Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov delivered remarks in Shymkent at the International Digital Forum Digital Qazaqstan 2026. The forum was held under the theme “Industry 5.0: The Power of Interaction” and marked a new stage in the development of the Digital Almaty platform, with a focus on the practical digitalization of economic sectors and the involvement of regions in a unified technological space. More than 3,000 delegates are taking part in the forum, including heads of government of EAEU countries, representatives of the IT industry, international companies, investors and experts.

Opening the plenary session of the forum, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov outlined the key areas of artificial intelligence development: institutional framework, digital infrastructure and human capital.

“In Kazakhstan, digitalization and artificial intelligence are becoming the foundation of a new economic model. That is why President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelovich Tokayev has declared 2026 the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing the particular importance of this sphere for our country. This year, Kazakhstan is undergoing large-scale political reforms and transformations. A new Constitution has been adopted by the citizens of our country, and for the first time digital rights have been enshrined at the constitutional level. This not only provides a strong impetus for the further development of the sector, but also reflects the strategic priorities of the state. The enshrinement of digital rights at the highest level underscores that for us digital transformation is not only about technologies, but also about clear legal guarantees, data protection and principles of trust. Thus, Kazakhstan is forming a predictable and sustainable legal environment for the development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence,” Olzhas Bektenov emphasized.

In the United Nations E-Government Development Index, Kazakhstan currently ranks 24th among 193 countries. In addition, the republic is among the top 10 global leaders in the quality of online services. The Head of State has set the Government an ambitious task of transforming Kazakhstan into a fully-fledged digital country within the next three years.

The Prime Minister noted that, according to international experts, by 2030 the contribution of artificial intelligence to the global economy will reach $22 trillion. This is a unique opportunity for EAEU countries to ensure a qualitative economic breakthrough.

The current stage of technological development is characterized by the rapid introduction of artificial intelligence into all spheres of the economy and public life. In order to introduce AI technologies into all sectors of the economy, a comprehensive institutional framework has been established in Kazakhstan. The Law “On Artificial Intelligence” and the Digital Code have been adopted, aimed at creating a balanced environment that ensures both security and the stimulation of innovation activity.

A key element of digital transformation is the development of infrastructure. For these purposes, high-performance computing capacities have been deployed, including the Alem.Cloud and Al Farabium supercomputing clusters, which are included in international rankings. In partnership with leading technology companies, work is underway to form a sovereign computing hub.

Attention was paid to the implementation of the large-scale Data Center Valley project in the Pavlodar region with a potential of up to 1 GW, which will become one of the largest infrastructure hubs for data storage and processing in the region and will provide international partners with access to modern digital infrastructure. Flexible cooperation models have been established for project partners, ranging from prepared sites with available energy to leasing high-tech capacities and ready-made products.

As part of developing a trusted digital environment, the concept of a Data Embassy, “digital embassies of data,” was highlighted, providing for the placement of digital assets of foreign states in Kazakhstan while preserving their full legal sovereignty and protection.

Particular emphasis was placed on the development of industrial artificial intelligence (Industry AI), aimed at increasing the efficiency of the real sector of the economy. It was noted that autonomous equipment, unmanned solutions and industrial robots are already being introduced at enterprises, increasing safety and labor productivity.

In 2026, it is planned to form sectoral datasets and develop specialized language models for key industries, including energy, subsoil use, agriculture and logistics. To stimulate this process, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is introducing support measures for companies developing industrial Internet of Things technologies and real-time data collection systems.

Special attention in Kazakhstan is paid to the development of human capital as a key factor of digital transformation. On the instructions of the Head of State, it is planned to establish a specialized artificial intelligence university this year. Within the framework of the national AI-Sana program, a multi-level educational ecosystem is already being formed, including innovation centers for schoolchildren, training programs for adult specialists and the development of technological entrepreneurship. In addition, international partnership initiatives are being implemented. In particular, acceleration programs are operating in cooperation with Google for Startups, aimed at scaling Kazakhstani startups to global markets.

“Kazakhstan has objective competitive advantages: affordable electricity and low latency make our country one of the most attractive locations for deploying high-performance computing systems. We invite international companies to open their research hubs here. We offer access to talent, data and industrial cases,” Olzhas Bektenov noted.

Remarks on key areas of digital transformation, the introduction of artificial intelligence and global technological trends were also delivered by Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Turchin, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers – Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda, Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of the Republic of Cuba Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Bakytzhan Sagintayev.

As part of the business program at the forum venue, issues related to the introduction of digital solutions in industry, public administration, the social sphere and education were discussed. Following the sessions, practical solutions and initiatives were developed aimed at accelerating digital transformation, developing technological entrepreneurship and expanding international cooperation.

#Olzhas Bektenov #Digitalization #International Cooperation #President's instruction

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