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Opinion: Kazakhstan Bets Big on AI to Power Local and Global Growth

A bold vision for Kazakhstan’s future In his recent State of the Nation address, the President of Kazakhstan articulated a bold and ambitious future for the country. He presented a new vision, central to which was the announcement of artificial intelligence adoption and digitization as new national priorities, positioning them as essential for the country’s economic modernization and long-term competitiveness. The speech marked a significant moment for the government. Historically, much of its policy focus has been on managing risk and navigating regulatory uncertainty. Now, the administration is pivoting to focus instead on high-growth, innovation-led initiatives to build a more competitive and resilient Kazakhstan that can thrive in a rapidly changing global economy. In his address, President Tokayev announced the creation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. Its initial mandate is to develop the Digital Code, a comprehensive framework that will set out how every sector of the economy, from finance and energy to education and healthcare, will integrate AI and digital tools in a structured and sustainable way. Leapfrogging into the digital economy Kazakhstan is embracing leapfrog innovation to harness tools such as AI and blockchain technologies to help accelerate economic growth and diversify its economy. This bet will ensure that the nation remains competitive for generations to come in a digital-led global landscape where technology leadership increasingly defines prosperity. Central to the project’s long-term success is the evolution of Kazakhstan’s educational system, and the country has recently approved its first national framework for integrating AI into its curriculum, signaling a major shift toward future-ready learning. This initiative covers areas including ethics, legal regulation, personal data protection, and academic integrity. Kazakhstan is now one of the first countries to adopt its own national approach in this field, having drawn on the recommendations of UNESCO, OECD, and the EU’s work to ensure global best practices. Building tomorrow’s AI leaders today From the 2025–2026 academic year, AI is being integrated throughout the curriculum with the aim of converting classrooms into technology-literate talent pipelines. Students will benefit from new online courses, while teachers will be supported with professional development programs (with over 11,000 teachers already trained and more to follow). Globally, the adoption of AI in education is surging. According to AllAboutAI, in 2025, 86% of students worldwide use AI in their studies, and half of all teachers will leverage AI for lesson planning. The market for AI in education is projected to reach over $2.7 trillion by 2033, having been valued at $177 billion in 2023. With nearly 30% of Kazakhstan’s population under the age of 15 and a median age of just 29, the country is well placed to transform its students into a new generation of professionals ready to contribute to the country’s technological evolution and global competitiveness. Universities such as the Astana IT University (AITU), International Information Technology University, and the Kazakh-British Technical University, all part of the NNEF ecosystem, are at the forefront of integrating AI across their curricula, ensuring that students gain the skills they need for the digital economy and innovation-driven...

Railway Development

Kazakhstan Accelerates Railway Modernization to Boost Transit Capacity

Kazakhstan is embarking on a large-scale modernization of its 16,000 kilometer railway network to significantly increase transit capacity, despite 57% of its infrastructure being worn out, Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev announced at a recent government meeting. Sauranbayev acknowledged that the aging network affects both the speed and safety of freight, including transit trains. “The infrastructure is operating at full capacity,” he said. “To improve efficiency and sustainability by 2030, we plan to build new lines, modernize 5,000 kilometers of existing track, and repair another 11,000 kilometers.” Five new railway lines are currently under construction: Dostyk-Moyinty (linking the Chinese border to central Kazakhstan) Almaty bypass line (southern Kazakhstan) Darbaza-Maktaaral (Turkestan region) Moyinty-Kyzylzhar (connecting the west and center) Bakhta-Ayagoz (eastern Kazakhstan, to enhance trade with China) Two projects Dostyk-Moyinty and the Almaty bypass, are scheduled for early completion this year. The remaining lines will be finished by 2026. This year also marks the launch of a large-scale modernization of 3,000 kilometers of track, which the minister described as equivalent to constructing entirely new lines. “These projects are shaping a full-fledged railway framework for Kazakhstan,” Sauranbayev stated. Additionally, rail traffic to China has resumed through the Dostyk station. Kazakhstan currently hosts five international railway corridors. Transit volume is expected to rise sharply, from 33 million tons in 2025, to 54 million tons in 2026, and 67 million tons by 2029. Forecasts suggest volumes could reach 100 million tons by 2035, worth an estimated 4.4 trillion tenge (approximately $9.1 billion). “Our goal is to reach this figure even sooner,” the minister noted. Transit traffic has already doubled over the past decade, reaching 27.4 million tons in 2024. Seven cargo handling terminals now operate at Kazakhstan’s borders, with two more to open soon and five additional facilities planned. “This will establish a terminal network along the East-West route. We offer a transit product based on three pillars: delivery time, tariffs, and service,” Sauranbayev said. He also highlighted the stability of tariffs along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or “Middle Corridor,” which connects Kazakhstan to Europe while bypassing Russia. Tariffs have remained unchanged for three years. Preparations for an intergovernmental agreement on further development of the route are set to begin shortly. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) announced in December that customs declaration procedures for transit cargo along the Middle Corridor have been digitalized.

