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Global Business Services

GBSF 2026 Highlights Uzbekistan’s Push for Global Business Services and AI

More than 450 participants from business and government, representing over 45 countries, gathered in Tashkent on July 24–25 for the Global Business Services Forum 2026. The event centered on Uzbekistan’s effort to become a regional center for global business services and business process outsourcing (BPO), with artificial intelligence (AI) also a major focus. Organizers described it as Central Asia’s largest international forum devoted to global business services and the digital economy. The forum follows May’s Global Tech Weekend in Tashkent, which brought more than 2,500 technology and investment professionals to the capital. Opening the forum, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov said recent reforms had improved conditions for international technology companies considering investment or expansion in the country. Shermatov said companies could draw on qualified specialists and modern digital infrastructure while reaching a fast-growing regional market. He also invited international firms to invest and develop long-term partnerships. Azamat Karamatov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan, said the organization now has more than 3,800 resident companies, including over 1,000 international businesses. Exports of technology services have surpassed $1 billion. He said IT Park gives foreign companies a route into Uzbekistan’s technology sector while helping develop local talent. Sessions examined AI and talent development. Other discussions covered international investment and outsourcing. Speakers also outlined tax incentives and support available to foreign companies entering the Uzbek market. The Soft Landing program and Zero Risk initiative are among the available schemes. Key Account Management services provide additional assistance. One speaker was Arseny Kucheryuk, an expert at Antal Uzbekistan, part of the British recruitment company Antal International. He drew on the firm’s recruitment work and salary surveys to describe changes in the labor market. Kucheryuk, who moved to Uzbekistan nearly five years ago, said employers once struggled to find highly qualified candidates. The market has since become more balanced, although strong candidates can still receive several offers within weeks. He said companies seeking experienced professionals often need to offer salaries well above candidates’ current income. Antal research found that more than 60% of candidates expect an increase of at least 20% when changing jobs. Kucheryuk added that pay alone does not determine retention. Career prospects and management quality also influence whether skilled staff remain with an employer. He said workplace culture is especially important when addressing religion or family. Speaking to The Times of Central Asia after his presentation, Kucheryuk said foreign investment was creating career opportunities in Tashkent and elsewhere in Uzbekistan. He attributed Uzbekistan’s appeal to cooperation between the government and private sector, which he said helps international companies enter the market and supports local businesses. Kucheryuk advised foreign investors to understand local business culture before entering the market. Although companies may bring senior executives from abroad, he said operational roles requiring knowledge of local law and business practice should generally be filled in Uzbekistan. Iyad Hafez, CEO and managing partner of Staff Arabia, said his first visit to Uzbekistan exceeded expectations. “I’m positively surprised,” he told The Times of Central Asia. “Very...

Artificial intelligence

Kazakhstan AI Infrastructure: Can It Become a Regional Hub?

Computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence has joined fossil fuel reserves and transport corridors on the list of the world's most valuable strategic assets. The United States, Gulf states, and China are investing tens of billions of dollars in vast data-center projects. Kazakhstan has also joined the race, developing computing capacity with an eye on neighboring markets. For a country traditionally associated with commodity exports, the idea may seem unexpected. Yet the modern AI economy requires vast computing resources, specialized processors, reliable data centers, and, above all, large amounts of electricity. The AI market is therefore creating revenue opportunities not only for those who develop models, but also for countries able to provide the conditions in which they operate. From Digitalization to Infrastructure In 2024, Kazakhstan ranked among the world’s top 25 countries for e-government development and was also among the 10 countries with the broadest public access to government services. The focus of state digital policy is now shifting. Kazakhstan has begun investing more in the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence. In 2025, the state-owned Samruk-Kazyna fund and the UAE-based company Presight AI developed a national supercomputing cluster. The project placed Kazakhstan 86th in the global ranking of countries operating the world’s most powerful computing systems. This year, the government announced a partnership with NVIDIA and Firebird to develop high-performance computing infrastructure and build modern data centers. A national AI ecosystem is also being developed around Astana Hub, while telecommunications and cloud companies are expanding their own data-processing facilities. Digitalization in Kazakhstan was previously focused mainly on the delivery of public services. The country is now building infrastructure that can be used by research institutions, businesses, and government agencies. At sufficient scale, it could serve not only the domestic market but also users elsewhere in Central Asia. Factors Working in Kazakhstan’s Favor If Kazakhstan intends to enter the regional market, an obvious question arises: what can it offer data-center operators and cloud-service providers? The country’s relatively modest domestic market is not the decisive factor. For such projects, the cost and reliability of electricity, the quality of digital infrastructure, international connectivity, and conditions for long-term investment matter far more. Kazakhstan lies between Europe and Asia and is gradually becoming part of new transregional digital routes, including the Trans-Caspian fiber-optic link. For cloud-service providers, this could mean lower data-transfer latency and easier access to customers in several countries. The Astana International Financial Centre also offers foreign investors a legal framework based on English common law, reducing uncertainty for long-term infrastructure projects. Electricity prices are another important factor. They remain competitive compared with many neighboring countries, while energy is one of the largest operating costs for modern data centers. Kazakhstan’s geography, digital connectivity, investment framework, and energy resources together give it a chance to become a regional location for computing infrastructure. Not Algorithms but Megawatts Artificial intelligence is often associated with software, algorithms, and increasingly sophisticated language models. In reality, AI has become just as much an infrastructure business. Training and operating systems...

Shadow Economy

Kazakhstan Targets Further Reduction in Shadow Economy With AI-Driven Monitoring

Kazakhstan’s government has approved a 2026–2028 Action Plan to reduce the shadow economy through greater use of artificial intelligence and the digital tenge. The plan also calls for further digitalization in sectors most vulnerable to informal economic activity. The government hopes that the measures will reduce the shadow economy's share of GDP from 16.7% in 2025 to 13.8% by 2028, a decline of nearly three percentage points over the next three years. According to the Prime Minister's Office, Kazakhstan has already modernized 20 government information systems in recent years, dismantled the financial infrastructure supporting illegal online casinos with a turnover of approximately $4.2 billion, and prevented unjustified public spending totaling around $765 million. Officials said these efforts helped reduce the shadow economy’s estimated share of GDP from 24% in 2019 to 16.7% in 2025. "The main objective of the Action Plan is to reduce the shadow economy, ensure fair competition, increase business transparency, and boost budget revenues without imposing new obligations on entrepreneurs," the government said. A unified AI-powered monitoring platform will be central to the strategy. The system will combine data from government agencies to identify signs of hidden economic activity and flag risks in real time. Officials say this will help prevent violations before they cause budget losses. The plan contains 53 measures focused on improving economic transparency and accelerating digitalization in sectors with elevated risks of informal activity. The government has identified trade, construction, transport, agriculture, healthcare, and education as priority sectors for the new system. Retail trade will be another focus. The government plans to continue developing the Digital Bazaar, an electronic platform launched in late 2024 to bring Kazakhstan’s traditional markets and trading venues online. More products will be added to the mandatory digital-labeling system, while the National Product Catalogue will be extended. These measures are intended to make supply chains more transparent and curb counterfeit goods. They are also expected to create fairer conditions for businesses. Controls over excise goods and socially important products will be further automated. The government also plans tighter oversight of e-commerce platforms and online marketplaces, along with closer integration of state information systems. In the social sector, digital tools will be used to monitor the quality of services and track prices. They will also help authorities oversee public spending. The government plans to increase the use of the digital tenge, Kazakhstan’s central bank digital currency. It is already being used in selected government programs to improve the traceability of public funds. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the digital tenge officially became a legally recognized form of Kazakhstan's national currency on July 18, providing the legal foundation for its broader use in government payments and public finance.

