A project that its creators are already comparing to Silicon Valley has been launched in the south of the country, El.kz reports.
On March 27, 2026, at the Digital Qazaqstan forum, a memorandum was signed to create the SHYMKENT IT CITY innovation cluster - the first full-fledged IT city in the history of Kazakhstan.
The project will be located in the Karatau district of Shymkent. The first phase involves the development of approximately 1 hectare, with the territory expected to grow to 6–10 hectares in the future. Construction will begin in 2026, with the residential complex and AI center scheduled for completion by early 2028.
More than just housing for IT professionals
SHYMKENT IT CITY is designed as a self-sufficient ecosystem where work, life, and education coexist in a single space. The cluster will feature coworking spaces, startup studios, acceleration programs, AI laboratories, and educational centers for training specialists.
The technological framework includes 13 pilot IT solutions. A unified drone infrastructure will monitor road repairs and waste management in real-time, as well as detect illegal construction. Simultaneously, there are plans to implement medical AI services, smart video surveillance, and a GovTech platform to digitalize city management.
