BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. Kazakhstan is
steadily strengthening its place within the international digital
transformation and innovation panorama, rising as one in all Central
Asia’s main digital economies, Secretary-Basic of the Digital
Cooperation Group (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, advised Development in an unique interview.
“In line with the Digital Financial system Navigator (DEN) 2025 developed
by the DCO, Kazakhstan demonstrates significantly robust efficiency
in a number of key pillars which are important for constructing an inclusive
and future-ready digital financial system,” she stated.
AlYahya famous that the DEN is a complete international framework
that measures the maturity of the digital financial system throughout 80
nations, representing 85% of the world’s inhabitants and 94% of
international GDP. Constructed on 145 indicators from internationally acknowledged
knowledge sources and international surveys, the DEN evaluates nations throughout
three dimensions: Digital Enablers, Digital Enterprise, and Digital
Society, with nations assessed on a scale of 0 to 100 throughout the
varied pillars and subpillars.
“Kazakhstan’s efficiency displays a balanced and
forward-looking method to digital improvement. Considered one of its
strongest areas is Digital Finance, the place the nation scored 75.4,
together with a powerful 85.7 in entry to digital banking and
finance. This highlights Kazakhstan’s fast adoption of digital
monetary providers and its efforts to develop monetary inclusion
by way of know-how. These achievements point out that Kazakhstan has
established an enabling regulatory surroundings able to
supporting innovation, digital commerce, and funding”, the
secretary-general stated.
AlYahya identified that one other notable energy is
Kazakhstan’s progress in digital schooling and workforce
readiness.
“The nation scored 82.7 in Digital for Schooling and 74.6 in
Digital for Work and Coaching, reflecting vital investments
in digital abilities improvement and technology-enabled alternatives.
Kazakhstan’s excessive web entry rating of 93.4 additional
demonstrates the nation’s dedication to increasing connectivity and
guaranteeing broad participation within the digital financial system,” she stated.
On the identical time, she added, the DEN highlights necessary
alternatives for future development, significantly in digital innovation
and startup ecosystem improvement.
In line with her, Kazakhstan’s robust regulatory foundations
place it properly to additional strengthen analysis and improvement,
entice funding into rising applied sciences, and scale digital
entrepreneurship. As digital transformation more and more shapes
international competitiveness, Kazakhstan is demonstrating the ambition
and institutional capability wanted to turn into an necessary regional
digital hub connecting Asia, the Center East, and Europe.
“A number of areas supply robust potential for deeper cooperation
between Kazakhstan and the DCO within the close to future, significantly in
fields which are changing into more and more central to financial
competitiveness and digital resilience worldwide”, AlYahya
stated.
In line with the secretary-general, one necessary space is
synthetic intelligence. Kazakhstan has more and more prioritized
synthetic intelligence and rising applied sciences inside its
nationwide digital transformation agenda, together with by way of the
Digital Kazakhstan program, the event of an AI Improvement
Idea for 2024–2029, and up to date initiatives centered on AI
governance and digital innovation.
“This coverage route is strengthened by a robust compute
basis: the nation operates two supercomputers and is
advancing a nationwide ‘Information Facilities Valley’ with a deliberate capability
of 1 GW, positioning Kazakhstan as one of many area’s rising
hubs for AI-ready infrastructure”, AlYahya stated.
She famous that AI might contribute as much as $15.7 trillion to the
international financial system by 2030, underlining the significance of guaranteeing
nations are ready to take part on this transformation.
In line with her, cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Digital
Cooperation Group might deal with AI coverage frameworks,
expertise improvement, digital abilities, and fostering inclusive
innovation ecosystems.
Moreover, the secretary-general identified that digital
governance is one other promising space for collaboration. The DCO
works carefully with governments and worldwide companions to
advance agile, interoperable, and citizen-centered digital
governance frameworks that allow trusted digital providers,
cross-border knowledge flows, and digital commerce.
She famous that Kazakhstan’s efforts to modernize public providers
and strengthen e-government capabilities align naturally with these
priorities. Cooperation might deal with sharing worldwide greatest
practices in digital public infrastructure, regulatory frameworks,
and digital inclusion insurance policies.
“Fintech and digital finance additionally current vital
alternatives. Kazakhstan has emerged as one in all Central Asia’s
main fintech ecosystems, supported by initiatives such because the
Astana Worldwide Monetary Centre. The broader startup
panorama is maturing in parallel: in September 2025,
Kazakh-founded Higgsfield AI crossed a $1 billion valuation to
turn into the nation’s first unicorn, backed by international traders
together with Menlo Ventures, a milestone broadly seen as a sign that
Kazakhstan’s tech ecosystem has reached a brand new stage of world
competitiveness. The DCO’s work in enabling inclusive digital
economies and fostering cross-border digital cooperation might
assist additional development in digital funds, startup ecosystems, and
SME participation within the digital financial system”, she stated.
AlYahya additionally famous that the DCO serves as a multistakeholder
platform, bringing collectively governments, the personal sector,
worldwide organizations, academia, and civil society to handle
challenges and alternatives within the digital financial system. In line with
her, digital transformation requires joint efforts, with innovation
typically pushed by the personal sector, regulation formed by
governments, and inclusive improvement supported by broader
societal participation.
The secretary-general added that Kazakhstan presents robust
potential for future cooperation throughout areas corresponding to digital
funding, AI governance, digital entrepreneurship, abilities
improvement, and inclusive innovation.