Artificial intelligence

Kazakhstan Police Robot Dog Raises Privacy Questions

Kazakhstan’s police used a mobile facial-recognition robot to scan crowds during Metallurgist Day celebrations in Karaganda Region, saying the machine helped identify four people sought over legal or administrative violations. The deployment extends the country’s rapidly expanding surveillance network beyond fixed cameras, allowing police databases to be accessed through a platform that can move through crowded public spaces. The four-legged robot was used during celebrations held on July 17-18 in the industrial cities of Balkhash and Temirtau, which attracted more than 115,000 visitors. More than 1,000 police officers were also deployed to maintain public order, according to the Karaganda police. Robot dogs equipped with facial-recognition cameras have also been deployed at Astana’s railway stations in January, and by police in Aktau since May. Karaganda's robodog carries surveillance cameras and is connected to police databases. Authorities say it can scan faces within its field of view and compare them with records of people sought by law enforcement. Its main advantage over a fixed facial-recognition camera is mobility. During the earlier trial at Astana’s Nurly Zhol railway station, a robot moved through waiting rooms, escalators, and other public areas while transmitting live video to a police command center. The system was also able to compare images with police wanted lists and broadcast warnings through an onboard speaker. Police said the Karaganda robot helped identify one person wanted for evading child support payments, two people owing debts under enforcement proceedings, and a previously convicted man who had breached a court order requiring him to remain at home during specified hours. Officers took legal measures against all four. The authorities did not explain how the facial-recognition matches were verified by officers, how many false alerts the system generated, or how many people were scanned before the four matches were produced. The robot dog forms part of a much larger surveillance system operating across Kazakhstan. The country has approximately 1.6 million surveillance cameras, according to figures provided by the Interior Ministry to the independent outlet Vlast.kz. Around 545,000 are connected to police command centers, while more than 24,000 use artificial intelligence capable of recognizing faces. Vlast’s investigation found that Kazakhstan’s surveillance infrastructure has expanded rapidly, with facial recognition, biometric identification, and networked cameras becoming central elements of the government’s smart-city programs. Supporters argue that such systems can help police locate wanted people and respond more quickly to emergencies. Critics warn that the same infrastructure can be used to track activists, protesters, and other members of the public. Kazakhstan-based digital-rights specialists have called for tighter safeguards governing facial recognition. The Eurasian Digital Foundation has recommended restrictions on mass and indiscriminate surveillance, alongside greater transparency and clearer rules on how government agencies process biometric information. The organization has also argued that Kazakhstan needs stronger independent oversight of the collection, storage, and use of biometric data, as well as procedures allowing people to challenge the processing of their information by law enforcement agencies. The Interior Ministry’s account of the Karaganda deployment did not disclose the cost or the manufacturer of...

