President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, delivering his Address to the Nation, announced the launch of the Alatau City project, which is expected to become an institutional foundation for the new city. He stressed that within the next 10 days, draft decrees must be prepared to grant Alatau City a special status, El.kz reports.

Tokayev also instructed that within no more than a year and a half, a separate law should be adopted to regulate the city’s governance regime, financial model, and other key aspects. The President noted that the city’s special legal status is a necessary measure, not a privilege, without which all plans risk remaining only on paper.

According to him, Alatau City should become the region’s first fully digital city, introducing Smart City technologies, including the ability to pay for goods and services using cryptocurrency. Tokayev emphasized that the city will embody the future of Kazakhstan, combining technological progress with a comfortable living environment.