Kazakhstan 2026: A Digital Power Strategy and a Choice Between US-China Technology Routes

Kazakhstan's President Tokayev has designated 2026 as the "Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence," as this Central Asian power seeks its own development path amidst competition between two tech giants and their respective technological standards.

"Kazakhstan must become a digital power. This concerns our ability to coexist as a civilized nation in this new technological age," President Tokayev stated clearly in an interview with local media on January 5, 2026. The emergence of artificial intelligence has clearly divided which countries will successfully navigate the future and which will stagnate.

In his State of the Nation Address last September, Tokayev systematically outlined the country's vision for digital transformation for the first time. Subsequently, Kazakhstan established a dedicated Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, put two supercomputers into operation, and had hundreds of thousands of students complete introductory AI courses.

01 The Grand Blueprint of a Digital Nation Strategy

President Tokayev proposed "building Kazakhstan into a truly digital nation within three years, driving economic development through science and innovation, reforming public governance, and shaping the future of our younger generation."

To achieve this ambitious goal, Kazakhstan established the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, enacted a unique Digital Code, and integrated artificial intelligence into all sectors, from public services to education and transportation.

Kazakhstan's Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Madiev, explained that the National Supercomputing Center has been upgraded to operate supercomputers. To further regulate the development of artificial intelligence, relevant departments approved the "Artificial Intelligence Development Vision 2024-2029" and drafted a draft "Artificial Intelligence Law."

Kazakhstan's digital transformation has achieved significant results. Currently, 92% of public services can be accessed online, and "Digital Tenge" has become the first national digital currency project in Central Asia.

02 Technological Infrastructure and Cooperation Achievements

In terms of technological infrastructure, Kazakhstan has made key progress. The first supercomputer officially went into operation in August 2025, and progress has also been made in the construction of the national digital platform QazTech, which is used for the rapid development and launch of digital products and has passed information security testing.

Kazakhstan has partnered with leading Chinese technology companies, including Huawei, ZTE, Alibaba Cloud, and ByteDance, as well as top universities, to develop the national supercomputer and the international artificial intelligence center "AlemAI."

In the field of digital infrastructure, Chinese digital enterprises are deeply involved in the construction of key projects in Kazakhstan, such as high-speed internet and smart cities. In June 2025, Huawei, together with local companies Beeline and Astana Innovations, officially launched a 10G ultra-high-speed internet pilot project in Astana, marking a key step forward in Kazakhstan's digital infrastructure construction.

Kazakhstan hosts large-scale international forums on artificial intelligence and digitalization annually, such as "Digital Bridges," showcasing its achievements in cultivating new industrial clusters and promoting the implementation of research and education cooperation projects with China and other regional partners.

03 Strategic Balance Between US and Chinese Technology Standards

Tokayev implicitly acknowledged that the US and China—which he called "the world's two undisputed technology giants"—are fiercely competing to influence the direction of Kazakhstan's digital development. However, he did not indicate which side Kazakhstan favors.

Significant differences exist between US and Chinese technology standards. The US system is generally designed to promote the free flow of data, while China's framework tends to prioritize the ability to monitor and restrict the dissemination of information. Given the general incompatibility between US and Chinese standards, Kazakhstan will ultimately have to choose between the two.

Regarding trade and the global economy, Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan will maintain an open attitude and adhere to a diversified policy approach. He pointed out that Kazakhstan's advantageous geographical location in the heart of Eurasia is something we "must skillfully utilize to benefit the country."

Over the past year, a key focus of US engagement with Kazakhstan has been expanding access to Kazakhstan's abundant critical mineral and rare earth resources. Tokayev only briefly mentioned this in the interview, emphasizing that Astana is exploring opportunities for the development and export of these resources with numerous countries.

04 Digital Silk Road and Ala-Tau Smart City

Sino-Kazakh cooperation plays a vital role in promoting Kazakhstan's digital economy development, and a vivid example of this partnership is the launch of the unique Ala-Tau Smart City project.

As President Tokayev stated, "Alatau is a new paradigm for future cities, a core of digital and scientific innovation, and the result of joint efforts between the Kazakhstani and Chinese governments and leading Chinese enterprises." This new city, planned from the outset as a digital city, will become the largest center for artificial intelligence, fintech, logistics, creative industries, and education along the entire Silk Road.

In Alatau, the conditions for a complete shift to e-services have been created—all administrative services, transportation, and education operate in a multilingual digital environment, and urban infrastructure is managed by a unified cloud platform. Drawing on the experience of China's megacities, Alatau has fostered a high-quality environment conducive to entrepreneurship and education.

Many projects have already become a reality, including: integrating AI into management and logistics systems, jointly building "Luban Workshops" to cultivate talent, launching a cross-border e-commerce platform, and strengthening efficient customs support.

05 Digital Security and Regional Cooperation Initiatives

A crucial direction is ensuring digital trust and security throughout Eurasia. Kazakhstan is implementing large-scale legislative reforms on artificial intelligence, launching the national "Cyber ​​Shield" strategy, establishing partnerships with Chinese companies to share experiences, and conducting joint exercises to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats. The main challenges currently include the development of biometric systems, international mutual recognition of digital documents, and the construction of a unified cross-border trust system.

Kazakhstan has also become a pilot base for the integration of digital tenge and innovative electronic payment methods, and has taken the lead in Central Asia in launching effective solutions for smart agriculture, the Internet of Things, and digital healthcare. A solid partnership with China ensures rapid data exchange and joint participation in initiatives in cloud computing and education.

To this end, Kazakhstan has proposed a series of initiatives, including establishing an international platform for the exchange of digital knowledge and skills among Belt and Road countries; establishing international artificial intelligence research centers and universities in partner countries; and developing unified standards for the recognition of electronic documents, academic certificates, digital signatures, and authentication among countries along the Silk Road.

06 Economic Diversification and Digital Global Expansion Opportunities

Kazakhstan's "Digital Nation" strategy is underpinned by a solid economic foundation. In the first half of 2025, Kazakhstan's GDP grew by 6.2% year-on-year, with all major industries maintaining good growth momentum, performing exceptionally well despite global economic downturn pressures.

Kazakhstan's booming digital industry provides fertile ground and support for building a "Digital Nation." According to a statement released on the website of the Prime Minister's Office of Kazakhstan, the country now has over 18,000 IT companies, and its IT services and product exports reached $253 million in the first quarter of 2025, nearly doubling year-on-year.

Kazakhstan's strategic goal of comprehensively advancing the construction of a "digital nation" not only injects strong momentum into its own innovation and development but also provides significant opportunities for Chinese digital companies to expand into Kazakhstan, particularly in the three major areas of digital infrastructure, digital technology, and digital trade, where cooperation between the two sides has broad scope and enormous potential.

In the field of digital trade, Chinese digital companies, leveraging their significant advantages in mobile payment, digital technology solutions, e-commerce platform operation, and digital ecosystem construction, are engaging in in-depth cooperation with Kazakhstan on areas such as the establishment of cross-border payment systems and the construction of e-commerce platforms.

With the deepening of global digitalization, every step Kazakhstan takes on its path to becoming a digital powerhouse is attracting attention. This country, located in the heart of Eurasia, is striving to find a balance between two major technology giants, attempting to diversify its economy through digital transformation while ensuring national security.

President Tokayev's words revealed Kazakhstan's ambition and anxieties: "The emergence of artificial intelligence has clearly divided which countries will successfully move towards the future and which will stagnate."

In the geopolitical competition over technological standards, Kazakhstan's final choice will not only affect its own future but may also alter the trajectory of digital development throughout Central Asia.