AI - The Times Of Central Asia

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Data Center Valley

Kazakhstan Sets June 2027 Launch for First Data Center Valley Facility

Kazakhstan expects to launch the first facility at Data Center Valley, a large data center campus in the country’s northeast, in the summer of 2027. The government says the first 50 MW object now under construction is due to enter service in June 2027, while the site is ultimately planned to expand to as much as 1 GW. Earlier plans put the first 125 MW center in the first half of 2027; the latest statement does not explain how the 50 MW object fits into that figure. The project is aimed not only at domestic demand: Kazakhstan wants to attract foreign technology companies and is also exploring the possibility of hosting data belonging to other countries. The first data center is already under construction in the Pavlodar region, one of Kazakhstan’s main energy-producing areas. The main buildings are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, with commissioning work to be finished in May and the launch planned for June 2027. A 215 MW substation has been acquired to supply the site with electricity. The choice of region is primarily linked to access to electricity. The Pavlodar region is home to Ekibastuz, one of Kazakhstan’s largest power-generation centers, with a vast coal basin and major power plants. For data centers, particularly GPU clusters used for artificial intelligence, access to large and stable power supplies is critical. The stated 1 GW capacity is a long-term target rather than capacity already under construction. The campus is expected to expand gradually as customers are secured. Plans call for data centers, GPU clusters for AI, and cloud services to be hosted at the site. Among the project’s foreign partners is U.S.-based Firebird AI, which works with NVIDIA technologies. In April 2026, representatives of the two companies held talks in Astana on the development of AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, and data centers. Firebird AI later reached agreements on cooperation within the Data Center Valley project. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on plans to create a large computing facility in Kazakhstan using NVIDIA technologies. Technology companies may not be the only potential clients. The government is also developing the concept of a Data Embassy, which could allow foreign governments to store data in Kazakhstan while retaining legal sovereignty over it. Such a model already exists. Estonia established its data embassy in Luxembourg, where servers remain under Estonian state control and are used to store critical data and help maintain government digital services in the event of cyberattacks or other major crises. The two countries signed an agreement on the data embassy in 2017. Kazakhstan’s Data Embassy concept is still being developed. It is being considered alongside Data Center Valley, but the government has not said that foreign states’ sovereign data would necessarily be stored at the Ekibastuz campus. Data Center Valley itself is intended to host computing capacity and cloud services for international clients. Foreign investor interest in Kazakhstan’s data center market is not limited to this project. Singapore-based GK Hyperscale Ltd plans...

International Olympiad

Astana Hosts Largest International AI Olympiad to Date

More than 500 high school students from 106 countries have gathered in Astana for the third International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence, making it the largest edition in the event’s three-year history. The competition runs from August 2 to 8. The Olympiad is being held under UNESCO patronage. Astana was selected in March after developments in the Middle East led organizers to relocate the event from Abu Dhabi. The IOAI cited safety, ease of travel, government support, and the experience of the local organizing team among the reasons for choosing Kazakhstan. The main individual competition consists of two six-hour rounds. The first, held on August 4, developed themes introduced in preparatory work completed before the event. A second round on August 6 will present three new problems. Contestants work in Python and primarily use Jupyter Notebook, with medals decided by their combined scores across the two rounds. Before arriving in Astana, students were given a month to work through three educational tasks that did not count toward the final results. One asked them to train a model to guide a delivery robot to a package and then take it to the correct destination while avoiding obstacles. Another was an AI version of Twenty Questions, requiring contestants to identify a hidden animal from roughly 1,400 possibilities using no more than 15 yes-or-no questions. There is also a team robotics competition. After an opening simulation round, the ten highest-scoring teams moved to Alem.ai to adapt and debug their programs ahead of a live final using Galbot robots on August 7. The format tests whether code developed in a simulated environment can work on physical machines. This year’s program also includes a separate AI Models Track. Research laboratories and technology companies can enter AI systems that attempt the same type of machine-learning problems as the students. The systems compete remotely in two six-hour sessions and must write and submit their solutions without human assistance beyond starting or restarting the process. The Olympiad has grown quickly. Its inaugural edition in Burgas, Bulgaria brought together nearly 200 students in 2024. The following year, 310 students from 63 countries and territories competed in Beijing. The Astana field is more than 60% larger than last year’s. Kazakhstan enters the competition with a strong record of its own. Its students won three gold, one silver, and three bronze medals in Beijing last year. The local host is the Competitive Programming Federation of Kazakhstan, which has previously staged the ICPC World Finals and international science olympiads. Opening the event, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the participants’ work could lead to new solutions in medicine, education, environmental protection, and other fields. He linked the Olympiad to his goal of turning Kazakhstan into a fully digital state within three years and to the designation of 2026 as the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. He also acknowledged that the country was only at the beginning of that process. Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan ranks 24th among 193 countries in the United Nations E-Government Development...

