Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market is considering the use of the domestic messaging platform Aitu for remote communication between insurance companies and other non-bank financial institutions and their clients.

According to Bloomberg, the regulator has recommended that market participants consider using the Kazakh-developed messenger Aitu as a communication tool. Sources cited by the publication said that insurance and brokerage firms received proposals last month regarding the potential use of the platform, partly aimed at strengthening personal data protection.

Market participants expressed concerns, pointing to Aitu’s relatively small user base, limited functionality, potential integration costs, and the absence of clear regulatory guidelines for handling personal and financial data on such platforms.

In response, the regulator clarified that the use of Aitu is not being considered mandatory, but rather as an additional secure communication channel between financial institutions and their clients.

“This issue is being considered by the Agency in connection with the need to strengthen information security, including the protection of personal data amid rising fraud in financial services. The initiative is also aimed at standardizing communication channels between financial organizations and their clients,” the agency said in a statement.

According to the regulator, Aitu’s infrastructure ensures a high level of data protection, in part due to the physical localization of servers within Kazakhstan. This, it argues, reduces risks associated with cross-border data transfers and potential interception of financial information.

Additional security features include end-to-end encryption, with access keys stored only on users’ devices, as well as the Aitu Passport system, which incorporates biometric identification and a cloud-based electronic digital signature. The regulator states that these tools provide legally valid user verification and help minimize risks such as phishing and identity theft.

The agency also noted that the use of open APIs and business dashboards would allow financial institutions to integrate their systems with the platform at relatively low cost, making use of national digital infrastructure.

Government agencies and quasi-state companies had earlier been encouraged to adopt Aitu for official communications. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the rollout of the national messenger has sparked broader debate over the balance between cybersecurity and internet freedom in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan and China have expanded cooperation in clean energy with the launch of the China-Kazakhstan Hydrogen Energy Technology Innovation Center at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty on April 9.

The center is part of Kazakhstan’s strategy to build a modern technological base linking science, education, and industry in support of the country’s transition to low-carbon energy.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov highlighted the importance of international partnerships in the development of the energy sector.

“Hydrogen energy is one of the strategic priorities for the development of the energy sector. The Concept adopted in 2024 laid the legal and economic foundation for the creation of a new industry aimed at decarbonizing the economy. The new center should become a key platform for training next-generation engineers, conducting applied research, and rapidly introducing innovations into production,” Akkenzhenov said.

As part of the ceremony, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Energy China International Corporation signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding outlining the center’s operational framework.

The agreement includes expanding scientific and technical cooperation, facilitating technology transfer, and promoting academic exchange. The partners also plan to conduct joint research, test hydrogen technologies, and launch pilot projects, with a particular focus on the commercialization of innovations and their integration into Kazakhstan’s industrial sector.

The development of hydrogen energy is a key element of the global transition to cleaner energy systems. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy, the country has significant potential in this field due to its natural resource base and growing renewable energy capacity. Cooperation with Chinese technology partners is expected to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position in emerging energy markets and support industrial modernization.

During the ceremony, Zhanseit Tuimebayev, chairman of the board and rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, highlighted the evolving role of universities as drivers of economic and technological development.

“Universities today are not only centers for training specialists but also key drivers of economic growth, technological development, and national competitiveness. Al-Farabi National University has consistently pursued this mission, transforming itself into a new type of university, one that not only educates, but also develops technologies, shapes markets, and acts as a full-fledged partner to the state and industry,” Tuimebayev said.