Digital Transformation and its Impact on Lives in Kazakhstan’s IT Sector
Kazakhstan Advancing Digital Transformation to Lead in Online Services and IT Development
The Republic of Kazakhstan is making significant strides in its digital transformation to enhance public services, promote innovation, drive economic growth, and establish itself as a global leader in online services and IT development.
According to a report from Premierminister.kz, Kazakhstan currently ranks 24th out of 193 countries in terms of digitalization and is among the top 10 globally in online services. The country has made remarkable progress in making 92% of public services accessible online, utilizing biometric identification and QR signature technology. In 2024 alone, over eight million signatures were completed using QR codes, and 18 million identifications were processed through the Digital ID system.
One of the key initiatives driving this advancement is the modernization of Kazakhstan’s e-government platform, which is now in its third version. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is set to enhance the efficiency and user-friendliness of the system. Kazakhstan is also sharing its e-government expertise with nations like Tajikistan, Togo, and Sierra Leone. Furthermore, the government is developing similar services tailored for businesses, providing comprehensive support from company registration to liquidation.
The IT industry in Kazakhstan is witnessing dynamic growth, with the number of IT companies climbing to 18,683—a 16% increase over the past three years. Astana Hub, the leading international technology park in Kazakhstan, is playing a pivotal role in driving innovation. To further cultivate innovation, Kazakhstan has established 18 regional IT hubs across the country, creating an ecosystem that nurtures startups and entrepreneurship. A single-window platform is now in place to offer seamless state support for IT professionals, scientists, and innovators, attracting over 500,000 annual users.
Kazakhstan’s IT exports have been on a steady incline, reaching $529 million in 2023 and surpassing $305 million in the first half of 2024. This growth aligns with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s target of achieving $1 billion in IT exports by 2026. Acceleration programs and international partnerships are opening up global markets for Kazakh products, with exports extending to 86 countries, including key markets such as Russia, Ireland, Mexico, the United States, and Singapore.
In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), Kazakhstan is making significant strides in innovation. The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry has established an AI Committee, approved a 2024-2029 AI development plan, and drafted a law to regulate AI. Educational initiatives, including the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies and the region’s first artificial intelligence school, Tomorrow School, are underway to train specialists in the field of AI.
Moreover, Kazakhstan is developing its own language model, KazLLM, to serve as the basis for various technological solutions created by domestic companies. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, safeguard national interests, protect personal data, and ensure ideological independence. Currently, KazLLM is being trained on 148 billion tokens, with AI-based products like AI assistants in eGov, E-Otinish, and legal assistance services already emerging from this platform.
With a strong focus on digitalization and innovation, Kazakhstan is poised to lead the way in online services and IT development, driving economic growth and setting new standards for technological advancements on a global scale.
