Digital Technologies - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 89

Road Safety

Kazakhstan Proposes Digital Points System for Traffic Violations

Kazakhstan may introduce a digital points-based system to monitor and penalize traffic violations, enabling authorities to automatically identify repeat offenders, mandate retesting, and revoke driving licenses. The proposal was announced by Prosecutor General Berik Asylov during a recent meeting of the Law Enforcement Coordination Council. According to Asylov, noncompliance with traffic regulations remains a major cause of road accidents. He noted that 81% of those responsible for traffic accidents had previously been held accountable for multiple violations. For instance, in East Kazakhstan, one driver committed 32 infractions in a single year, including 13 speeding violations, before fatally crashing into oncoming traffic, killing himself and two passengers. A more striking case occurred in Almaty, where a driver with 72 violations over two years, including 30 for speeding, killed a pedestrian on August 30. To prevent such incidents, participants at the council meeting proposed the implementation of a digital points system that would automatically record repeat violations. Drivers who exceed a predetermined threshold would be required to retake their driving test. Chronic offenders would face temporary suspension of their driving privileges. Asylov also emphasized the need for stricter oversight in the issuance of driver’s licenses. “Cases of illegal acquisition of licenses will be considered a factor that increases the threat to society,” he stated. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, lawmakers have also proposed introducing mandatory psychological evaluations, dubbed the “idiot test”, for repeat offenders who systematically violate the same traffic rules.

Startups

How the Kyrgyz Republic’s High Technology Park is Quietly Building a Digital Powerhouse

In an exclusive two-part interview with The Times of Central Asia, Elena Nechaeva, Head of Communications at the High Technology Park of the Kyrgyz Republic (HTP), offers a rare and detailed look into one of Central Asia’s most underreported digital ecosystems. While much attention has been given to the tech potential of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan is quietly and deliberately attempting to build a globally connected digital economy, and, in recent years, it has gone from strength to strength. With deepening links to Silicon Valley and a new generation of ambitious startups and entrepreneurs, the country’s tech talent is emerging as some of the most competitive in the region. In this special series, The Times of Central Asia reveals the start-ups, entrepreneurs, and trends shaping Kyrgyzstan’s regional innovation space and why international investors should start paying attention. TCA: Can you briefly describe the mission and strategic goals of the High Technology Park (HTP)? Elena Nechaeva: The High Technology Park of the Kyrgyz Republic is built on a simple belief: the internet is our ocean. For a landlocked country, digital technologies open limitless space, a borderless world where geography no longer defines opportunity. The High Technology Park was created to help Kyrgyz companies export their talent and products and integrate into the wider global technology economy. As a government-backed organization, our mission is to accelerate the country’s economic growth through IT and to create global opportunities for local talent whilst developing the Kyrgyz Republic as an emerging hub for innovation. In the long term, our strategy is focused on three clear priorities. Firstly, we want to reach $1 billion in annual revenue generated by HTP resident companies. We aim to scale Kyrgyz IT exports by supporting companies with a favorable tax regime. This means 0% VAT, 0% corporate income tax, 0% sales tax, 5% personal income tax, to help them grow internationally. Then, we want to enable the first unicorn startup founded in the Kyrgyz Republic. The High Technology Park supports startups through international programs, accelerators, and a number of global partnerships, allowing them to access networks in Silicon Valley, Europe, and Asia. We have also set an ambitious target to train and empower 50,000 software developers. Developing these skills is perhaps the most important thing that we do. We are working closely with universities, schools, bootcamps, and private EdTech companies to cultivate a new generation of engineers and digitally savvy professionals. [caption id="attachment_40039" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image courtesy of The High Technology Park, Kyrgyz Republic @ the 2025 Gitex Expo in Dubai[/caption] TCA: How has the High Technology Park evolved since its inception? What have been the most significant milestones to date? Nechaeva: Since its inception, the High Technology Park has evolved from a small initiative into a fast-growing IT hub. The Kyrgyz tech ecosystem began developing in 2008, originally with the founding of the Kyrgyz Association of Software and Service Developers - the first professional organization uniting the country’s tech companies. This laid the foundation for a specialized IT regime. The...

Digital Technologies

Kazakhmys Partners with Freedom Cloud to Modernize IT Infrastructure

Kazakhmys, the world’s largest copper producer, has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Kazakh IT company Freedom Cloud to implement advanced digital technologies in its operations. The agreement outlines plans to modernize Kazakhmys’ IT infrastructure, introduce cloud-based solutions, and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into production processes. Company representatives say that transitioning to a cloud architecture will allow computing and network resources to be consolidated into a unified digital system, enhancing data protection and ensuring uninterrupted operation of critical systems. Nurakhmet Nuriev, Chairman of the Board of Kazakhmys Corporation LLP, emphasized that the company is ready to outsource non-core IT functions to professional service providers without compromising system reliability. A pilot project will be launched from January to June 2026 to test the new cloud infrastructure and digital services. Freedom Cloud will provide Tier III infrastructure with backup systems, cybersecurity safeguards, and 24/7 monitoring. The infrastructure will support AI-driven production management tools and DevOps practices to accelerate the rollout of digital solutions. “We are creating an infrastructure that will enable Kazakhmys not only to increase operational efficiency, but also to set an example for the entire mining and metallurgical industry in the use of AI and cloud platforms,” said Freedom Cloud CEO Temirlan Zinalabdin.