Water Supply

Kyrgyzstan Reports Increase in Irrigation Water Supply

As Kyrgyzstan seeks to expand the production and export of environmentally friendly organic agricultural products, ensuring a stable supply of irrigation water remains a crucial issue for both local farmers and government authorities responsible for the country’s irrigation infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Kyrgyzstan has 498 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 1.8 billion cubic meters of irrigation water. During the 2025 growing season, this water will be used to irrigate 1.022 million hectares of farmland across the country. Infrastructure Improvements and Modernization To prevent water shortages in 2025, the ministry undertook extensive improvements to irrigation infrastructure in 2024. A total of 626 kilometers of irrigation canals were improved, including: 93 km repaired 32 km lined with concrete 500 km cleaned Additionally, repairs were carried out on key pumping stations, and efforts to introduce drip and sprinkler irrigation methods are underway on 1,484 hectares of farmland. Innovative Irrigation Solutions Kyrgyzstan is also adopting new technologies to improve water management. British company Concrete Canvas is set to build a plant in the country to produce flexible concrete material designed to line irrigation canals, preventing erosion and reducing water seepage. Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev emphasized the significance of this innovation. He noted that Kyrgyzstan has 30,000 kilometers of irrigation canals, including 11,000 km of unsurfaced canals, and that applying concrete lining will help reduce water losses and improve efficiency. Water Cooperation with Kazakhstan While Kyrgyzstan continues efforts to meet domestic irrigation needs, it also plays a key role in supplying water to downstream Kazakhstan, particularly its arid southern regions, where irrigation is vital for agriculture.

Cultural Heritage

19th-Century Historic Building Under Demolition in Turkmenistan

The demolition of a 19th-century historic building, formerly the History and Local History Museum and originally a Shiite mosque named after Haji Myalik, has begun in the city of Turkmenabat. Constructed in the 19th century, this architectural landmark was a vital part of Turkmenabat's cultural heritage for decades. The building served as a museum starting in 1967, but in 2011, after more than 40 years, its exhibitions were relocated to a new facility built specifically for that purpose. Despite the building’s historical significance, local authorities opted against restoration or handing it over to the Muftiyat (the official Islamic authority) and instead decided to demolish it. A Unique Architectural Legacy The architectural design of the former Haji Myalik Mosque was distinctive and highly regarded in the region. Tourist guides described it as one of Turkmenabat's most striking landmarks. The facade featured intricate brickwork, three semicircular arches, a prominent high portal, and two small towers capped with pointed domes in Ottoman architectural style. On the right side of the facade stood a minaret with a metal dome, once the tallest vantage point in Chardjui (the historic name of Turkmenabat). Today, this iconic structure is being dismantled piece by piece. The roof has already been removed, and the demolition process is ongoing. A Worrying Trend The demolition of historic buildings in Turkmenistan is not a new phenomenon and has raised alarm among residents and cultural heritage experts. In Ashgabat, the capital, numerous old buildings of historical and cultural importance have been destroyed over the years. Notable examples include the buildings of Karakumstroy, Hotel Turkmenistan, the Turkmenhovayollary Department, and the public garden featuring a monument to N. Aitakov. [caption id="attachment_27727" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Ashgabat- A row of marble towers in Berzengi; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] A moderately young metropolis, its appellation meaning "City of Love" in Persian, Ashgabat developed around a Russian garrison during the 1880s. Leveled in the earthquake of 1948, prefab Soviet blocks soon sprung from the debris. Shaping his vision, former President Niyazov had these kommunalkas torn down and replaced by boxy, flat-topped marble towers with dazzling, reflective windows. Largely of a uniform eleven storys, their showy ostentation lacks any semblance of functionality, with endless ministry buildings standing unoccupied, overpriced residential blocks home to the affluent few. In 2021, authorities began demolishing four-story residential buildings at the intersection of Turkmenbashi and Atamurat Niyazov avenues, a move that drew criticism from citizens. Experts warn that such actions could result in the irreversible loss of the country’s unique architectural heritage. As the dismantling of the former Haji Myalik Mosque continues, concerns grow about the preservation of Turkmenistan's historic and cultural landmarks, many of which are disappearing under the pressure of modernization.

