President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the Digital Bridge 2025 Worldwide Tech Discussion board on 2 October, stressing that synthetic intelligence (AI) should serve humanity in a accountable and inclusive method.
The Digital Bridge Worldwide Discussion board befell on 2-4 October in Astana. It’s the largest worldwide know-how discussion board in Central Eurasia centered on digital applied sciences, startups, and synthetic intelligence (AI).
The discussion board program included plenary classes, thematic classes, high-level dialogues, grasp courses, and seminars for younger professionals and researchers within the subject of digital applied sciences. As well as, Telegram founder Pavel Durov as soon as once more traveled to Kazakhstan, the place he met college students on the IQanat faculty in Astana earlier than his look on the Digital Bridge Discussion board.
President Tokayev addressed international leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Moreover, he set out Kazakhstan’s ambition to turn into a totally digital state inside three years, as he did throughout his assertion on the Normal Debate of the Eightieth session of the UN Normal Meeting.
Throughout the discussion board, which welcomed 1000’s of worldwide contributors, Tokayev prolonged particular gratitude to Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok, whose presence highlighted the rising partnership between Central Europe and Central Asia within the subject of technological growth. He expressed confidence that the brand new concepts shared on the discussion board would speed up cross-border cooperation in synthetic intelligence, cybersecurity, and good governance.
“Kazakhstan’s mission is evident — to remodel right into a digital nation able to exporting not solely vitality and uncooked supplies but additionally data, innovation, and algorithms,” President Tokayev mentioned. “Synthetic intelligence is turning into the brand new vitality supply of our century, and Kazakhstan goals to be among the many nations that harness it most successfully.”
Probably the most anticipated audio system, Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, a number one international authority on AI and founding father of Sinovation Ventures, described Kazakhstan as a “bridge between the AI giants of East and West.”
He acknowledged that the US continues to steer in growing breakthrough applied sciences and enterprise capital ecosystems, whereas China excels within the large-scale implementation of synthetic intelligence fashions. Kazakhstan, strategically positioned on the crossroads of Eurasia, can synthesize each strengths, creating a brand new mannequin for balanced, AI-driven growth.
“Kazakhstan has the chance to construct a singular ecosystem that connects analysis establishments, startups, and international buyers,” Lee famous. “The nation’s open digital insurance policies and worldwide partnerships make it a possible connector between two technological civilizations.”
Kazakhstan: A bridge between the AI giants of East and West
By means of this attitude, the Digital Bridge turns into greater than an occasion — it transforms into an emblem of a brand new international order, the place mid-sized nations can affect international technological narratives by fostering innovation and cooperation as an alternative of rivalry.
Euronews printed an article titled Kazakhstan’s Quiet Revolution: Crypto, AI, and a Tech Transformation.
This 12 months’s theme, Generative Nation, displays Kazakhstan’s strategic shift from know-how consumption to creation and scaling in worldwide markets. The idea underscores the nation’s purpose of constructing a knowledge-based society centered on superior applied sciences, AI, and human capital growth, in response to the Astana Occasions.
Tokayev reaffirmed that Kazakhstan’s strategic purpose is to remodel into a totally digital state inside three years.
In response to analysis by Barlybayeva, S., and Ayapbergenova, A. (2025), due to digitalization, Kazakhstan’s financial system ought to develop by 30%.
In the future earlier than the tech discussion board, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held the primary assembly of the Council for the Growth of Synthetic Intelligence on October 1, 2025. The Head of State emphasised that with out the event of synthetic intelligence, it’s inconceivable to resist international competitors. He acknowledged that digital programs and synthetic intelligence have turn into important for the nation’s sovereignty and a driving pressure for financial development, in response to Akorda.kz.
Throughout his speech, he famous that: “In the present day, over 92% of presidency providers can be found on-line. Final 12 months, the share of cashless funds within the nation exceeded 85%. Within the first six months of this 12 months alone, 26 million digital providers had been supplied to Kazakhstani residents, half of which had been supplied through smartphones.”
Throughout the discussion board, there have been key speeches by international AI leaders, the opening of the Worldwide Heart for AI alem.ai, the Generative Nation Pitch ultimate competitors, the Astana Hub Battle startup competitors, the Startup Alley tech exhibition, the Digital Bridge Awards ceremony, and shows by completely different audio system from all around the globe.
The Digital Bridge Awards 2025 will honor excellent contributions to Kazakhstan’s IT trade in eight classes, together with Export Excellence, Tech Management Laureate, AI Resolution of the Yr, EdTech of the Yr, GovTech Innovation, Tech Media Excellence, Social Influence Venture, and Breakthrough Startup, in response to the Astana Occasions.
The discussion board introduced collectively over 67,000 contributors from greater than 100 nations (together with the USA, Belgium, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Türkiye, Armenia, and others), 1,000 audio system, and 550 representatives from governments and worldwide organizations. Over 500 startups and almost 500 buyers took half in its enterprise program.
Throughout his speech, Tokayev acknowledged: “Kazakhstan’s path is to be anchored in technological development, stronger establishments, and social stability,” boosting AI growth.
