Living in a time period when digital technologies determine the state of world economies, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has realized the utmost importance of digitalization to the proceed in development of Kazakhstan. The style of his image as a leader of a “New Kazakhstan” is based on focusing attention on innovation, the inclusion of all people in society, and the overall technological advancement of the country. Putting the emphasis on digital transformation, Tokayev has tried to diversify the economy, decrease the dependence on hydrocarbons, and place Kazakhstan on the global map of the digital world. My article will discuss how Tokayev has approached the issue of the digital transformation, paying attention to his work in the domain of AI progress, the modernization of IT infrastructure, digital educational organization, and startups.
Vision
The current direction of the digital transformation of the country is founded on the understandings of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Tokayev who believes that digitalization is one of the key aspects of economic and social development. According to him, in the 2020 statement, he stressed that digitalization must be a significant element in economic growth and enhance your quality of life. The vision that he has is to make Kazakhstan one of the leading digital hubs in Eurasia and take advantage of the geographic position of his country that is between Europe and Asia. The initiatives offered by Tokayev follow the world trends as digital technologies are anticipated to add to the global GDP in a significant way, with AI reaching 7 percent alone in 2030.
President Tokayev, is human-centered with the focus on the equal opportunities by means of digital technologies. In 2022 at the Astana Digital Bridge Forum, he provided five priority areas of digital transformation: a human-oriented approach, favorable environment in the IT industry, modernization of IT infrastructure, building the digital economy and Industry 4.0 and human capital strengthening. Such priorities indicate the overall plan to incorporate technology into every aspect of Kazakh society.
Achievements under the leadership of President Tokayev
Development of the Alem.AI International Center
The establishment of the Alem.AI International Center, which is set to become the epicenter of the AI computing in the world, is one of the flagship initiatives of Tokayev. The center will be in the historic sphere shaped like Nur Alem, where Expo 2017 was held, which was announced on December 11, 2024 during his visit to Astana Hub. The Alem.AI Center will bring together the sharpest minds of Kazakhstan and the rest of the world to create possibilities in the field of AI research and application. Tokayev aims to turn this center into a visual representation of the digital transformation of the world and this will ensure the progress of, among others, security, medicine, banking, logistics, and education in Kazakhstan.
There will be educational initiatives such as “Tomorrow School” and “Tumo Education” developed at the center that will train more than 1,000 students each year in programming, robotics, and creative technologies and will generate 1,000 highly trained AI specialists each year. By incorporating education, research, and startups, the Alem.AI Center will establish an innovative dynamic ecosystem that will further speed up the digital aspirations of Kazakhstan.
Contribution to the Astana Hub and IT Startups
Reference to my latest article about “Role of Astana Hub and Digital Transformation of Kazakhstan” the Astana Hub is the leading technology park in Kazakhstan has grown under Tokayev. His tours to the hub, even to the December 2024 have been very strong evidence of his intentions to develop the bustling startup hub. Tax preferences, visa privileges and other more friendly measures to concentrate international IT companies and talents in the center have been promoted by Tokayev. Among the startups that have become quite successful, there are Cybernet.ai, ArlanBiotech, and Higgsfield AI, which have come up with novel solutions in the area of voice robotics, immunotherapy, and training AI models.
Discussions to open offices of such giant global entities as Telegram, TON, Tether, Google, EPAM shed more light on the increasing popularity of Kazakhstan as a digital destination. The hub facilitated by Tokayev has attracted homegrown and foreign entrepreneurs into an environment of creativity, which makes Kazakhstan a competitive market in the global information technology industry.
Contemporary IT Infrastructure Modernization
Appreciating the need to invest in proper infrastructure, Tokayev has given priority to upgrading the IT infrastructure in Kazakhstan or rather it could be said that the IT system needs attention especially in countryside where more or less forty percent of the population dwells. He has directed the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry to speed up the launch of SpaceX and OneWeb low earth orbit satellites to deliver quality and cheaper internet services to remote areas. The purpose of this initiative is to make it possible to bring the digital opportunities to each citizen, which corresponds to the human-oriented course of Tokayev.