Digital Infrastructure

Kazakhstan and China Sign Deals Worth Over $15 Billion During Tokayev’s Shanghai Visit

Kazakhstan and China signed more than 70 commercial agreements worth over $15 billion during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s working visit to Shanghai on July 16. The package covers artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, transport, finance, agriculture, vehicle production, and other high-technology industries. The documents were exchanged after a roundtable with Chinese executives. Akorda did not publish a full project-by-project valuation, and the package includes both agreements and memoranda. The headline figure represents the announced value of the documents rather than money already invested or spent. AI and Industrial Projects Among the main documents was a strategic partnership agreement between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and Huawei Technologies. The Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund signed a separate agreement to acquire Huawei technology and equipment. Samruk-Kazyna, Freedom Holding, the Astana city administration, and Geely Auto Group also signed a memorandum on electric-vehicle infrastructure and the use of artificial intelligence in Kazakhstan’s automotive industry. Kazakhtelecom and China’s HV & Submarine Hengtong Group agreed on the basic principles for developing the Data Center Valley project in Ekibastuz. The planned one-gigawatt cluster is intended to combine data centers, cloud services, supercomputing facilities, AI laboratories, research institutions, training programs, and technology startups. Further agreements covered robotics and research. Qazbot Technologies signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Agibot PTE, while the Almaty city administration, NERO Group, and UBTECH Robotics agreed to develop artificial intelligence and robotics in the city. Qazaq AI Research University and the Shanghai Innovation Institute signed a cooperation memorandum. The industrial package includes an agreement between Allur Group and Li Auto to produce Li Auto vehicles in Kazakhstan. Astana Group and Chery Holding signed a technology licensing agreement for OMODA and JAECOO production at the Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan plant. Qarmet, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, and a Chinese engineering company also agreed to cooperate on new coke oven batteries and a gas purification system. Transport and Logistics An investment agreement was signed for the first phase of a multifunctional terminal at the Port of Kuryk. Another document covers cooperation on two logistics parks at Khorgos-Eastern Gate, while Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Industry and Construction and NUCTECH agreed to work on inspection systems at border checkpoints and expand local production. Tokayev said around 85% of rail freight between China and Europe passes through Kazakhstan and that the country has invested more than $35 billion in transport and logistics infrastructure over the past 15 years. He also promoted the Smart Cargo platform, which is designed to combine customs, logistics, and commercial services in one digital system. The president also invited Chinese companies to invest in the extraction and deeper processing of critical minerals, agricultural technology, and the development of Alatau City. The government wants the new city to become a regional center for digital finance, asset tokenization, artificial intelligence, and advanced telecommunications. Tokayev said bilateral trade reached a record $49 billion in 2025, cumulative Chinese investment in Kazakhstan exceeded $30 billion, and more than 8,500 companies with Chinese participation operate in the country. Existing joint projects...

Digital Development

Kazakhstan to Host ITU Acceleration Centre as It Expands Regional Digital Ambitions

Kazakhstan and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have agreed to establish an ITU Acceleration Centre in Kazakhstan to promote artificial intelligence, GovTech, and digital skills across Central Asia. The agreement was reached during a meeting in Geneva between Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Zhaslan Madiyev, and ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. The ITU, a specialized agency of the United Nations founded in 1865, develops global telecommunications standards, coordinates radio-frequency spectrum use, and promotes cooperation in information and communication technologies. It has 193 member states. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the new center will serve as a regional hub for digital transformation. Its priorities will include building artificial intelligence expertise, strengthening digital skills, supporting GovTech adoption, and helping narrow the digital divide across Central Asia. “We are pleased that our cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union is producing concrete practical results. We see this center as an important platform for digital innovation, AI skills development, capacity building, and regional cooperation,” Madiyev said. During the meeting, Madiyev was also named one of the founding members of the ITU’s AI for Good Global Commission. AI for Good, launched by the ITU in 2017, promotes the use of artificial intelligence to address social and economic challenges. The agreement comes as Kazakhstan continues to expand its digital infrastructure and position itself as a regional technology hub. The government has launched a series of initiatives aimed at attracting international investment in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data infrastructure. Earlier, The Times of Central Asia reported that SuperX was considering building a 1-gigawatt AI data center in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has also joined OpenAI’s “Education for Countries” initiative, which supports the integration of artificial intelligence into national education systems. In addition, the government has established an AI Fund, backed by the National Bank of Kazakhstan, to finance strategic digital projects, research, and AI education programs. The center adds another international component to Kazakhstan’s digital development strategy and supports Astana’s effort to position the country as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, GovTech, and digital skills.

