From a Resource-Based Economy to Digital Readiness
Once viewed primarily as a resource-rich post-Soviet economy, Kazakhstan is now at the forefront of digital transformation in Central Asia. The country’s strategy has moved well beyond fueling a fintech boom to encompass the systematic digitalization of public services, inclusive broadband expansion, the creation of a national AI ecosystem, and international cooperation within the startup landscape.
A major milestone was Kazakhstan’s entry into the global top ten of the Online Services Index (OSI), alongside South Korea, Estonia, and Denmark. According to the UN E-Government Development Index 2024, Kazakhstan climbed four positions to rank 24th globally, surpassing major economies such as Germany, China, and Australia. Among CIS countries, Kazakhstan now leads in digital governance.
More than 92% of government services are currently available online. Citizens can access over 1,200 digital services via the national portal eGov.kz and the eGov Mobile mobile application. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 23 million digital services were delivered, nearly 45% of them via smartphones—underscoring the country’s mobile-first digitalization strategy.
Digitalization in Kazakhstan goes beyond access to include service delivery models and data governance. The eGov ecosystem has become an integral part of everyday life—from business registration and healthcare access to document renewal and legal filings.
The eGov Mobile platform continues to evolve, introducing biometric identification, push notifications, and integration with other super-apps, including Kaspi.kz, further blurring the line between public and private digital ecosystems.
As of mid-2025, more than 14.7 million users are registered on eGov.kz, with 215,000 new accounts added over the past year—clear evidence of growing digital trust and citizen engagement.
Building an AI Ecosystem: A Strategic Leap Forward
In 2024, Kazakhstan approved its Artificial Intelligence Development Concept—a legal and strategic framework through 2029 that lays the groundwork for ethical AI adoption, national standards, and regulatory mechanisms. Work is now underway to transform this concept into a full-fledged National AI Development Strategy aimed at integrating AI into healthcare, education, energy, public administration, and science.
A cornerstone of this strategy is the launch of Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer, scheduled for July 2025. The AI supercluster will be housed in a certified Tier III data center under the Ministry of Digital Development and integrated into the national AI platform. It will be accessible to universities, startups, and private companies, providing open, secure, and localized computing resources.
To support these efforts, the government—together with Parliament—is drafting a dedicated AI law to regulate relations between the state, individuals, and businesses in the development and application of AI technologies.
In addition, Kazakhstan is establishing an International AI Advisory Council under the President, tasked with shaping national AI policy and fostering international cooperation. The Council will include leading global experts, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
Startups and Talent: Creating a New Market
Kazakhstan’s digital momentum is also reflected in its startup ecosystem. In 2024, Kazakhstani startups attracted more than USD 250 million in venture capital—three times more than the previous year. The country’s flagship accelerator, Astana Hub, now brings together over 1,300 startups from 28 countries, with total revenues reaching KZT 1.2 trillion and export revenues exceeding KZT 140 billion.
Startups benefit from tax incentives, simplified visa regimes, and access to both national and international capital. Notably, global tech giants are taking interest: in 2025, Telegram officially became a resident of Astana Hub, marking a new era of cooperation between Kazakhstan and global Big Tech.
Kazakhstan can already point to a growing list of startups that have successfully entered international markets, including the United States, the UAE, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany. These include Alaqan, Codiplay, CITIX, CEREBRA, OGames, Parqour, and ApartX. Codiplay, in particular, stands out as an EdTech company focused on improving digital literacy among schoolchildren through advanced educational tools. Valued at USD 100 million, Codiplay is now used in more than 450 schools worldwide—including in the UK, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan—and has recently begun scaling across Kazakhstan.
To further accelerate growth, Kazakhstan is launching international tech hubs in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United States, creating new bridges for IT exports and global collaboration.
The startup ecosystem is supported not only by government initiatives but also by private venture funds and business angels. In 2025, the USD 1 billion Qazaqstan Venture Group was established to support AI-focused startups. This complements Astana Hub Ventures, which backs startups from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and beyond. These ambitious investments are designed to stimulate innovation, trigger a new wave of tech startups, and strengthen the country’s broader IT ecosystem—laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth.
The Digital Workforce Transformation
Kazakhstan’s digital revolution is reshaping the labor market as well. By 2024, the country was home to more than 18,000 IT companies employing 187,000 people, with IT employment growing by 12% year-on-year. The government’s Tech Orda program aims to train 20,000 new IT specialists by 2029 through grant-based education at private IT schools.
The focus extends beyond software developers to the full spectrum of digital professions—from AI engineers and data analysts to product managers and cybersecurity specialists. Regional IT hubs, now numbering 18, play a crucial role in identifying and nurturing talent nationwide.
Challenges Remain, but Momentum Is Growing
Despite its impressive progress, Kazakhstan still faces structural challenges, including high market concentration in fintech, insufficient rural connectivity, and an early-stage level of AI readiness. However, the government’s aggressive digital strategy, strong institutional alignment, and active private-sector participation point to a sustainable growth trajectory.
As Kazakhstan moves toward universal broadband coverage, scales its AI infrastructure, and globalizes its startup ecosystem, it is not merely transforming—it is shaping the digital future of Eurasia.
Read more at Bizmedia.kz.
