Astana Leads 2024 Smart City Rankings in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry (MDIIA) has released its latest evaluation of local governments' efforts to implement Smart City technologies. For 2024, the capital city, Astana, secured the top position. A Smart City integrates multiple information and communication technologies (ICT) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to manage urban assets, ranging from residential and commercial properties to transportation and public infrastructure. The core objective is to enhance the quality of life for residents through greater efficiency, safety, and connectivity. Kazakhstan began implementing its Smart City strategy in 2019, introducing a standardized benchmark for assessing the adoption of smart technologies by local authorities. The first national Smart City ranking, published in 2020, placed Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis, firmly at the top. In subsequent years, Almaty and Astana alternated between first and second place. In 2023, however, Astana emerged as the clear leader. According to the MDIIA, alongside Astana, the cities of Almaty, Karaganda (Central Kazakhstan), Kostanay (northern Kazakhstan), and Ust-Kamenogorsk (eastern Kazakhstan) rounded out the top five for their effective implementation of urban digital technologies. “These cities have widely adopted systems for monitoring school performance, electronic fare collection, and real-time tracking of public transport,” the ministry reported. “Online registration for outpatient clinics is in place, and unified 109 contact centers handle public inquiries and complaints. The number of surveillance cameras has also increased, improving public safety.” As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh authorities are also planning to construct a new city, Alatau, near Almaty. The project is being designed from the ground up to meet all the criteria of a Smart City.

Kazakhstan Unveils Alatau: Investor-Led City with Crypto Ambitions

A major new urban development project is underway in Kazakhstan’s Almaty region, where a city named Alatau is being built with an emphasis on private investment and innovation. According to Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, the city is envisioned as a "magnet" for both domestic and international investors. Initially known as G4 City, the Alatau project was designed as a “smart city” comprising four interconnected districts: Gate District - A financial and business hub Golden District - A center for education and healthcare Growing District - An industrial and logistics zone Green District - An area for recreation and entertainment The development plan for Alatau aims to attract KZT 3.7 trillion (approx. $7.2 billion) in investment and expand the population from 52,000 to 2 million residents. The city will also be part of a special economic zone, with over 170 projects valued at KZT 12.5 trillion (around $24.4 billion) earmarked for implementation. Speaking at the Astana International Forum (AIF), Madiyev stated that the city could take one of two development paths: state-funded, as in the cases of Astana and Turkestan, or developed as a platform for private investment. “There are several options for how the city can be developed,” he said. “Alatau can be made a platform for investors. However, this requires an environment where the private sector can thrive. We need to design the entire landscape to support that in Alatau.” Madiyev also proposed key regulatory and infrastructural reforms to attract foreign investors. English should become the city’s main business language, cryptocurrency should be permitted for free circulation, and foreign nationals should be allowed to purchase real estate. These initiatives, he argued, would help position Alatau as a hub for education and tourism. “This city can become a magnet for young people who dream of living in places like Dubai,” Madiyev said. “We hope they will choose Alatau.”