attention was paid to the entry into force of the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the emerging prospects for increasing investment cooperation.

“Our meeting with you is taking place at a historic moment for our country. Under the leadership of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan has entered a completely new stage of its development. The Constitution adopted at the national referendum has become the foundation for the systematic continuation of large-scale reforms to build a Just and Progressive Kazakhstan. Today, a progressive reboot of the entire legal system is continuing, aimed, among other things, at the consistent and sustainable development of the economy,” Olzhas Bektenov noted.

The participants of the Investment Climate Improvement Council meeting were informed that after the entry into force of the new Basic Law, from July 1, the formation of a new state-political model began. In particular, elections to the new legislative body Kurultai were scheduled, and the Secretariat of the new supreme consultative body, the Kazakhstan Halyq Kenesi, was created. The Constitutional Court also provided clarifications on the application of the constitutional norm on the single-term of office for a number of top officials: the President, the Chairman and judges of the Constitutional Court, the Chairman of the Supreme Court, and the Prosecutor General.

“The Constitutional Court, by its decision, gave a clear and unequivocal interpretation that the single-term restriction applies only to those appointed or elected to the respective positions after the new Constitution entered into force, that is, after 1^st July of this year. This legal clarity removes a number of questions from the agenda, both domestically and internationally.  I believe it also sends a positive signal to investors, for whom the stability and predictability of the political and legal system are of fundamental importance,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

The Head of the Government of Kazakhstan also noted that the presidential reforms being carried out rely on broad public support. According to the latest sociological surveys, more than 87% of the country’s citizens are confident that Kazakhstan is developing in the right direction. This indicates that the population sees tangible results of the large-scale transformations being carried out.

“Public confidence in the chosen political course is a key factor in the continued successful implementation of the President’s reforms. The new constitutional model and the consistency of our reform agenda therefore provide a strong foundation for the further modernization of the economy, the expansion of international partnerships, and the continued strengthening of Kazakhstan’s investment appeal. Distinguished colleagues, in light of the new Constitution, our cooperation is also entering a new stage. I am confident that the political and economic transformation underway in Kazakhstan will give powerful new impetus to the development of a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership,” Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov addressed the participants of the Investment Climate Improvement Council.

At the meeting, processes for the development of digitalization and the introduction of artificial intelligence were considered, which today play an important role in the competitiveness of countries in the struggle for investment. In Kazakhstan, 2026 has been declared by the President as the Year of Digitalization and AI. Thus, in the new Constitution, the digital rights of citizens are officially enshrined, the National Strategy Digital Qazaqstan until 2029 has been approved, the Digital Code, the Law “On Artificial Intelligence,” and the Law “On Cybersecurity” have been adopted. At the same time, modern regulatory mechanisms for trusted cross-border data exchange are being introduced, among which are the Cloud First Policy and Data Embassy.

As part of the flagship project “Data Center Valley,” Kazakhstan signed an agreement with Firebird AI for $10 billion on the development of AI infrastructure. In general, a Digital Headquarters operates under the Government to promptly resolve business issues in this area.

“President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set the task of building a full-fledged digital country. Digital transformation and the development of AI are an important element of sustainable economic growth, improving the efficiency of public administration, and the quality of life of citizens for us. We highly value the contribution of foreign partners to strengthening the country’s business climate. The Government is open to constructive dialogue with investors in all areas to achieve mutually beneficial results,” the Prime Minister noted.

During the meeting, the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan Jeff Erlich, the US Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie Stafft, and business representatives spoke. Julie Stafft noted the high level of trade and investment cooperation between the countries, as well as the importance of open dialogue between the Government and the business community on issues of digital regulation, development of cloud technologies, processing of personal data, and cross-border data transfer.

Proposals from the international business community were voiced by Baker McKenzie partner, member of the AmCham Digitization Committee Andrey Yorsh, Head of Government Relations and Public Policy for Central Asia, Armenia and Mongolia at Apple Adilkhan Kopabayev, General Director of Siemens Kazakhstan Diyas Assanov, President of Honeywell in Central Asia Arthur Nigmatyanov. Company representatives raised issues of practical implementation of the Digital Code, regulation of online platforms, development of public cloud solutions, protection of personal data, cybersecurity, application of artificial intelligence, digitalization of industrial processes, and increasing regulatory efficiency.

The work being carried out in this direction was commented on by Deputy Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Gizzat Baytursynov, as well as First Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Kanat Iskakov.

Following the results of the Council meeting, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted that Kazakhstan remains an open and predictable country for long-term investments. The Government intends to deepen the digital transformation of the country’s economy and is ready for further interaction with the business community on issues of improving digital regulation, ensuring user security, developing innovative infrastructure, and creating predictable conditions for investors. Responsible government agencies have been instructed to study and take into account the voiced proposals and recommendations in their work.

#Olzhas Bektenov #Digitalization #Infrastructural development #International Cooperation #Investments

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