She pointed to a number of sensible examples of the DCO’s
cooperation mannequin, together with the Digital International Direct Funding
Discussion board in Pakistan, which introduced collectively greater than 700 delegates
from over 45 nations and helped entice over $700 million in
digital financial system inflows, in addition to the WE-Elevate initiative,
which helps women-led SMEs in transitioning to digital-first
companies and has educated greater than 10,000 enterprises, with 2,500
already engaged in cross-border commerce. In line with her, these
initiatives replicate the DCO’s method of adapting profitable
fashions to native priorities whereas connecting nations with international
experience, funding alternatives, and implementation
companions.
“This creates robust potential for Kazakhstan to discover
tailor-made initiatives that construct by itself digital ambitions whereas
benefiting from experiences and classes realized throughout the DCO
ecosystem”, she stated.
AlYahya added that there’s a vital alternative to discover
related collaborative initiatives tailored to the nation’s personal
priorities and strengths. As Kazakhstan continues advancing its
digital financial system ambitions, the DCO stands able to assist efforts
that foster innovation, entice funding, strengthen digital
abilities, and make sure that the advantages of the digital financial system are
accessible to all segments of society.
“The DCO sees vital potential for Kazakhstan to additional
strengthen its position as a regional digital hub connecting Central
Asia with broader markets throughout Asia, the Center East, and Europe.
Kazakhstan combines a number of necessary benefits: robust authorities
dedication to digital transformation, increasing digital
infrastructure, increasing innovation ecosystem, and a strategic
geographic place that naturally helps cross-border digital
connectivity and commerce”, she stated.
Moreover, AlYahya famous that over the previous a number of years,
Kazakhstan has made notable progress in areas corresponding to e-government,
fintech, digital public providers, and rising applied sciences.
“In line with the 2024 UN E-Authorities Improvement Index,
Kazakhstan ranked twenty fourth globally and was among the many world’s
top-performing nations in on-line authorities providers, reflecting
the nation’s substantial investments in digital governance and
public sector modernization,” she stated.
The secretary-general identified that the nation can also be
seeing regular development in its digital financial system. E-commerce accounted
for 14.1% of complete retail commerce in 2024, with the federal government
concentrating on a rise to 18.5% within the coming years. Kazakhstan additionally
ranked forty seventh globally within the 2025 ICT Improvement Index,
highlighting continued progress in connectivity, digital
infrastructure, and know-how adoption, she stated, citing official
knowledge.
In line with her, these traits show each rising client
participation within the digital financial system and sustained institutional
dedication to digital transformation.
“Kazakhstan can also be positioning itself as an necessary digital
connectivity hall between Asia and Europe. Ongoing investments
in fiber-optic infrastructure, knowledge facilities, cloud providers, and
next-generation telecommunications are strengthening the nation’s
ambitions to turn into a regional know-how and knowledge transit hub,”
AlYahya stated.
She famous that Kazakhstan’s innovation ecosystem continues to
develop. Astana Hub, the nation’s worldwide know-how park for
IT startups, has turn into one of many area’s fastest-growing
innovation platforms, supporting over 1,800 startups and know-how
corporations whereas attracting worldwide partnerships and
funding.
In line with her, Kazakhstan’s rising digital entrepreneurship
ecosystem, mixed with its rising deal with AI improvement and
digital abilities, displays a broader ambition to place itself as a
main know-how participant within the area.
“Importantly, Kazakhstan’s potential extends past know-how
itself. The nation can play a broader regional position by
facilitating digital cooperation, encouraging data alternate,
and serving to join regional markets and expertise ecosystems. As
digital transformation more and more reshapes international economies,
nations that may bridge areas, foster trusted digital
environments, and assist innovation ecosystems will play an
more and more strategic position,” the secretary common stated.
She added that from the DCO’s perspective, Kazakhstan is
well-positioned to turn into not solely a nationwide success story in
digital improvement but in addition a key regional companion in shaping a
extra inclusive, related, and resilient digital financial system throughout
Central Asia and past.
“My latest assembly with H.E. Madiyar Menilbekov, Ambassador of
the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was an
necessary step towards strengthening dialogue and exploring future
avenues for cooperation between Kazakhstan and the DCO,” AlYahya
famous.
She stated {that a} key focus of the discussions was the Digital
Financial system Navigator (DEN) 2025 report and the insights it supplies
into Kazakhstan’s digital transformation progress and future
alternatives. On this context, the assembly offered a possibility
to alternate views on Kazakhstan’s digital improvement
priorities and focus on areas the place larger collaboration might
create long-term worth.
“Wanting forward, the subsequent sensible steps are anticipated to focus
on deepening institutional engagement and figuring out areas of
mutual curiosity the place cooperation will be translated into concrete
motion. This contains continued coordination between the DCO and
related stakeholders in Kazakhstan’s private and non-private sectors”,
the secretary common stated.
AlYahya added that there’s additionally robust potential for follow-up
technical engagement round areas corresponding to digital financial system
measurement, innovation ecosystems, digital funding, AI
governance, digital abilities, and inclusive digital transformation.
By way of platforms such because the DEN, the DCO seeks not solely to
present knowledge and evaluation but in addition to assist nations join with
worldwide experience, profitable coverage fashions, and cross-border
cooperation alternatives.
“Importantly, the DCO approaches cooperation as a long-term
partnership constructed on dialogue, shared priorities, and sensible
implementation. Importantly, the DCO approaches cooperation as a
long-term partnership constructed on dialogue, shared priorities, and
sensible implementation. Fairly than making use of a one-size-fits-all
mannequin, the group works carefully with nations to grasp
nationwide priorities and determine initiatives that may ship
significant and sustainable influence,” she stated.
AlYahya famous that as discussions proceed, each side share a
widespread curiosity in fostering innovation-driven development,
strengthening digital resilience, and guaranteeing that digital
transformation stays inclusive and helpful to all segments of
society.