The institution of a ministry for Synthetic Intelligence
The appointment of Zhaslan Madiyev as Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Synthetic Intelligence and Digital Growth marks a brand new stage in Kazakhstan’s ambition to turn into a number one digital state in Central Asia.
By highlighting the function of synthetic intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, and worldwide cooperation, Tokayev positions Kazakhstan not solely as a nationwide reformer but additionally as a regional hub within the digital financial system.
The Ministry of Synthetic Intelligence and Digital Growth will coordinate and resolve points associated to the excellent implementation of AI applied sciences, famous the president. President Tokayev positioned particular emphasis on the event of expert human capital in AI and digital applied sciences. This precedence displays the rising understanding that synthetic intelligence is now not a complementary software however a transformative driver of financial modernization, in response to Unbayeva, B. (2025).
One other daring step for Kazakhstan is a proposed regulation on synthetic intelligence, which regulates “high-risk” programs and mandates the labeling of AI-generated content material, famous Khassenkhanova, G. (2025, October 7).
Synthetic Intelligence as a strategic precedence
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s current assembly with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Synthetic Intelligence and Digital Growth, Zhaslan Madiyev, underlined this transition. The Head of State issued clear directions: to strengthen nationwide digital infrastructure, speed up the adoption of synthetic intelligence within the financial system and social sectors, and enhance the standard of digital authorities providers for each residents and companies.
In Kazakhstan’s context, AI is predicted to revolutionize essential sectors comparable to healthcare, schooling, public administration, financial system, and trade.
Moreover, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov reiterated the nation’s dedication to attaining a brand new technological breakthrough in the course of the plenary session of the Digital Bridge. Kazakhstan at present ranks twenty fourth globally in e-government growth and tenth in on-line providers, in response to the UN E-Authorities Survey 2024.
Kazakhstan’s data know-how sector is steadily rising, with over 18,000 corporations now energetic—marking a 16% enhance over the previous three years. On the coronary heart of this growth is the Astana Hub, which brings collectively greater than 1,700 members. Its affiliated corporations have generated 1.2 trillion tenge (roughly US$2.2 billion) in income, together with 140 billion tenge (round US$259.6 million) from exports, in response to the Astana Occasions.
Furthermore, Kazakhstan has permitted its AI growth idea till 2029. Kazakhstan can be constructing a blockchain-based financial system. Initiatives embrace the Cryptocity pilot zone.
Telecommunications infrastructure has superior considerably. It’s essential to say that web entry now covers 93% of the inhabitants, whereas 98% of the nation has cell protection.
As well as, Alatau Metropolis, north of Almaty, is about to turn into an innovation and enterprise middle.
Tokayev famous: “Alatau Metropolis should turn into the primary absolutely digital metropolis within the area, from the applying of Good Metropolis applied sciences to the flexibility to pay for items and providers in cryptocurrencies.”
Lastly, President Tokayev introduced the creation of an AI analysis college, which ought to put together the longer term technology of specialists able to supporting Kazakhstan by means of its digital transformation. Will probably be an enormous funding within the integration of AI into schooling. For instance, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Larger Schooling, Sayasat Nurbek, emphasised the AI-Sana program, which goals to speed up the event of synthetic intelligence startups. This 12 months alone, 650,000 college students are anticipated to take part in AI coaching programs.
Kazakhstan: Chief of digitalization in Central Asia
The President pressured the need of increasing worldwide cooperation in excessive applied sciences and establishing Kazakhstan as a regional digital hub. Kazakhstan is quickly advancing its digital ecosystem, positioning itself as a pacesetter in synthetic intelligence in Central Asia. Certainly, since 2021, Kazakhstan has been implementing large-scale digital reforms.
Kazakhstan’s management in AI and digital infrastructure affords the potential to drive regional integration, appeal to overseas funding, and set up Astana because the technological coronary heart of Central Asia.
Khassenkhanova, G. (2025, October 7) wrote for Euronews that Kazakhstan, “as soon as recognized for its oil and huge grassland plains, is now racing to turn into Central Asia’s digital powerhouse — betting on synthetic intelligence, AI governance, and crypto belongings to reinvent its future.”
Actually, Kazakhstan at present conducts many initiatives within the subject of digitalization. Probably the most bold is the introduction of the Good Information Ukimet program, which unites and synchronizes the work of presidency companies and develops AI brokers that help in acquiring authorities providers. For instance, the Good Information Ukimet challenge was launched in 2020 by decree of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to create a monitoring system that unites all authorities companies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kazakhstan is not any exception to the worldwide development of digital transformation. Certainly, in 4 years, Kazakhstan has quickly superior in digital governance, embracing AI and on-line platforms. Since February 2021, your complete nation has switched to digital broadcasting.
The nation is at present conducting many initiatives within the subject of digitalization growth, having already achieved spectacular outcomes, comparable to these famous within the UN E-Authorities Survey. The Digital Bridge 2025 Worldwide Tech Discussion board has as soon as once more demonstrated that Kazakhstan isn’t solely a regional chief but additionally a world catalyst in synthetic intelligence and digital transformation.
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