Page 48 – The Times Of Central Asia

06 Nov 2025

Business & Economy, Home, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakhstan Advances Digital Transformation with U.S. Partnerships

November 6, 2025
By Aliya Haidar

Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest economy, is rapidly positioning itself as a regional leader in digital transformation. Increasingly, United States partners no longer view Kazakhstan solely as a source of natural resources. Instead, future cooperation is expected to expand into digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).

Advances in Digitalization

In October, Kazakhstan reaffirmed its digital ambitions with a major technological breakthrough. Kaspi, the country’s leading fintech firm and a systemically important bank, launched Kaspi Alaqan, a palm-based payment system that requires no phone, card, or internet connection.

The service will debut in December 2025 through dedicated ATMs in Almaty before expanding nationwide. Analysts say the innovation puts Kaspi on par with Amazon One and China’s WeChat, highlighting Kazakhstan’s readiness to adopt cutting-edge global technologies.

Traditionally associated with oil, gas, and uranium, Kazakhstan is now investing heavily in becoming Central Asia’s digital hub, an evolution that presents strategic opportunities for the U.S. Partnerships in digital governance, AI, and innovation ecosystems align closely with Washington vision for expanded cooperation in Eurasia.

According to the United Nations, Kazakhstan ranked 24th globally in digital development as of June 2025, placing in the top 10 for online public services. Services such as school enrollment, vehicle registration, and passport issuance have been fully digitized, requiring minimal citizen effort. In some cases, the process is faster than in many Western countries.

Kazakhstan’s government aims to double its GDP to $450 billion by 2029, a target that will require more than a 2.5-fold increase in investment. Digital technologies are central to this strategy.

To manage this transformation, a new Investment Board was established in October 2025 to oversee large-scale projects and determine economic priorities.

In September, the Mazhilis (lower house of parliament) passed a landmark law on artificial intelligence. Deputies highlighted fairness, transparency, and the protection of personal data as key legal principles.

The newly launched National Artificial Intelligence Platform hosts over 100 AI agents that support e-government functions and expand access to technology. Additionally, in July, Kazakhstan introduced a supercomputer powered by NVIDIA H200 GPUs. With performance reaching 2 exaflops (FP8), it is the most powerful computing system in Central Asia.

Startups, universities, and research centers now have access to this infrastructure. The language models KazLLM and Alem LLM have also been introduced, capable of generating content in Kazakh, Russian, English, and Turkish.

For the U.S., Kazakhstan’s AI ecosystem offers a valuable partner for collaborative research, ethical framework development, and State Department–supported initiatives using AI for sustainable development.

Investing in the Future

U.S.–Kazakhstan cooperation in digital innovation is already accelerating. In September, Amazon announced a $200 million investment in Kazakhstan’s internet infrastructure. A distribution agreement with Kazakhtelecom will bring Amazon’s Kuiper satellite network to the republic, improving connectivity and driving economic growth.

Additionally, 24 startups from Central Eurasia have joined U.S. accelerator programs such as AlchemistX and Silicon Valley Residency. These initiatives, launched in September in Palo Alto, connect regional teams with U.S. venture capital and technology ecosystems.

Kazakhstan is also advancing blockchain infrastructure. Astana recently launched the Solana Economic Zone, the first in Central Asia based on a blockchain platform. In partnership with the Solana Foundation, the government plans to offer blockchain-focused education and attract global Web3 companies. Programs implemented with Forma will support international startups.

For U.S. firms seeking a regulated Web3 environment, the Solana Economic Zone could serve as a sandbox for innovation in emerging markets.

Fostering Education

Kazakhstan is investing in education to build a future-ready workforce. At the Alem.ai Center in Astana, teenagers learn animation, 3D design, and generative AI through the TUMO creative program. Older students participate in Tomorrow School, a programming initiative.

Launched this year, the AI-Sana program aims to train 650,000 students—undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral—in artificial intelligence skills. The initiative seeks to develop research and entrepreneurial teams to deploy AI across key economic sectors.

Benefits for Washington

Kazakhstan’s digital transformation aligns with U.S. strategic objectives: diversifying supply chains, promoting open data flows, and providing alternatives to authoritarian digital governance models.