Artificial intelligence

Tokayev Offers Astana to Host New Global AI Body’s First Meeting

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev put Astana forward at the opening of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 17, saying that Kazakhstan is ready to host the first meeting of a new global AI organization. He also proposed placing the organization’s Central Asian office in Kazakhstan. Together, the offers set out Tokayev’s wider aim: Kazakhstan wants a role in writing AI rules as well as building the technology at home. Twenty-nine countries signed the agreement establishing the World AI Cooperation Organization on July 16. The founding states included Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while Turkmenistan did not sign. China first proposed the Shanghai-based intergovernmental body at last year’s conference. Tokayev called the creation of the organization a historic decision and said it could underpin a universal framework for AI governance. “No country should remain merely a consumer of AI,” he said. “Every state must have the opportunity to develop its own human capital, digital infrastructure, and institutional capacity. Here too, the issue is fairness and integrity.” Tokayev also endorsed the conference’s guiding principle, “AI for good, AI for all,” arguing that technological progress should benefit people broadly rather than deepen inequalities within and between countries. His offer to host the new organization’s first meeting in Astana and to establish its Central Asian office in Kazakhstan were aimed at giving the country a role in shaping that agenda. [caption id="attachment_52389" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Image: Akorda[/caption] Astana Bids for a Role in the New AI Body Tokayev’s proposals went beyond hosting a ceremonial gathering. He called for a permanent expert platform on AI regulation, standards and ethics. He also proposed an international network of schools, centers of excellence and academic partnerships. The Kazakh president urged members to develop common standards for testing and certifying AI systems. He said safeguards should address malicious uses, including cyberthreats, deepfakes and digital fraud. AI should remain under human control, he said. Tokayev placed those proposals within his wider diplomatic agenda. He argued that AI could help spot crises earlier and improve humanitarian work and peacekeeping. He said governments spend too much effort dealing with conflicts after they begin and too little preventing them. The new organization adds another layer to Kazakhstan’s technology policy. Citing a person familiar with the U.S. position, Reuters reported that Kazakhstan is the only country listed in both the 29-member body and Washington’s AI Opportunity Statement. Kazakhstan had already joined the U.S.-backed Pax Silica framework on June 25, which covers chips, critical minerals, energy and secure AI supply chains. That overlap carries Kazakhstan’s long-standing multi-vector diplomacy into AI policy. Astana is deepening ties with China while expanding ties to U.S.-linked technology and supply chains. Tokayev’s speech showed that Kazakhstan also wants a voice in the institutions shaping global AI rules. A Digital Bridge With China In Shanghai, Tokayev also proposed a “Kazakhstan-China Digital Bridge.” He said the project should promote digital trade and provide a working model for connecting digital economies through the Belt and Road Initiative. He asked China to support...

Artificial intelligence

Kazakhstan Data Center Valley Attracts Firebird and NVIDIA Partnership

U.S.-based cloud and infrastructure technology company Firebird is set to take part in the construction of Kazakhstan’s planned “data center valley” in Pavlodar Region, as Astana seeks to expand the computing capacity needed for domestic artificial intelligence projects. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov outlined the plans during a joint session of parliament last week, saying Kazakhstan needed its own large-scale computing infrastructure rather than relying on foreign platforms. Bektenov said all government data is currently stored in a 6-megawatt data center in Astana. The next step, he said, is a sharp increase in capacity at Ekibastuz, an energy hub in Pavlodar Region. “We will launch a 125-megawatt data center in Ekibastuz in the first half of next year, and in 2028 we will commission another identical 125-megawatt facility,” Bektenov said. He added that international technology companies had already shown interest in the project and confirmed that Firebird had agreed to participate in the development of the so-called data center valley. According to Bektenov, Firebird, which specializes in AI infrastructure and high-performance computing systems, plans to participate in a project valued at about $10 billion. “The main partner of this company is NVIDIA, and we view these companies as reliable strategic partners. A $10 billion investment from Firebird alone is highly significant,” Bektenov said. NVIDIA’s involvement gives the project much of its weight. It is the world’s leading supplier of advanced chips used to train and run AI models. The company’s graphics processing units have become central to the global AI boom. In October 2025, it became the first publicly traded company to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion. Kazakhstan’s government said in a statement that partnerships with companies such as Firebird and NVIDIA would strengthen the country’s "digital sovereignty" and create a foundation for AI computing. Officials have also presented the project as a future source of export revenue, with computing power sold to international clients. Power supply will be central to the project's viability. The government has said 300 MW of power capacity is already available for the Ekibastuz project, with phased expansion planned to 1 GW. That gives the site an obvious advantage, but it also ties Kazakhstan’s AI ambitions to one of the country’s main coal-power centers. Kazakhstan has also secured agreements with other foreign investors as it expands its data center ambitions. Singapore’s GK Hyperscale Ltd is building two data centers in the Akmola and Karaganda regions, while China’s SuperX AI Technology Limited is considering a 1-gigawatt AI data center cluster in Kazakhstan. The projects are part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to position itself as a regional hub for digital infrastructure and AI computing in Central Asia. For now, much of the ambition remains at the agreement and construction stage.