President of Kazakhstan has signed a decree approving the nationwide Digital Qazaqstan Strategy through 2029, El.kz reports citing the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The document will serve as the foundation for large-scale digital transformation and the implementation of AI technologies. The strategy is expected to mark a new stage in the modernization of the state, economy, and social sector.
What the strategy will change
According to the ministry, Digital Qazaqstan will move the country from automating individual services to a data-driven governance model. This approach envisions data, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms becoming an integral part of government and business operations.
Kazakhstan also aims to strengthen its position in international digital competitiveness rankings. By 2029, the country intends to become one of the world’s most technologically advanced nations.
Key goals
The government expects that the adoption of AI and the digitalization of industry, mining, logistics, and energy sectors will provide an additional boost to GDP. The ministry estimates this contribution at approximately 1.5 percentage points annually on average by the end of the strategy period.
Comparable market investments over a three-year period are projected to range between $10.5 bln and $16.5 bln. Authorities expect participation from private businesses, international technology companies, and development institutions.
Benefits for Citizens
One of the strategy’s priorities is citizen-centered digitalization. Public services are expected to become more proactive and adapt to people’s life circumstances.
In the social sector, authorities plan to expand support mechanisms that require fewer documents from citizens. In education, the government intends to introduce personalized AI-powered learning pathways for children and expand training programs for AI specialists.
Impact on Business
In the real economy, authorities plan to develop digital platforms, digital twins, intelligent systems, and smart metering technologies. The transformation is expected to affect agriculture, construction, finance, the oil and gas sector, and small businesses.
A separate focus of the strategy is the creation of a sovereign AI Hub, described as a “Data Center Valley,” bringing together computing infrastructure, research institutions, and technology companies.
Reforming the Public Sector
The public administration system is expected to transition to a service-oriented model. Some administrative processes will be automated using AI, while decision-making will increasingly rely on big data analytics.
The strategy also calls for digital oversight of public spending. The system is expected to improve transparency in budget allocation and reduce duplication of functions across government agencies.
Cybersecurity and Smart Cities
A dedicated section of the document focuses on protecting Kazakhstan’s national information space. Plans include the development of resilient digital infrastructure, encryption standards, and enhanced protection of critical facilities.
Smart city standards are expected to cover at least 70% of the urban population. Through AI and video analytics, authorities aim to reduce incident response times by one-third.
