The event featured a plenary session of prime ministers from EAEU member states, attended by the heads of government from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Iran, along with the leadership of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Digital Almaty 2025 highlights Industrial AI and its impact not only on industry but also on key sectors such as healthcare, education, and creative industries. Special attention this year is given to sustainable development (ESG), cybersecurity, AI integration in finance, medicine, and biotechnology. For the first time, the forum will host a drone football championship, merging technology and sports, as well as an interactive robot park showcasing advanced developments.

The forum brings together 220 companies, including leading firms in the mining, metallurgy, and oil and gas sectors, as well as AI, robotics, fintech, and medtech startups. Among the global experts in attendance are Richard Stirling (CEO of Oxford Insights), Kaan Terzioğlu (CEO of VEON Group), Todju Duke (founder of Bedrock AI), and Yoram Wijngaarde (CEO of Dealroom), among others.

During Digital Almaty 2025, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiev, emphasized that AI is already reshaping the global economy and that Kazakhstan aims to be at the forefront of this transformation. He stated that beyond adopting new technologies, it is crucial to build a supportive ecosystem by developing talent, attracting investment, and strengthening infrastructure. Forums like this one play a vital role in uniting government, business, and academia, creating a platform for productive dialogue and joint initiatives.

The minister announced plans to train one million people in AI by 2030 as part of a national program. This includes 500,000 school students, 300,000 university students, and 90,000 civil servants as part of the AI Kyzmet Bootcamp program. In addition, the country is establishing the International AI Center Alem.AI, which will integrate educational programs, startup support, research labs of leading global companies, and AI-driven solutions for public administration.

To ensure widespread access to AI knowledge, Kazakhstan will develop AI Movement and LMS educational platforms and launch a national AI Olympiad for school students. These initiatives will help build a professional community ready to work with advanced technologies.

The minister also highlighted the importance of digital infrastructure in achieving ambitious AI goals. Kazakhstan plans to develop computing power to support AI adoption, which will serve as the foundation for national AI language models, including KazLLM, and enable the creation of AI agents for government institutions. A national AI platform will ensure secure and confidential data management within government agencies.

Institutional support is another key area. In 2025, Kazakhstan plans to adopt an AI regulatory bill and develop a National AI Development Strategy, a comprehensive document outlining priorities, goals, and objectives for the sector.

The forum will also feature the AI Movement initiative by Astana Hub and the national round of the FIRST Tech Challenge, where 24 top school teams will compete for the Digital Ministry Cup. A major highlight will be the Industrial AI Battle, a competition for AI and digital transformation startups, with a prize fund of $60,000 and additional grants from forum partners.

The traditional Startup Alley will showcase 80 international innovative projects, providing thousands of guests, including investors, with insights into new ideas. In the Industry X zone, Kazakhstani tech companies will present successful AI implementation cases in industrial enterprises. Panel discussions will feature leading mining companies and tech parks from the US, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, and Iran, sharing insights on AI applications in industrial processes.

Over 40,000 attendees are expected at this two-day digital event.

Digital Almaty 2025 is organized by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Akimat of Almaty, and Astana Hub (ACF PIT).