Digital Bridge 2025 Astana: Kazakhstan’s management within the digital period

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the Digital Bridge 2025 International Tech Forum on 2 October, stressing that synthetic intelligence (AI) should serve humanity in a accountable and inclusive method.

The Digital Bridge International Forum befell on 2-4 October in Astana. It is the biggest worldwide expertise 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 discipline of digital applied sciences. In addition, Telegram founder Pavel Durov as soon as once more traveled to Kazakhstan, the place he met college students on the IQanat college in Astana earlier than his look on the Digital Bridge Forum.

President Tokayev addressed international leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Furthermore, he set out Kazakhstan’s ambition to grow to be a completely digital state inside three years, as he did throughout his assertion on the General Debate of the Eightieth session of the UN General Assembly.

During the discussion board, which welcomed 1000’s of worldwide members, Tokayev prolonged particular gratitude to Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok, whose presence highlighted the rising partnership between Central Europe and Central Asia within the discipline of technological improvement. He expressed confidence that the brand new concepts shared on the discussion board would speed up cross-border cooperation in synthetic intelligence, cybersecurity, and sensible governance.

“Kazakhstan’s mission is obvious — 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. “Artificial intelligence is changing into the brand new vitality supply of our century, and Kazakhstan goals to be among the many nations that harness it most successfully.”

One of essentially 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.”

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He acknowledged that the United States continues to guide 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 improvement.

“Kazakhstan has the chance to construct a singular ecosystem that connects analysis establishments, startups, and international traders,” 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

Through this attitude, the Digital Bridge turns into greater than an occasion — it transforms into a logo of a brand new international order, the place mid-sized nations can affect international technological narratives by fostering innovation and cooperation as a substitute 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 expertise consumption to creation and scaling in worldwide markets. The idea underscores the nation’s aim of constructing a knowledge-based society centered on superior applied sciences, AI, and human capital improvement, in response to the Astana Times.

Tokayev reaffirmed that Kazakhstan’s strategic aim is to remodel into a completely digital state inside three years.

According to analysis by Barlybayeva, S., and Ayapbergenova, A. (2025), due to digitalization, Kazakhstan’s financial system ought to develop by 30%.

One day earlier than the tech discussion board, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held the primary assembly of the Council for the Development of Artificial Intelligence on October 1, 2025. The Head of State emphasised that with out the event of synthetic intelligence, it’s unimaginable to face up to international competitors. He acknowledged that digital methods and synthetic intelligence have grow to be important for the nation’s sovereignty and a driving drive for financial development, in response to Akorda.kz.

During his speech, he famous that: “Today, over 92% of presidency providers can be found on-line. Last 12 months, the share of cashless funds within the nation exceeded 85%. In the primary six months of this 12 months alone, 26 million digital providers have been supplied to Kazakhstani residents, half of which have been supplied by way of smartphones.”

During the discussion board, there have been key speeches by international AI leaders, the opening of the International Center 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 displays by totally different audio system from all around the globe.

The Digital Bridge Awards 2025 will honor excellent contributions to Kazakhstan’s IT business in eight classes, together with Export Excellence, Tech Leadership Laureate, AI Solution of the Year, EdTech of the Year, GovTech Innovation, Tech Media Excellence, Social Impact Project, and Breakthrough Startup, in response to the Astana Times.

The discussion board introduced collectively over 67,000 members 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 practically 500 traders took half in its enterprise program.

During his speech, Tokayev acknowledged: “Kazakhstan’s path is to be anchored in technological development, stronger establishments, and social stability,” boosting AI improvement.

The institution of a ministry for Artificial Intelligence

The appointment of Zhaslan Madiyev as Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development marks a brand new stage in Kazakhstan’s ambition to grow to be 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 Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development 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 device however a transformative driver of financial modernization, in response to Unbayeva, B. (2025).

Another daring step for Kazakhstan is a proposed regulation on synthetic intelligence, which regulates “high-risk” methods and mandates the labeling of AI-generated content material, famous Khassenkhanova, G. (2025, October 7).

Artificial Intelligence as a strategic precedence

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s current assembly with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, 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 important sectors equivalent to healthcare, training, public administration, financial system, and business.

