Can Kazakhstan’s AI Strategy Deliver Both Growth and Smarter Governance?

By Ayana Birbayeva in Nation on 26 August 2026

ASTANA – Kazakhstan is moving toward a broader AI-driven transformation of the economy and public services under a government action plan that sets measurable digitalization targets through 2029, with artificial intelligence increasingly integrated into education, healthcare, transport, finance and industrial management.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov approved the action plan on Aug. 26 as part of implementing the national Digital Qazaqstan Strategy through 2029, approved by presidential decree. It brings together measures to transform services for citizens, support businesses and the economy, and modernize the public administration system.

Rather than focusing solely on introducing individual digital services, the plan seeks to establish digital systems across entire sectors, with AI and real-time data becoming part of how government agencies and businesses make decisions.

AI moves from pilot projects to mass adoption

Education is among the areas where the strategy sets one of its most ambitious targets. Through the expansion of the AI-Sana program, at least 80% of school, college and university graduates are expected to acquire basic AI skills by 2029.

At the same time, the government will expand advanced AI training for students and professional development for teachers. By 2028, at least 80% of universities and colleges are expected to integrate AI technologies into educational processes and update curricula to meet economic needs.

The approach reflects a broader shift in AI’s role in Kazakhstan’s digital policy. Instead of treating artificial intelligence primarily as a technology-sector issue, the government plans to incorporate it into education, healthcare, infrastructure, industry and public administration.

From digital services to predictive government

Healthcare digitalization will focus on creating a unified data management system and expanding services that can be accessed without visiting medical institutions.

By 2029, the government plans to increase the number of citizens using medical self-service platforms, connect more healthcare organizations to a common digital environment with real-time data exchange and expand the use of AI in clinical decision-making.

A similar principle will apply to public services and social support. The government plans to expand proactive services, automated processes and auto-signing mechanisms, with a target of reducing the time required to provide government services and social support measures by at least 50% by 2029.

The objective is to reduce the number of steps citizens must take and gradually shift from a system in which people apply for services to one in which government systems can identify and provide eligible services proactively.

Digital infrastructure becomes part of industrial policy

The strategy also treats digitalization as a tool to improve the productivity and resilience of major economic sectors. In the fuel and energy sector, at least 70% of assets are expected to be connected to digital monitoring systems by 2029. This would allow operators to track asset condition in real time and identify potential reliability risks earlier. Digital traceability of energy resources will also be expanded.

Construction is another sector where the government plans to establish a digital environment covering the full project lifecycle, from design to operation. By 2029, all new technically complex facilities are expected to be managed within a unified digital system.

These measures could make digital data increasingly important not only for administrative purposes, but also for managing physical infrastructure and anticipating operational risks.

Kazakhstan targets digital logistics

Transport and logistics are another major focus of the plan, with digitalization extending across the movement of goods from border crossing points to major transport corridors and multimodal hubs.

One priority is reducing the time freight vehicles need to pass through selected border crossings. The government plans to expand digital tools that collect and process shipment information in advance, reducing the number of procedures that require manual intervention.

Under the Smart Cargo initiative, priority shipments will receive digital passports and end-to-end tracking, allowing cargo to be monitored throughout its journey.

Meanwhile, intelligent transport analytics will be introduced across key transport corridors, border crossings and multimodal hubs. Such systems could allow authorities to assess infrastructure capacity in real time, manage traffic flows and respond more quickly to bottlenecks.

This is particularly significant for Kazakhstan as it seeks to strengthen its position as a transit and logistics hub between major markets. The effectiveness of the digitalization effort will therefore depend not only on the technology itself, but also on how effectively different transport systems and border authorities can exchange data.

Digitalization targets businesses and financial institutions

For small and medium-sized enterprises, the plan emphasizes reducing administrative burdens and providing more targeted digital tools. Businesses will be able to assess their level of digital maturity and receive individual digitalization roadmaps. Digital compliance and risk-based supervision are also expected to reduce physical inspections of low-risk SMEs.

Tax administration is similarly set to move toward a more automated model, with more processes carried out without additional action by taxpayers. The government describes this approach as “invisible” tax administration, aimed at reducing the share of the unobserved economy.

The financial sector will also undergo digital transformation. By 2028, at least 80% of second-tier banks are expected to be connected to a secure digital information exchange system. The same target applies to financial organizations that provide products to individuals and are connected to the Unified Digital Platform.

AI investment expected to generate measurable returns

The strategy places particular emphasis on ensuring that digitalization produces an economic rather than purely technological effect. In Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund portfolio companies, digital and AI initiatives are expected to contribute 5% annually to EBITDA growth.

For Baiterek National Management Holding, AI monitoring is planned to cover 100% of investment projects by 2029. The government also aims to strengthen Kazakhstan’s domestic IT industry and increase its presence in international markets. Exports of IT services and digital solutions are targeted to grow by at least 50% by 2029.

Regional robotics competence centers and support for domestic technology integrators implementing commercial projects are among the measures intended to support the development of a technology-driven economy.

Data centers and cybersecurity become strategic priorities

The planned Data Center Valley is intended to attract global technology and cloud providers, expand computing capacity and create infrastructure for large-scale AI adoption.

The project is expected to increase Kazakhstan’s ability to process and store data domestically while providing infrastructure for new AI services and the development of the local digital industry.

At the same time, expanding the use of data and AI increases the importance of cybersecurity and personal data protection. The action plan therefore includes measures to strengthen government information systems, improve cybersecurity awareness and develop digital safety culture.

Government digital systems will also be connected to the Personal Data Access Control service, which is designed to give citizens greater visibility and control over how their personal information is used.

Taken together, the measures suggest that Kazakhstan’s digitalization agenda is moving beyond digitizing individual government services toward a model in which data, AI and interconnected digital infrastructure become part of the country’s economic and administrative architecture.

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