The country’s AI and digital sectors offer Washington a springboard for joint research, secure satellite infrastructure investment, and venture collaboration with American accelerators. This shift requires not massive U.S. funding, but broader strategic recognition of Kazakhstan and Central Asia as more than resource suppliers. In the coming years, the region could emerge as a 21st-century model for digital modernization on a global scale.

06 Nov 2025

Central Asia, Home, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Home

Kyrgyzstan Launches Unified State Lottery Infrastructure

November 6, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Kyrgyzstan is consolidating all private lottery operations into a single, state-controlled system as part of a national initiative to modernize the sector and align it with international standards. The project is being implemented by the Information Security Center in partnership with the state-owned enterprise Kyrgyzloto.

Under the new framework, all types of lottery draws in the country will be brought under state oversight. Authorities say the system will provide full transparency over financial flows, enable real-time monitoring of sales and payouts, and protect citizens from unscrupulous operators.

The Lottery Information Processing Center will manage real-time data collection on ticket sales, draw results, and prize pools. Financial and fiscal oversight will be conducted by the Ministry of Finance and the State Tax Service.

“Our task is to agree on the rules for conducting lotteries and to form a fund for targeted deductions. We intend to unify the draws and channel the proceeds into useful areas,” said Sherik Kasmaliev, director of Kyrgyzloto, during a press briefing.

Government projections estimate that over the next ten years, the national lottery could generate approximately $1 billion in tax revenues and licensing fees.

Officials also believe the launch of a unified state lottery system will provide a legal alternative to illegal gambling, help curb gambling addiction, and return billions of som previously lost to unlicensed foreign platforms back into the domestic economy.

All data processing and storage infrastructure will be located within Kyrgyzstan, which project developers say will enhance cybersecurity and reduce the risk of capital outflows.

06 Nov 2025

Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakh Food Exports to China Grow After CIIE 2025 Deal

November 6, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

At the China International Import Expo (CIIE 2025) in Shanghai, Kazakhstan’s Trade Policy Development Center, QazTrade, signed a partnership agreement with Optimize Integration Group (OIG), one of China’s leading food importers responsible for 18% of all frozen meat imports into the country. The agreement aims to promote digital trade and create online platforms that will facilitate the entry of Kazakhstani food products into the Chinese market.

Under the terms of the agreement, both sides will jointly promote Kazakh agricultural and food products, improve logistics infrastructure, and develop digital trade technologies and payment systems.

“This partnership with OIG, one of the most technologically advanced and influential trading platforms in China, opens up significant opportunities,” said QazTrade CEO Aitmukhamed Aldazharov. “Kazakhstani producers will not only increase their exports to China but will also integrate into advanced digital supply chains. This is a major step forward for e-commerce and mutual trust between our countries.”

At CIIE 2025, QazTrade also showcased the growing potential of Kazakhstan’s agricultural cooperatives. In collaboration with the National Association of Cooperatives of Kazakhstan and China Coop, China’s largest cooperative retail network, Kazakh products such as honey, kumis, and confectionery are set to enter the Chinese retail market. China Coop encompasses over 340,000 retail outlets with annual turnover exceeding 7 trillion yuan.

Aldazharov expressed confidence in the cooperatives’ prospects, noting that joint market research has been conducted, trial shipments arranged, and priority export categories identified. These include vegetable oil, meat, honey, dairy beverages, and confectionery.

In parallel, QazTrade is launching an acceleration and training program aimed at Chinese companies seeking to expand their operations in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia.

06 Nov 2025

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy

Uzbekistan the Only Country to Report Net Gold Sales in September

November 6, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan was the only country in the world to report net gold sales in September 2025, according to data from the World Gold Council. While most central banks increased their gold reserves, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan reduced its holdings, standing out among its global peers.

Based on International Monetary Fund and other publicly available data, global central banks collectively added approximately 39 tons of gold in September, marking a 79% increase over August and the highest monthly total in 2025 to date. Year-to-date, central banks have purchased around 200 tons, slightly below the 215 tons recorded during the same period in 2024.

The largest buyer in September was the Central Bank of Brazil, which acquired 15 tons. Other significant purchasers included the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Bank of Guatemala, while acquisitions by other countries were relatively modest.