Digital Technologies

Kyrgyzstan Moves Toward Fully Digital Justice System

On November 17, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed new legislation aimed at modernizing the country’s judicial system and expanding citizens’ access to justice through advanced digital technologies. The new law introduces a fully digital framework for legal proceedings, intended to accelerate litigation and increase transparency. Beginning January 1, 2026, administrative, civil, and economic cases will be processed entirely within a digital environment. Under this system, court rulings, protocols, and other legal documents will be deemed legally valid if signed with a digital signature. All filings, including lawsuits, appeals, cassation complaints, and petitions for case review, must be submitted electronically through a unified digital platform, with each document requiring a digital signature and completion of an electronic form. Participants in legal proceedings will be able to access and download court decisions online. The legislation significantly reduces and eventually aims to eliminate the need for individuals to appear in court in person as plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, or experts. Remote participation and the mandatory audio and video recording of all court sessions will be central features of the new system. According to government officials, the reform marks a systemic shift from paper-based litigation toward a digital, streamlined model designed to improve judicial efficiency and accountability. In parallel, President Japarov also signed the Law “On Mediation,” which introduces mandatory pre-trial and extra-judicial mediation for certain categories of civil and criminal disputes. The goal is to ease the burden on courts and promote a culture of peaceful conflict resolution. While these reforms represent a step toward modernization, Kyrgyzstan’s judiciary continues to face significant structural challenges. The Global Organized Crime Index identifies the judicial system as among the most corrupt institutions in the country, citing persistent issues of bribery, political pressure, and influence from organized crime networks. The presumption of innocence is frequently disregarded, and courts are often criticized for operating under a de facto presumption of guilt. A 2023 nationwide survey by the International Republican Institute found that 49% of respondents identified the courts as the most corrupt institution in Kyrgyzstan.

Made in Kazakhstan: Building an AI for a Nation

On a cold November morning at Al-Farabi University in Almaty, students gathered in a drafty lecture hall, many still wrapped in their coats. The setting was more reminiscent of a forgotten Soviet-era classroom than a venue for cutting-edge technology. But amid the peeling paint and rickety seats, some of the country’s most ambitious young researchers had come to discuss Kazakhstan’s latest steps into the world of artificial intelligence. The star billing came from the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University in Astana. Last year, the institute released KazLLM, its first Large Language Model (LLM), to much fanfare, inspired by a philosophy of building AI systems that understand the country’s language and culture rather than borrowing second-hand from Silicon Valley. But can Kazakhstan keep pace in the global AI race? And despite the government’s efforts to back local products, can it convince the population to use them over Western alternatives? Recent developments The Institute’s founder, Doctor Huseyin Atakan Varol, was keen to stress that steps have been taken to develop Kazakhstan’s native AI ecosystem over the past twelve months. “Since the release of KazLLM last year, we have witnessed what I would describe as a ‘Cambrian explosion’ of generative AI development,” he told The Times of Central Asia. “The KazLLM project enabled us to create the team and amass the know-how to build a new generation of multilingual and multimodal models tailored to Kazakhstan’s needs.” Among these, he lists Oylan, a multimodal language–audio-vision model; MangiSoz, a multilingual speech and text translation engine; TilSync, a real-time subtitle and translation engine; and Beynele, a text-to-image generation model. All these models have been fine-tuned to better reflect Kazakh culture and linguistic norms. “In short, we are building AI made in Kazakhstan, by Kazakhstani youth, for Kazakhstan –models that understand the language, culture, and needs of the people,” said Amina Baikenova, ISSAI’s Acting Deputy Director of Product and External Affairs, in an interview with TCA. [caption id="attachment_39061" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] The old lecture hall at Al-Farabi University, Almaty; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] Much of this progress stems from the enthusiasm of a generation of students, whom Kazakhstan has invested heavily in training. Indeed, the country has become a magnet for young researchers from across Central Asia. “After completing my bachelor’s degree in Kyrgyzstan, I was looking for opportunities to build my research career. That’s why I moved to Kazakhstan,” said Adam Erik, an ISSAI student from Bishkek. “Kazakhstan has become a scientific center of Central Asia.” Erik believes strongly in building local language models. “There is a thing called bias in data sets,” he said. “Models from the U.S., China, or Europe are incredible, but they’re trained mostly on Western culture and literature. Local solutions are still necessary.” These sentiments reflect a common frustration among researchers: even the best global AI systems stumble when asked about Kazakh idioms, rural social norms, or local history. The data used to train the world’s most powerful models rarely includes more than a sliver...

Digital Technologies

Kazakhstan Advances Digital Transformation with U.S. Partnerships

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...