Rule of law

Uzbekistan Ends Forced Labor, But Cotton Industry Faces New Challenges

Global Voices reports that Uzbekistan has succeeded in phasing out forced labor in its cotton industry, but now faces new challenges. The country has made progress in ending forced labor and modernizing its cotton sector, driven by economic and political reasons. Forced labor hurts businesses and the nation’s international image, which the government has aimed to improve since 2016. Cotton production accounts for 12% of GDP. Since 2017, the government has introduced major reforms to modernize Uzbekistan’s cotton industry, led by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev after he took office in 2016. By 2018, labor control was strengthened, and the cotton cluster system, which controls the entire production process, began to take shape. Today, almost all cotton is grown through 142 clusters. Cotton quotas have been abolished by 2020, and the minimum wage will now be negotiated. The same year, the International Labor Organization reported that child labor was no longer a problem, and the international boycott was lifted in 2022. Eradicating forced labor has been hailed as “one of the most significant victories anywhere in the world in the battle against forced labor in the twenty-first century,” said Bennett Freeman, co-founder of the Cotton Campaign in 2022. This achievement was possible thanks to the diligence of organizations such as human rights defenders of Uzbekistan and the Uzbekistan Forum for Human Rights, which monitored the cotton fields and recorded violations, as well as the government's promptness in reviewing these reports. Global Voices writes that despite the progress achieved in Uzbekistan's cotton industry, there are still serious problems. The report states, “Despite abandoning forced labor, the government still continues to exert strong control over cotton production and prevents farmers from fully operating on their own terms.” Farmers receive resources and loans, but the system remains inefficient, with state-set cotton prices often differing from global rates. The government and industry need to address these ongoing issues while pursuing international standards and export opportunities to build trust and transparency.

Energy

Restoration of Kyrgyzstan’s Largest Hydropower Plant Nears Completion

According to Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy, the modernization of the country’s largest hydropower plant, Toktogul HPP, which began in March, is now 80% complete. Located on the Naryn River, the Toktogul HPP comprises four hydroelectric units and with a total generating capacity of 1320 MW, provides about 40% of the country’s electricity. The rotor at the hydro unit No. 1 has been assembled and installed and when fully modernized later in 2024, the service life of the Toktogul HPP will increase by 25-30 years, ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted power supply in autumn-winter and increase the power plant’s generating capacity by 60 MW to 1380 MW. In recent years, since Kyrgyzstan has been unable to produce enough electricity to meet the growing demand, electricity has been imported from neighboring countries. In 2023, the volume of imported electricity amounted to 3.2 billion kWh. and Kyrgyz Minister of Energy Taalaibek Ibrayev reported that in the first half of 2024, Kyrgyzstan imported 2.02 billion kWh of electricity, including 909.8 million kWh from Russia and Kazakhstan, 837.5 million kWh from Turkmenistan, and 275.3 million kWh from Uzbekistan. During the first half of this year, Kyrgyzstan produced 7.07 billion kWh of electricity, including 6.2 billion kWh generated by hydroelectric power plants and 870 million kWh by thermal (coal-fired) power plants. In addition to updating its current facilities, the Ministry of Energy has committed to the construction of the Kambarata-1 HPP which destined to become Central Asia's largest hydroelectric power plant, aims to end Kyrgyzstan’s power shortages. Confident in the success of such measures, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, has announced that Kyrgyzstan will become both energy-sufficient and in a position to begin exporting electricity by 2026.