From a Resource-Based Economy to Digital Readiness
Once viewed primarily as a resource-rich post-Soviet economy, Kazakhstan is now at the forefront of digital transformation in Central Asia. The country’s strategy has moved well beyond fueling a fintech boom to encompass the systematic digitalization of public services, inclusive broadband expansion, the creation of a national AI ecosystem, and international cooperation within the startup landscape.
A major milestone was Kazakhstan’s entry into the global top ten of the Online Services Index (OSI), alongside South Korea, Estonia, and Denmark. According to the UN E-Government Development Index 2024, Kazakhstan climbed four positions to rank 24th globally, surpassing major economies such as Germany, China, and Australia. Among CIS countries, Kazakhstan now leads in digital governance.
More than 92% of government services are currently available online. Citizens can access over 1,200 digital services via the national portal eGov.kz and the eGov Mobile mobile application. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 23 million digital services were delivered, nearly 45% of them via smartphones—underscoring the country’s mobile-first digitalization strategy.
Digitalization in Kazakhstan goes beyond access to include service delivery models and data governance. The eGov ecosystem has become an integral part of everyday life—from business registration and healthcare access to document renewal and legal filings.
The eGov Mobile platform continues to evolve, introducing biometric identification, push notifications, and integration with other super-apps, including Kaspi.kz, further blurring the line between public and private digital ecosystems.
As of mid-2025, more than 14.7 million users are registered on eGov.kz, with 215,000 new accounts added over the past year—clear evidence of growing digital trust and citizen engagement.
Building an AI Ecosystem: A Strategic Leap Forward
In 2024, Kazakhstan approved its Artificial Intelligence Development Concept—a legal and strategic framework through 2029 that lays the groundwork for ethical AI adoption, national standards, and regulatory mechanisms. Work is now underway to transform this concept into a full-fledged National AI Development Strategy aimed at integrating AI into healthcare, education, energy, public administration, and science.
A cornerstone of this strategy is the launch of Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer, scheduled for July 2025. The AI supercluster will be housed in a certified Tier III data center under the Ministry of Digital Development and integrated into the national AI platform. It will be accessible to universities, startups, and private companies, providing open, secure, and localized computing resources.
To support these efforts, the government—together with Parliament—is drafting a dedicated AI law to regulate relations between the state, individuals, and businesses in the development and application of AI technologies.
In addition, Kazakhstan is establishing an International AI Advisory Council under the President, tasked with shaping national AI policy and fostering international cooperation. The Council will include leading global experts, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
Startups and Talent: Creating a New Market
Kazakhstan’s digital momentum is also reflected in its startup ecosystem. In 2024, Kazakhstani startups attracted more than USD 250 million in venture capital—three times more than the previous year. The country’s flagship accelerator, Astana Hub, now brings together over 1,300 startups from 28 countries, with total revenues reaching KZT 1.2 trillion and export revenues exceeding KZT 140 billion.
Startups benefit from tax incentives, simplified visa regimes, and access to both national and international capital. Notably, global tech giants are taking interest: in 2025, Telegram officially became a resident of Astana Hub, marking a new era of cooperation between Kazakhstan and global Big Tech.
Kazakhstan can already point to a growing list of startups that have successfully entered international markets, including the United States, the UAE, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany. These include Alaqan, Codiplay, CITIX, CEREBRA, OGames, Parqour, and ApartX. Codiplay, in particular, stands out as an EdTech company focused on improving digital literacy among schoolchildren through advanced educational tools. Valued at USD 100 million, Codiplay is now used in more than 450 schools worldwide—including in the UK, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan—and has recently begun scaling across Kazakhstan.
To further accelerate growth, Kazakhstan is launching international tech hubs in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United States, creating new bridges for IT exports and global collaboration.
The startup ecosystem is supported not only by government initiatives but also by private venture funds and business angels. In 2025, the USD 1 billion Qazaqstan Venture Group was established to support AI-focused startups. This complements Astana Hub Ventures, which backs startups from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and beyond. These ambitious investments are designed to stimulate innovation, trigger a new wave of tech startups, and strengthen the country’s broader IT ecosystem—laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth.
The Digital Workforce Transformation
Kazakhstan’s digital revolution is reshaping the labor market as well. By 2024, the country was home to more than 18,000 IT companies employing 187,000 people, with IT employment growing by 12% year-on-year. The government’s Tech Orda program aims to train 20,000 new IT specialists by 2029 through grant-based education at private IT schools.
The focus extends beyond software developers to the full spectrum of digital professions—from AI engineers and data analysts to product managers and cybersecurity specialists. Regional IT hubs, now numbering 18, play a crucial role in identifying and nurturing talent nationwide.
Challenges Remain, but Momentum Is Growing
Despite its impressive progress, Kazakhstan still faces structural challenges, including high market concentration in fintech, insufficient rural connectivity, and an early-stage level of AI readiness. However, the government’s aggressive digital strategy, strong institutional alignment, and active private-sector participation point to a sustainable growth trajectory.
As Kazakhstan moves toward universal broadband coverage, scales its AI infrastructure, and globalizes its startup ecosystem, it is not merely transforming—it is shaping the digital future of Eurasia.
Read more at Bizmedia.kz.
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