In the third quarter of 2025, global net purchases reached approximately 220 tons, up 28% from the previous quarter and 6% above the five-year quarterly average. This reflects a sustained interest in gold as a strategic reserve asset amid global economic uncertainty.

Year-to-date, Poland’s central bank has been the largest net buyer, accumulating 67 tons. Kazakhstan follows with 40 tons, while Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) has added 38 tons. The World Gold Council emphasized that, in contrast to this trend, Uzbekistan was the only country to decrease its official gold holdings during September.

06 Nov 2025

Central Asia, Home, Tajikistan Life & Culture, Life & Culture, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Home

Coal Mine Explosion in Tajikistan Kills Six Afghan Workers

November 6, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Six Afghan workers have been killed in a coal mine explosion in Tajikistan’s Sughd region, according to local sources cited by Tasnim News Agency. The blast occurred in the Ayni district, where all six victims were reportedly working underground at the time. Rescue operations are still underway, and the bodies have yet to be recovered.

Sources say five of the deceased were from Afghanistan’s Daikundi province and one from Lal wa Sarjangal district in Ghor province. Tajik authorities have not yet released the official identities of the victims.

Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred in another Sughd coal mine, where eight Afghan miners, also from Daikundi, lost their lives, according to Etilaatroz. Local residents and mine workers report that such tragedies are becoming increasingly frequent due to unsafe working conditions, lack of protective equipment, and minimal regulatory oversight.

Hundreds of Afghan nationals work in Tajikistan’s coal mines, often in hazardous and unregulated conditions. “We are not allowed to complain or talk to the media. If we do, we risk being fined or deported,” one Afghan worker told a local news outlet. Many report being employed without formal contracts, with employers failing to provide adequate workplace safety measures.

Experts note that widespread unemployment and economic hardship in Afghanistan have driven many young men to seek employment abroad, particularly in Central Asia. Jobs in mining, construction, and seasonal agriculture remain common, but often come without legal protections or health insurance.

Local observers estimate that more than 14 Afghan workers died in coal mine accidents in Tajikistan in 2024 alone.

This latest incident comes just days after northern Afghanistan was struck by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 27 people and injured nearly 1,000 others.

06 Nov 2025

Kazakhstan Supplementary Stories, Kazakhstan

Elena Rybakina Makes History as First Kazakh to Reach WTA Finals Semifinals

November 7, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player and world number six, has made history by reaching the semifinals of the WTA Finals. She is the first player from Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region to advance to the playoffs of the prestigious year-end tournament.

The WTA Finals, held annually since 1971, feature the top eight players based on points accumulated throughout the season rather than the current WTA rankings. In 2025, Rybakina secured her place in Riyadh ahead of world number ten, Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.

This is Rybakina’s third consecutive appearance at the Finals. After failing to progress beyond the group stage in 2023 and 2024, she achieved a breakthrough this year by finishing first in her group. Her round-robin opponents included world number two Iga Swiatek (Poland), world number four Amanda Anisimova (United States), and world number seven Madison Keys (U.S.).

Rybakina began with a commanding 6–3, 6–1 victory over Anisimova, then mounted a comeback against Swiatek, overturning a 3–6 first-set loss to take the next two sets 6–1, 6–0. The consecutive wins secured her a place in the semifinals and the top position in the group with one match remaining.

In the final group match, Keys withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Alexandrova, who had traveled to Riyadh as an alternate. Rybakina maintained her dominance, defeating the Russian 6–4, 6–4.

At 25, the Moscow-born Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan, has earned her place in the nation’s tennis history as the first player to reach the WTA Finals playoffs. Anisimova, who stunned Swiatek 6–7 (3), 6–4, 6–2, finished second in the group and will also advance.

In the parallel group, semifinal qualification will be decided on November 6. World number one Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) leads and is set to face world number three Coco Gauff (U.S.), while Jessica Pegula (U.S.), currently in second place, will play Jasmine Paolini (Italy).

Rybakina will face the runner-up from that group in the semifinal on November 7. The final is scheduled for November 8.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Rybakina’s strong 2025 season included titles at two WTA tournaments and a semifinal appearance at the Tokyo event in October, which secured her place at the Finals.