President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed establishing a regional center in Astana to facilitate cooperation between Central Asian nations and Japan in digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) development.
Speaking at the inaugural summit of the Central Asia-Japan Dialogue, Tokayev endorsed Tokyo’s initiative to build an AI partnership with the region. He noted that Kazakhstan has committed to developing a digital state and highlighted recent milestones, including the launch of the Alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center, the deployment of two supercomputers in 2025, and the ongoing implementation of the Digital Qazaqstan strategy.
Kazakhstan is prepared to serve as a platform for regional AI collaboration, Tokayev said, suggesting that the proposed initiative be anchored at the Astana Hub and Alem.ai, both of which possess advanced infrastructure and a growing international tech ecosystem. He expressed particular interest in Japan’s expertise in water management digitalization, including water conservation, scientific research, and remote sensing.
The president also proposed cooperation in sustainable agriculture, citing Kazakhstan’s interest in Japanese technologies for smart farming, drought-resistant crop development, and resource-efficient agricultural practices. He invited Japanese scientists to participate in establishing a joint research platform and proposed holding the first expert meeting in Astana.
Tokayev further emphasized Kazakhstan’s interest in Japanese technology and investment in the energy sector from coal industry modernization and clean energy development to nuclear power. He noted that Kazakhstan supplies roughly 40% of the world’s nuclear fuel and holds substantial reserves of rare earth and critical minerals essential to the global energy transition.
As previously reported by the Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan recently launched the region’s most powerful supercomputer and reached an agreement with NVIDIA to roll out AI education programs through the Deep Learning Institute.
