The plenary session was attended by Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Hidayat oghlu Asadov, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Aref Mohammad-Reza, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, and Chairman of the Board of the EAEU Commission Bakytzhan Sagintayev. Representatives from international organizations and financial institutions also took part. The forum addressed the future of AI integration in various sectors, including economy, industrial ecosystems, healthcare, and education.

During his speech, Prime Minister Bektenov emphasized the three key factors for AI development: human capital, digital infrastructure, and institutional frameworks. He noted that the implementation of AI technologies is expected to boost Kazakhstan’s GDP by 2-3% annually, underscoring the strategic importance of AI for economic growth.

"The global AI landscape is rapidly shifting from competition to collaboration. Tech industry leaders are joining forces to conduct joint research and openly share their findings for the common advancement of AI technologies. Kazakhstan must leverage this experience to develop its own solutions and foster international cooperation. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has initiated the creation of an AI competency ecosystem based at the International AI Center Alem.ai, set to open in Astana this year. This initiative will unite leading IT companies, research labs, startups, and educational programs under one roof to co-develop cutting-edge AI solutions," Olzhas Bektenov stated, highlighting the importance of EAEU-wide collaboration in joint AI research and development projects at Alem.ai.

One of Kazakhstan’s strategic priorities is training AI specialists. Over the next five years, the country aims to train one million professionals, ensuring comprehensive AI education for civil servants. Progress is already underway: in 2023, Kazakhstan launched Tomorrow School, an AI-focused institution developed in collaboration with renowned French educator Nicolas Sadirac. This peer-to-peer learning model eliminates the need for traditional instructors, fostering a self-sustaining AI education ecosystem. Bektenov emphasized Kazakhstan’s readiness to share its expertise in implementing innovative AI education methodologies.

Bektenov also underscored the critical role of computational resources in AI infrastructure development. He stressed that sovereign large language models (LLM) and multimodal AI systems are essential for enhancing security, adaptability, and local customization—ensuring AI solutions reflect cultural and linguistic nuances.

To establish a robust institutional foundation for AI development, Kazakhstan has approved a National AI Development Concept, which serves as the foundation for a forthcoming AI Strategy. A draft AI regulation bill is also in progress, aiming to create a business-friendly legal environment for AI-driven innovation. Additionally, a Presidential Council on AI Development is being established, bringing together local and international experts to guide AI adoption in Kazakhstan. To further support AI-driven startups, Astana Hub has launched a $1 billion Venture Fund of Funds dedicated to financing high-impact AI projects.

Bektenov also addressed critical AI-related challenges, including AI’s impact on labor markets, workforce retraining needs, ethical considerations, environmental concerns, and ensuring equal access to AI technologies.

Throughout the forum, Kazakhstan’s AI startups and projects were showcased alongside international innovations. Among the featured projects: Codiplay, a Kazakhstani edtech application used in 13 countries, providing IT literacy training for 13 million children. Grand Mobile, a role-playing game simulating real-life scenarios, with 5 million monthly active users. AMC X Belka AI, an AI-driven industrial optimization platform currently deployed by Aktobe Copper Company, boosting production capacity by 3% and metal extraction efficiency by 1%.

Bektenov concluded by reaffirming that Kazakhstan’s startup ecosystem is a key driver of economic innovation, with the government committed to supporting new AI-driven initiatives and fostering international collaboration.

Source: Official Information Resource of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan