In last year's address to the people, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined a strategically important task – to turn Kazakhstan into an IT country, noting achievements in the field of digitalization and the volume of exports of the domestic IT industry. The government has set a goal to bring the export of IT services to one billion dollars by 2026. In an interview with BaigeNews– how the IT industry in Kazakhstan is developing in general, what opportunities AI technologies offer for business and society.kz talked with Asel Abdildaeva, PhD, associate professor and head of an IT company.

- In the Message, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that the strategically important task is to turn Kazakhstan into an IT country. What prerequisites and achievements exist in our country for the realization of this task?

 - A lot of work is being done to implement this task. Firstly, there is support and initiatives from the state, programs such as Digital Kazakhstan are being developed, IT parks and technology parks are being created (for example, Astana Hub, TechGarden, etc.), there are tax incentives and grants for IT companies that contribute to the development of the digital economy. Among the achievements at present, we can note the significant growth of the IT sector, an increase in the number of IT companies and startups, many of which have received international recognition and investments. The participation of Kazakhstani IT companies in international events and partnerships with global IT giants such as Microsoft, IBM and Google confirm Kazakhstan's competitiveness in the global market.

Secondly, education and personnel. Currently, universities in our country are implementing modern trends in the field of IT, developing their educational programs using trends in IT, and also cooperating with international universities, which helps to train qualified specialists. I know that every educational program is examined in the register of educational programs of the National Center for the Development of Higher Education, where I am also an expert. Universities and educational institutions also cooperate with leading online learning platforms, such as Coursera and edX, offering courses and programs in IT and digital technologies. I can confidently say that universities strive to train highly qualified specialists, since I myself worked as the dean of the Higher School of Information Technology and Engineering of Astana International University, I also had experience in developing OP and cooperating with IT companies and international organizations. Currently, I work as a professor at the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

In addition, I would like to mention infrastructural improvements, such as increasing the speed and accessibility of the Internet and digitalization of public services, which create a unified information environment and stimulate the use of IT technologies at the state level.

An important achievement is the digitalization of the economy and society, including the development of e-government and fintech, which simplifies the interaction of citizens with government agencies and financial services. The creation of research centers and the active development of domestic software contribute to innovation and scientific research in the IT field. I can also say that a lot of research is being conducted in research institutes, thanks to grant, program-targeted financing of projects, as well as their commercialization. There is a huge contribution of research institutes to the development of the country's IT industry. I can say this with confidence, as I worked as a researcher at the Institute of Information and Computing Technologies.

Thus, thanks to government support, educational initiatives, infrastructure improvements and significant achievements in the IT sector, Kazakhstan has all the necessary conditions to become an IT country.

- Asel Asylbekovna, in addition to scientific activities in the field of information technology, you run an IT company that works with AI. What are you creating and how much is it in demand in the market?

 - Currently, the development of artificial intelligence is rapidly developing. Now every company strives to create its own AI to improve and automate routine work. To actively participate in the development of the IT sector in Kazakhstan, we have also created an IT company called Byte Machine. Our company specializes in the development and implementation of solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI), software development, and data analytics, aiming to make a significant contribution to the digital transformation of the country. We are members of Astana Hub. We are currently developing AI to automate business processes. Our project is called aisale.kz is an AI that replaces sales managers.

- The Head of State calls for the full use of the capabilities of artificial intelligence in order to make a qualitative leap towards the knowledge economy. Do we already have successful cases today?

 - I think that the use of artificial intelligence technologies in Kazakhstan has significant potential to ensure GDP growth by increasing productivity, improving the quality of products and services, developing new industries and effective resource management. Research is being conducted in research institutes and universities. A large number of grants from the state are allocated for the development of IT.

Already today, successful cases of using AI in various fields such as digital government, fintech, agriculture, healthcare, transport, etc. are being implemented in Kazakhstan, which confirms the reality and prospects of implementing AI for the country's economic growth. Among the successful cases in Kazakhstan, I can mention the eGov digital government, as well as online banking and mobile payments. We are also developing the aisale project.kz for business.

In my opinion, most people do not realize where we are going now, but it seems that we are facing a technological revolution, which can be classified as an industrial revolution in its level. It's only in my opinion! Why industrial? Because just as cars, trains, and airplanes used to make life easier for people, so now AI will make human activities easier.

- How do you assess the pace of digitalization in Kazakhstan in general?

 - The pace of digitalization in Kazakhstan can be described as rapid and purposeful. Thanks to an integrated approach that includes government support, infrastructure development, improved education and international cooperation, I can assume that Kazakhstan is confidently moving towards achieving its goal.

Digital technology development projects are being implemented in various sectors based on government programs and strategies. As mentioned earlier, Kazakhstan has achieved significant success in the field of e-government, everyone uses eGov, which provides a wide range of online services for citizens and businesses, simplifying interaction with government agencies and increasing their efficiency.  Digital financial services such as mobile payments and online banking are developing, which indicates a high rate of innovation in the financial sector. This improves the accessibility and convenience of financial services for citizens.

- Has the President set the government the task of bringing the export of IT services to one billion dollars by 2026? How realistic is it and in which areas of the industry do you see the greatest prospects?

 - The task of bringing the export of IT services to one billion dollars by 2026 is ambitious, but it can be realized provided that active work continues with the help of government support, infrastructure improvement, human resources development and expansion of international cooperation. I believe that such industries as software development, cloud technologies, fintech, cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence, as well as educational technologies have the greatest prospects in this direction. Research is underway in the field of IT development at research institutes and universities. Many technologies are being developed. Kazakhstan has modern technology parks and incubators such as Astana Hub, TechGarden, MostHub, etc. that provide IT companies with the necessary resources to innovate, attract investment and enter international markets. Kazakhstani specialists participate in international IT events, become partners with global IT giants, and all this increases the visibility and trust in Kazakhstani services on the world market.

- How do you think the Kazakh IT industry is attractive to investors?

 - Kazakhstan's IT industry has significant advantages and potential to attract investors. Government support, developed infrastructure, qualified personnel, economic incentives and promising growth directions make Kazakhstan attractive for investments in the IT sector. With continued ongoing efforts to develop and support the industry, the investment climate will only improve, contributing to the continued growth and success of IT companies in Kazakhstan.

I know that Astana Hub, TechGarden, and MostHub are developing incubation and acceleration programs to attract foreign investment.  International companies actively participate in the projects of the Astana Hub Technopark, supporting startups and innovative projects through acceleration programs and investments. There are also venture capital investments. In this industry, I know that MostHub works. International venture funds and investors are showing interest in Kazakhstani startups, which contributes to the development of the innovation ecosystem. Over the past year, the number of venture investments in Kazakhstani startups has increased, which indicates increased interest from international investors. This contributes to the development of innovative projects and strengthening ties with international investment communities.

- In last year's address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to consolidate the guiding principles of digitalization at the legislative level. How will the law "On Science and Technology Policy" affect the development of the industry?

 - I believe that the law "On Science and Technology Policy" can become an important tool for stimulating and maintaining scientific and technological progress in Kazakhstan. It will create favorable conditions for the development of the IT industry, providing sustainable financing, innovation support, human resources development and international cooperation. The introduction of clear guidelines for digitalization at the legislative level will ensure a systematic and consistent approach to the development of science and technology, which will ultimately lead to economic growth and increase the country's competitiveness in the global market.

The law will help to establish clear priorities in the field of scientific and technological development, which will allow for more efficient allocation of resources and funding. The consolidation of strategic goals and objectives will create the basis for the sustainable development of scientific and technological areas, ensuring continuity and consistency in policy.

The law will help to provide mechanisms for the provision of grants and subsidies for research and development of innovative technologies, which stimulates activity in these areas.

The introduction of scholarships, grants and other forms of support for young scientists and specialists can stimulate their active participation in research activities.

The law will help to stimulate international cooperation in the field of science and technology, facilitating the exchange of experience and knowledge. Support for the participation of Kazakhstani scientists and specialists in international research projects and conferences will strengthen international relations and enhance the prestige of Kazakh science.

The consolidation of ethical norms and standards in the field of scientific research and technological development will ensure the responsible use of technology and the protection of citizens' rights. The law will help establish rules and regulations to regulate new technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, ensuring their safe and effective use.

The interview was published in BaigeNews.kz https://baigenews.kz/kazahstan-obladaet-vsemi-neobhodimymi-usloviyami-dlya-prevrascheniya-v-it-stranu-ekspert_182564/