Foreign Investment

Kazakhstan Expands Technology Agenda, Inviting Investors into Space and Artificial Intelligence

Kazakhstan is stepping up its focus on the digital economy and high technology, expanding its investment agenda beyond the resource sector. At a meeting of the Foreign Investors’ Council on July 2, officials presented several areas they see as potential new growth drivers: artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, space technology, and the innovation hub of Alatau City. For Astana, the push is part of a broader economic development strategy. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Kazakhstan’s economy grew by 6.5% in 2025, while GDP has exceeded $300 billion. According to Tokayev, accumulated net foreign direct investment has surpassed $150 billion, making Kazakhstan Central Asia’s largest recipient of foreign investment. Against this backdrop, the government is increasingly focused on the next stage of development: building digital industries that could help shape the region’s economic architecture in the coming years. Artificial intelligence is central to this strategy. Tokayev described AI as one of the key drivers of the global economy and confirmed that 2026 has been declared the Year of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development in Kazakhstan. The country has adopted a new package of sector-specific legislation, including the Digital Code and the Law on Artificial Intelligence, and has created the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. One of the most prominent projects in this sector is Data Center Valley, an infrastructure cluster intended to host large-scale computing and data-processing facilities. According to the president, the project has already attracted interest from Amazon, G42, and other international technology companies. For Kazakhstan, the development of data centers has strategic importance. As global demand for computing power and AI infrastructure grows, countries with access to energy, favorable logistics, and clear regulation are becoming increasingly attractive destinations for international capital. A separate part of the strategy focuses on the space sector. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev invited foreign investors to participate in building a joint space ecosystem. According to Madiyev, Kazakhstan sees the sector as broader than traditional satellite infrastructure, viewing it as a technological platform that can combine spacecraft manufacturing, launches, maintenance, Earth observation, and AI-driven analytics. This approach reflects a wider global trend. The space technology market is entering a new phase of growth, driven by private investment, satellite communications, geo-analytics, and big data services. For Kazakhstan, this creates an opportunity to use its accumulated expertise and infrastructure, including its space-sector legacy at Baikonur, which remains leased to Russia until 2050. Another pillar of the digital strategy is Alatau City, an innovation hub being built near Almaty. The authorities view it as an experimental platform for digital assets, fintech, autonomous transport, and artificial intelligence technologies. According to Madiyev, Alatau City is expected to become one of the first sites in the region for testing autonomous vehicles, drones, and tokenized solutions. Tokayev said the city will be built on a “digital by default” principle, meaning that administrative and public services will be designed in digital form from the outset. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Astana...

U.S.-Kazakhstan Relations

U.S. Business Push in Central Asia Moves From Dialogue to Deals

The pace of U.S. commercial engagement in Central Asia has quickened in recent weeks, with business delegations, export-finance officials, and sector-specific agreements appearing across the region. In June, a U.S. business delegation discussed investment opportunities in Turkmenistan, while Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service David L. Fogel used the Astana Mining and Metallurgy Congress to press for practical cooperation in critical minerals. That same month, the Tashkent International Investment Forum drew John Jovanovic, president and chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and Ben Black, chief executive officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Kazakhstan and U.S. companies signed artificial intelligence agreements worth $10 billion, Uzbekistan agreed to reduce tariffs on a range of U.S. goods, and Kyrgyzstan’s Civil Aviation Agency held talks with U.S. Ambassador Leslie Viguerie on aviation cooperation. Taken together, these moves suggest a change in tone. Washington’s regional agenda is increasingly being expressed through commercial missions, project finance, technology partnerships, and trade mechanisms rather than broad diplomatic declarations. The shift from diplomacy to deals is becoming visible in several capitals at once. [caption id="attachment_51210" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: The Republic of Kazakhstan – the United States of America roundtable[/caption] Against that background, a roundtable titled “The Republic of Kazakhstan - the United States of America” was held in Astana on June 30. It was organized by Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan. The U.S. delegation was led by Khush Choksy, senior vice president for international member relations at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who oversees programs in the Middle East, Türkiye, and Central Asia. The Kazakh delegation was led by Ambassador Yerzhan Kazykhan, Kazakhstan’s presidential representative for negotiations with the United States. For Choksy, the visit continued a longer push by the U.S. Chamber. He visited Kazakhstan in 2023 and 2025, and has repeatedly described the country as a strong platform for American business. Yet trade remains modest compared with the political ambition attached to the relationship. According to Kazakh government data, bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and the U.S. reached $3.19 billion in 2025, while USTR estimates U.S. goods trade with Kazakhstan at $5 billion. U.S. goods trade with Uzbekistan, the region’s most populous country, was just over $1 billion in 2025. The figures underline the gap between strategic interest and commercial scale. The reasons for this are not limited to distance. Disrupted logistics, sanctions risks linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, and instability in parts of the Middle East have complicated long-distance trade. The Jackson-Vanik amendment, adopted in 1974, also remains formally applicable to Kazakhstan despite repeated efforts in Washington to repeal it and grant the country permanent normal trade relations status. The Astana roundtable brought together government agencies, companies, international corporations, financial institutions, and policy experts. Participants discussed investment cooperation, energy, digital transformation, infrastructure, innovation, transport, and logistics. B2B meetings were also held, along with meetings between U.S. companies and Kazakh ministries and...