Global Achievements & Pioneering Qualitative Leap
«ASTANA – The United Nations has ranked the Republic of Kazakhstan as the 24th country in terms of e-governance and 8th in the world in terms of online services, and almost 95% of government services are now provided online through mobile applications, while ICT exports increased 15-fold, reaching $545 million in 2024, after being about $30 million in 2019, aiming to achieve revenues of $1 billion by 2026.
Kazakhstan exports IT services to 86 countries, ranking among the world’s 30 most digitized countries and eighth in online services provision. The country is advancing in such areas as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital transformation.
Among 300 projects from 50 countries, the SDU project was noted by the organizers, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Public Digital and AWS Institute, and recommended for use in other countries. This is a significant achievement for Kazakhstan, confirmation of its contribution to global innovation.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set the task to increase digital technology’s contribution to 1% of GDP by 2029 and achieve 80% local content in IT services.
Kazakhstan ranks 24th, and is among the countries with a very high E-Government Development Index (EGDI).
Kazakhstan ranked 10th in the Online Service Index (OSI), alongside global leaders such as South Korea, Denmark, and Estonia. It also became one of the leading countries in this area, surpassing China, Germany, and Australia.
Kazakhstan continues to lead among CIS countries, ahead of the Russian Federation (43rd), Armenia (48th), Uzbekistan (63rd), and Azerbaijan (74th).
Kazakhstan ranks 1st among landlocked countries, with an EGDI of 0.9009. It is followed by Mongolia, Armenia, and Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan significantly improved its position in the Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII), rising 23 places to 41st position.
Kazakhstan has made significant progress in digital transformation by actively investing in digital infrastructure and adopting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These initiatives have fundamentally transformed governance and the delivery of public services, making them more accessible and transparent.
The digitalization process in Kazakhstan has its own brief history, achievements and results, which are noticed at the level of the UN, the World Bank and other international rating organizations. The most interesting is the process of digitalization of the political sphere in Kazakhstan, which can be considered a completely new process and trend.
The modern example of Kazakhstan shows that the digitalization of the political sphere is developing and strengthening. This is directly related to the development of Internet technologies, the availability of the Internet, the growth of the political culture of population. The political power in Kazakhstan pays attention to several directions of process of digitalization of the political sphere.
Digital Advancements
Kanysh Tuleushin, First Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan said:”The United Nations has ranked the Republic of Kazakhstan as the 24th country in terms of e-governance and 8th in the world in terms of online services, and almost 95% of government services are now provided online through mobile applications”.
Tuleushin noted several groundbreaking initiatives, such as the digital family card, which leverages big data from 93 different state databases, allowing the government to proactively identify and support families in need, without requiring them to apply for aid.
Similarly, new parents can now register their newborns and receive digital birth certificates effortlessly, a testament to the efficiency of Kazakhstan’s e-governance.
Today, the “Digital Family Card” utilizes more than 100 socio-economic indicators, making it a reliable source of data for decision-making in social protection. Since the launch of this innovative platform in 2022, Kazakh citizens have received more than 2.2 million social services.
Kazakhstan is now recognized as one of the leaders in GovTech solutions and continues to rapidly develop its digital ecosystem. Among the key initiatives resulting from the development of this sector in Kazakhstan is the Smart Bridge portal, which has become a tool for providing data access for businesses and enhancing the competitive environment.
Also, Kazakhstan has also developed several domestic AI projects, including the system for public space and road safety, which helps to significantly reduce the number of crimes in public spaces and the number of fatal road accidents in nine pilot cities.
Digital Solutions Centre
Kazakhstan also announced the establishment of the Digital Solutions Centre for Sustainable Development to serve as a hub for innovation, research and collaboration.
Today, Kazakhstan is one of the pioneers in the digitalization of the social sphere and is actively developing online services for its citizens, meanwhile it is ranks eighth in the world in the provision of online services dimension of the UN E-Government Development Index 2022, until Sep 3, 2024.
Kazakhstan has formed a legislative framework to support growth, adopting the digital transformation concept and creating favorable conditions for venture markets and startup ecosystems. With over 1,500 companies, the Astana Hub technopark has become a key innovation cluster. High-potential projects, including E-commerce, BigData, GameDev, Fintech, and MedTech, are driving export growth, with a target of $1 billion in IT exports by 2026.
Digitization and Innovation
The Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry reported an increase in the number of electronic government services, the introduction of new digital solutions and platforms, and strengthened international cooperation in the IT and aerospace industries in the first half of 2024.
Communication infrastructure: Kazakhstan expanded its communication infrastructure through the fiber-optic line project, connecting over 1,200 rural settlements and 3,700 state institutions to broadband internet. The installation of more than 20,000 kilometres of new lines greatly enhanced connectivity.
The launch of 918 5G base stations in 20 cities and the provision of broadband internet to 4,800 rural areas, alongside new regulatory requirements, have improved service quality and reduced fraudulent activities.
Digitization of government services: Currently, 93.3% of all government services are provided electronically, of which 86% are available on smartphones. With 56 services accessible, the eGov Mobile application and other external platforms facilitated the delivery of 35 million services in the first half of the year, demonstrating the high level of Kazakhstan’s digital transformation.
Strategic AI initiatives: Kazakhstan established the AI and Innovation Development Committee to form a full-fledged AI ecosystem to ensure the safe use of technologies and develop human capital.
The government adopted the AI Development Concept for 2024-2029 to foster innovation through a national AI platform that will provide access to data and computing power and the Alem.AI Center at the Nur-Alem Museum, which will focus on training specialists and developing AI startups.
International IT markets: Kazakhstan’s collaboration with the World Bank and international organizations such as Alchemist and SilkRoad Innovation Hub supports local startups and introduces cutting-edge solutions to various economic sectors. Particular attention is paid to the development of AI in medicine, education, tourism, and the mining and metallurgical industry.
With a growing interest from American and Asian companies, over 20 Kazakh startups in representative offices in Southeast Asia and Riyadh are receiving assistance to enter international markets. The Astana Hub’s partnership with Google Accelerator strengthens Kazakhstan’s IT market integration into global innovation ecosystems.
Aerospace industry: Key developments in the aerospace industry include signing a protocol on May 30 amending the intergovernmental agreement on creating the Baiterek Space Rocket Complex. This document increases Russia’s obligations to support the complex, enhancing its profitability and sustainability.
Geodesy and cartography: Kazakhstan has progressed in geodesy and cartography, creating digital topographic plans for 915 settlements, including cities and district centers. The country’s coverage with digital topographic maps at a scale of 1:25,000 has increased to 85.6%, with plans to reach 92.52% by year-end, further advancing the nation’s digital infrastructure.