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Transportation

Drone Delivery Pilot Project to Launch in Almaty

A pilot project for drone-based goods delivery is set to launch in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty. The initiative follows the signing of a memorandum between the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan and the private company Freedom Lifestyle. According to the ministry, the agreement outlines plans to jointly test drone delivery services in urban settings, with an emphasis on safety, regulatory compliance, and public convenience. Freedom Lifestyle will finance and implement the project, integrating unmanned delivery into its digital platforms. Since early 2025, the company has been building a team of drone operators and testing technology at its Freedom X R&D laboratory. The ministry will focus on developing regulatory frameworks, ensuring aviation safety, and facilitating the integration of drone technology into the urban infrastructure. Gizzat Baitursynov, Chairman of the Committee on Digital Assets and Breakthrough Technologies, stated that the pilot phase will help test the system in real-world conditions and inform the creation of long-term regulatory solutions. The pilot will involve drone delivery of food, daily necessities, and medicines. Each drone will be capable of carrying up to 10 kilograms over a 3-kilometer radius between locations in the upper and central parts of the city. Flights are scheduled to take place during daylight hours and in favorable weather. To minimize risks, drones will operate primarily over green zones and along designated street corridors. Each vehicle is equipped with safety systems, including parachutes and autonomous control in case of communication loss. As the system’s safety and efficiency are validated, the number of drones and service coverage will be expanded, including potential rollouts in rural areas. Kazakhstan has already seen increasing adoption of drone technologies. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, unmanned systems are currently used for agricultural land monitoring and are being developed for public safety applications.

IT Sector

Kazakhstan’s IT Exports Grew by Almost a Third in 2025

Kazakhstan’s IT sector continued its rapid expansion in 2025, with service exports increasing by more than 30% to reach $1 billion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev announced at a year-end press conference. At the close of 2024, Kazakhstan’s IT service exports totaled $690.7 million, a 30.5% increase over the previous year. Moreover, export volumes exceeded imports by a factor of 2.1. In 2025, exports grew by another 31%, pushing the total to the $1 billion mark, Madiyev confirmed. A key driver behind this growth has been the Astana Hub ecosystem, which unites around 2,000 IT companies and continues to serve as the cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s digital economy. According to Madiyev, the combined revenue of Hub participants exceeded $1.5 billion in 2025, marking a 20% year-on-year increase. “Through international hubs, more than 100 Kazakhstani startups have entered foreign markets,” said Madiyev. “The ecosystem has also produced the region’s first technology unicorn, Higgsfield.ai. To boost venture financing, the Qazaqstan Venture Group has been established with a target fund of $1 billion, of which $115 million has been raised so far.” Kazakhstan has also advanced in several global digital rankings. Madiyev noted that the country has solidified its position in the e-Government Development Index (EGDI), currently ranking 24th, and is among the top 10 globally in the Online Services Index (OSI). The national supercomputing cluster, alem.cloud, was launched in 2025 and is now ranked 86th in the TOP500 list of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, a benchmark achievement that places Kazakhstan at the forefront of computing power in Central Asia. In parallel, the country is advancing its artificial intelligence agenda. Kazakhstan has developed a national AI strategy and launched Qyzmet AI, a training initiative that has already covered 50,000 civil servants. Madiyev announced that AI proficiency will soon become a prerequisite for employment in the public sector. “We are making AI training mandatory for civil servants,” he said. “In the future, a lack of AI competencies will be a barrier to entering government service.” Kazakhstan is also laying the groundwork for integrating autonomous vehicles into its transport system. Madiyev revealed that a pilot project for unmanned vehicle technologies is in the works. Based on the outcome, national standards and minimum infrastructure requirements will be introduced to support broader deployment. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is also developing a system of digital passports for intercity highways to accommodate driverless transport.

Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor

Kazakhstan Deepens Kuryk Port on Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor

Kazakhstan has launched a strategic dredging project at the ERSAI industrial port, part of the Caspian Sea’s Kuryk Port, aimed at boosting its cargo-handling capacity and reinforcing its role as a key transit hub along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). Also known as the Middle Corridor, the TITR connects China to Europe via Central Asia and the South Caucasus. According to the Ministry of Transport, the project will deepen the port’s waters and approach channel to five meters, enabling year-round navigation. The initiative is fully financed by ERSAI, which is constructing its own Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD 650), named ERSAI 5, to carry out the dredging works between January and June 2026. Dredging is a core component of ERSAI’s broader expansion strategy, which also includes launching a new container terminal and expanding shipbuilding and repair operations. Located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, south of the Aktau port, Kuryk’s ferry complex handles a variety of cargo, including grain, oil products, fertilizers, and chemicals. However, falling water levels in the Caspian have forced vessels to operate below full capacity to avoid grounding. As of early 2025, the Caspian Sea’s water level had declined by roughly two meters since 2006, posing growing challenges for Kazakhstan’s maritime logistics. In response, Kazakhstan has prioritized dredging efforts. In May 2025, the Ministry of Transport began deepening the Aktau port by 1.5 to 2 meters to expand its terminal capacity. Kuryk has already undergone a previous phase of deepening, completed in November 2024, which increased the port’s depth to 7-8 meters. The latest dredging project reflects Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to strengthen its maritime infrastructure and maintain the competitiveness of its ports amid shifting environmental and logistical conditions in the Caspian region.

Kazakhstan Becomes Regional Leader in AI Readiness

Kazakhstan has ranked 60th out of 195 countries in the Government AI Readiness Index 2025, published by the international analytical centre Oxford Insights, emerging as the leader in Central Asia for government preparedness to adopt and manage artificial intelligence. The ranking was highlighted by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The Government AI Readiness Index evaluates governments’ ability to apply AI across public administration, economic activity and social sectors, as well as to create conditions for its safe, responsible and sustainable use. The index covers 195 countries and is the only international ranking focused exclusively on the role of the state in fostering AI development. Over the past year, Kazakhstan climbed 16 positions in the ranking, improving its standing from 76th place in the previous edition. Regionally, the country now leads all Central Asian states, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most advanced digital economies in the region. According to the ministry, the rise reflects strengthening institutional capacity, expanded infrastructure and the active integration of AI solutions in public services. Kazakhstan’s strongest performance was in the Public Sector Adoption category, where it scored 73.59 points. This metric highlights the widespread use of digital technologies within government services, the development of egovernment platforms and the shift toward proactive digital interaction with citizens and businesses. The Oxford Insights report notes that Kazakhstan’s competitive edge is rooted in its welldeveloped digital and telecommunications infrastructure. National digital platforms, high internet penetration and a mature ecosystem of egovernment services provide a strong foundation for scaling AI solutions nationwide. The report also cites the country’s political and managerial readiness: a suite of strategic policy documents, an emerging regulatory framework and sustained government focus on AI have enabled the development of a longterm and systematic national strategy. Despite progress, both the report’s authors and the ministry identify key areas for further growth. The next phase of Kazakhstan’s AI ecosystem development will require accelerating the commercialisation of AI technologies, strengthening the private technology sector and startup ecosystem, and expanding business access to data and financing instruments. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that Kazakhstan launched the most powerful supercomputer in Central Asia, a cornerstone of its strategy to position AI as a driver of both local and global economic growth.

