The United States has committed $5 million in foreign assistance to support cybersecurity and the digital sector in Central Asia. The funding will be administered through the U.S.-based nonprofit CRDF Global, State Department official Mark Cameron said at a conference in Astana. The assistance is intended to strengthen cyber defenses across the five Central Asian states, including the protection of critical infrastructure and the financial sector.
CRDF Global is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization which works with governments and institutions on security-related programs, including cybersecurity and efforts to reduce technological and biological threats.
Cameron said Central Asian startups would also be able to receive grant funding, including for projects involving artificial intelligence.
“We believe that private companies are taking the lead in this area,” he said.
The announcement came during the C5+1 SI: Digital Innovation for Economic Growth conference, held in Astana on September 29-30. The C5+1 format brings together the five Central Asian states and the United States. Participants included government officials from the region, U.S. organizations, and technology companies including Meta, Oracle, Honeywell, Wabtec, and EPAM.
Discussions covered a range of topics from artificial intelligence to data centers, with a focus on personal data protection, and C5+1 efforts to align digital standards.
The U.S. funding comes as Central Asia’s technology sector expands. Startups with roots in the region are increasingly attracting international capital and expanding into U.S. and European markets, particularly in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and digital commerce.