The process of modernization also covers the promotion of Industry 4.0 since Tokayev focuses on the restructuring of the Kazakh economy to be more digital. Analysts estimate that digital technologies have the potential to create up to 40 trillion dollars worldwide in the year 2025 and the policies aimed at securing a piece of that pie are what Tokayev proposes to do to Kazakhstan.
Digital Education Advancement
The fact that Tokayev is focused on human capital development can be seen in the program AI-Sana, as it is aimed at training specialists in AI and other related industries. Through AI education, Tokayev expects the country to have a pool of qualified human resource that would push the digital economy in Kazakhstan. The program uses the experience of top world universities, and therefore the youth of Kazakhstan will also receive high-tech knowledge and experience.
Besides, Tokayev has been paying attention to developing an interest in science at a young age. He has challenged the schools in early engagement of students in science and technology by saying that we should focus all our energies in promoting knowledge and science. Such place in the education will make the digitalization of Kazakhstan sustainable and inclusive.
Digital Economy Industry 4.0
The vision of Tokayev in terms of digital economy is part and parcel of the diversification of the Kazakhstan economy after its state of reliance on hydrocarbons in its export market. Projecting Industry 4.0, he wishes to choose extended technologies in the manufacturing of the goods, increasing the productivity and competitiveness of the environment. His government has made the efforts on digitalization of the industries such as oil and gas and Tengizchevroil LLP presented its extensive results of digitalization at the Digital Bridge Forum in 2021.
Other of Tokayev reforms involve the concept of the initiative of the Invisible Government which is the novel form of public services with the digital technologies use to ensure the smooth and citizen-focused solutions. Such initiative increases the efficiency and accessibility of the government and further entrenches digitalization within the common life of people.
Socio-economic Consequences on the Kazakhstan Landscape
Digital transformation initiated by President Tokayev has already had practical outcomes, and Kazakhstan is now on the front lines in the world of innovation today. Astana Hub has turned into a hub of international IT talent with such companies as TikTok and Netracker setting up a base. The incubation and acceleration programs at the hub have fostered a new breed of entrepreneurs that have encouraged economic diversification and creation of employment.
The interest on rural connectivity has narrowed the digital gap where isolated people do not lack access to the latest advances in technology. Satellite networks will be universally installed by 2025 projected to bring high-speed internet to even the remotest areas where citizens will have access to learning institutions, medical facilities, and economic opportunities.
Through the AI-Sana program, and Alem.AI Center program, a cadre of employees who are at the top of the skill set are being raised, making Kazakhstan capable of entering the field of high-tech manufacturing. Focusing on AI implementation in such fields of activity as medics and logistics is increasing efficiency and quality of life. Furthermore, foreign investment has been drawn in by the reforms of Tokayev with international technology giants acknowledging that Kazakhstan is an opportunity to be exploited when it comes to being a digital hub.
Future Direction
Changing towards a digital economy needs a lot of investment and coordination between industries especially decarbonizing industries and finding renewable energy sources.
The future vision of Tokayev to make the Alem.AI Center function is expected to spur more future innovation along with the new plans to devote 625 billion tenge (US$1.4 billion) in budgetary funding to science and technology across three years. This can be made by engaging in partnership with international bodies and organizations; by collaborating with international companies, Kazakhstan can become a digital era leader.
Conclusion
So I would conclude my article that new digitalization wave in Kazakhstan was presented under the leadership of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a very excellent way. By establishing such projects as the Alem.AI International Center, the support of the Astana Hub, modernization of the IT infrastructure, and the AI-Sana initiative, he has set the base of a digital economy. His human focus approach is such that the advantages of digitalization will become available to all the citizens, even in urban centers or in the remotest of villages. Namely, with Kazakhstan still going through its journey to overcome the world, the visionary policies of Tokayev make him place his country on the map of innovation and progress within Eurasia. Kazakhstan is already nearing closer to realizing a vision of President Tokayev with his dream of a “New Kazakhstan” with persistent efforts and tactical investments and efforts by the government.
Mr. Muhammad Ali Pasha is a “Foreign Affairs Expert”. Furthermore, he is a author and poet.
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