Fish Farming

Mangistau Region Aims to Replace Up to 60% of Kazakhstan’s Salmon Imports

Authorities in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau region, located on the Caspian Sea coast, have announced plans to significantly expand domestic salmon farming, with the aim of replacing up to 60% of the country's salmon imports within five years. At a press conference in Astana, regional governor Nurdaulet Kilybay said fisheries are emerging as a key pillar in efforts to diversify the regional economy. Between 2025 and 2027, four major aquaculture projects are planned, including the industrial farming of marine salmon species in offshore cage systems. Currently, Kazakhstan imports over 8,000 tons of salmon annually, primarily from European suppliers. “Next year, by producing 1,300 tons of salmon, we will reduce imports by about 16%. By 2029, we aim to increase production to 5,000 tons, which will replace about 60% of the country’s imports,” Kilybay said. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has previously highlighted cage fish farming, raising fish in controlled, semi-open water environments, as one of the most promising aquaculture formats in the country. A flagship project in Mangistau is being implemented by Organic Fish LLP, with a planned capacity of 5,000 tons of sea trout per year. The company has received preferential financing for equipment and sea cage installation. In autumn, approximately 10,000 juvenile trout were released into the Caspian Sea, with some expected to reach market size by next year. Since 2021, 44 cage farms have been launched across Kazakhstan, concentrated in the East Kazakhstan, Almaty, and Turkestan regions. Of the country’s total annual fish production, estimated at 20,000 tons, about 3,500 tons now come from cage farming. By 2027, 39 new aquaculture projects are planned under the national fisheries development strategy. In total, roughly 600 fish farms of various types currently operate across the country. According to official data, Kazakhstan’s fish market grew by 9.3% in 2024, reaching 96,600 tons, up from 88,300 tons the previous year. However, exports declined by 11% to 23,400 tons, despite consistent demand for Kazakhstani fish in over 20 countries. The drop has been attributed to changes in logistics and rising delivery costs to the European Union. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a new fish processing facility opened in the Kyzylorda region in October, marking another milestone in the recovery of Kazakhstan’s fishing industry, including in the Aral Sea basin.

Water Crisis

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Launch Study to Revise Irrigation Regimes in Syr Darya River Basin

With grant funding from the French Development Agency (AFD), Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have launched a joint initiative to revise irrigation regimes in the Syr Darya River basin. The project, coordinated by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, aims to optimize agricultural water use and improve environmental outcomes, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. In Kazakhstan, the study covers 550,000 hectares of irrigated farmland in the Turkestan Region and 254,000 hectares in the Kyzylorda Region. Ground-level measurements are underway alongside satellite-based remote sensing to collect precise and comprehensive data. The findings will inform updated irrigation schedules and help increase crop yields, reduce soil salinization and land degradation, and enhance water-use efficiency across the Syr Darya River basin. The project involves both the Kazakh Research Institute of Water Management and Uzbekistan’s Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of Central Asian countries. Completion is scheduled for 2026. Talgat Momyshev, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, noted that the Aral-Syr Darya basin supplies water to over 35% of Kazakhstan’s irrigated land, with 98% of withdrawals going to agriculture. He emphasized the urgency of revising hydro modular zoning, which hasn’t been updated in four decades. “The existing zoning does not account for major changes in climate, soil conditions, and land reclamation status over the past 40 years. A revision is essential,” he said. The Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers are vital for irrigating agricultural land throughout Central Asia. At a November meeting in Ashgabat, ICWC members from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan approved new water distribution quotas for the non-growing season from October 1, 2025, to April 1, 2026. During the non-growing season, water is stored in reservoirs to meet irrigation needs for the following spring and summer. For the Syr Darya River, the total withdrawal quota for this period has been set at 4.219 billion cubic meters, allocated as follows: Uzbekistan: 3.347 billion m³ Kazakhstan: 460 million m³ (via the Dustlik Canal) Tajikistan: 365 million m³ Kyrgyzstan: 47 million m³ In the 2025 growing season, actual usage by country was as follows: Kazakhstan: 644 million m³ (out of a 909 million m³ quota) Uzbekistan: 7.012 billion m³ (of 8.8 billion m³) Tajikistan: 1.454 billion m³ (of 1.9 billion m³) Kyrgyzstan: 191 million m³ (of 270 million m³) The revision effort underscores growing regional cooperation around sustainable water management in one of Central Asia’s most critical river basins.