Furthermore, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov reiterated the nation’s dedication to attaining a brand new technological breakthrough through the plenary session of the Digital Bridge. Kazakhstan at the moment ranks twenty fourth globally in e-government improvement and tenth in on-line providers, in response to the UN E-Government Survey 2024.

Kazakhstan’s info expertise sector is steadily rising, with over 18,000 firms now energetic—marking a 16% improve over the previous three years. At the center of this improvement is the Astana Hub, which brings collectively greater than 1,700 members. Its affiliated firms 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 Times.

Moreover, Kazakhstan has authorized its AI improvement idea till 2029. Kazakhstan can also be constructing a blockchain-based financial system. Initiatives embody the Cryptocity pilot zone.

Telecommunications infrastructure has superior considerably. It is essential to say that web entry now covers 93% of the inhabitants, whereas 98% of the nation has cell protection.

In addition, Alatau City, north of Almaty, is ready to grow to be an innovation and enterprise heart.

Tokayev famous: “Alatau City should grow to be the primary totally digital metropolis within the area, from the appliance of Smart City applied sciences to the flexibility to pay for items and providers in cryptocurrencies.”

Finally, President Tokayev introduced the creation of an AI analysis college, which ought to put together the longer term era of specialists able to supporting Kazakhstan by way of its digital transformation. It will likely be an enormous funding within the integration of AI into training. For instance, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, 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: Leader of digitalization in Central Asia

The President careworn 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 frontrunner in synthetic intelligence in Central Asia. Indeed, since 2021, Kazakhstan has been implementing large-scale digital reforms.

Kazakhstan’s management in AI and digital infrastructure gives the potential to drive regional integration, appeal to international 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 grow to be Central Asia’s digital powerhouse — betting on synthetic intelligence, AI governance, and crypto belongings to reinvent its future.”

In reality, Kazakhstan at the moment conducts many tasks within the discipline of digitalization. One of essentially the most formidable is the introduction of the Smart Data Ukimet program, which unites and synchronizes the work of presidency businesses and develops AI brokers that help in acquiring authorities providers. For instance, the Smart Data Ukimet undertaking was launched in 2020 by decree of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to create a monitoring system that unites all authorities businesses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kazakhstan is not any exception to the worldwide development of digital transformation. Indeed, in 4 years, Kazakhstan has quickly superior in digital governance, embracing AI and on-line platforms. Since February 2021, all the nation has switched to digital broadcasting.

The nation is at the moment conducting many tasks within the discipline of digitalization improvement, having already achieved spectacular outcomes, equivalent to these famous within the UN E-Government Survey. The Digital Bridge 2025 International Tech Forum has as soon as once more demonstrated that Kazakhstan isn’t solely a regional chief but additionally a worldwide catalyst in synthetic intelligence and digital transformation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Барлыбаева, С., & Аяпбергенова, A. (2025). Digital Kazakhstan–an innovation means of improvement. Herald of Journalism, 76(2), 147-154.=

EUReflect. (2025, October 5). Tokayev’s imaginative and prescient for a digital state. https://eureflect.com/tokayevs-vision-for-a-digital-state/

Digital Bridge 2025 à Astana – EurasiaFocus

Khassenkhanova, G. (2025, October 7). Kazakhstan’s quiet revolution: Crypto, AI, and a tech transformation. Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/enterprise/2025/10/07/kazakhstans-quiet-revolution-crypto-ai-and-a-tech-transformation

Kursiv Media. (2025, October 2). Pavel Durov visits Kazakhstan, meets college students earlier than talking at Digital Bridge 2025. https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2025-10-02/pavel-durov-visits-kazakhstan-meets-students-before-speaking-at-digital-bridge-2025/

Mukhamedkaziy, N., Maratova, A., & Mustafin, A. (2025). Digitalization in Kazakhstan. In I. Qoraboyev & Z. Bekshora (Eds.), CEGREG Yearbook: Central Asia in Global and Regional Governance (pp. 105-119). Maqsut Narikbayev University. ISBN: 978-601-7450-76-2

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