AI & Digital
Kazakhstan is placing growing strategic emphasis on digital development and artificial intelligence. Whitecliff helps turn Kazakhstan's AI ambition into bankable, energy-secure projects by connecting the right capital, technology, government stakeholders and energy solutions across the US, the UK and Eurasia.
Areas of Focus
- Data centers and digital infrastructure
- Cloud and connectivity projects
- Fintech and financial infrastructure
- Cybersecurity and digital resilience
- AI-enabled private- and public-sector solutions
- E-government and digital public services
Market Context
Global AI compute demand is outpacing available power, land, and grid capacity in established hubs, pushing hyperscale and infrastructure investors toward energy-rich, geopolitically stable markets that can deliver bankable projects at scale. Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional answer to this shortage, backing a national AI strategy with a $10 billion flagship compute project and a fast-growing digital export base.
Market Signals
Roadmap through 2029
The Digital Qazaqstan National Strategy was approved by presidential decree on June 9, 2026, setting a digitalization and AI roadmap through 2029 and creating a defined multi-year regulatory horizon.
Central Asia's first comprehensive AI Law
In 2026, Kazakhstan declared the "Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence". In November 2025, Kazakhstan adopted Central Asia's first comprehensive AI Law, alongside a new Digital Code and cybersecurity/digital-assets legislation.
$10 billion
Data Center Valley (Ekibastuz, Pavlodar): the government, NVIDIA, and Firebird signed a $10 billion package of AI infrastructure agreements in June 2026. The capacity is scaling in phases from 300 MW toward 1 GW, with the first 125 MW facility due in H1 2027.
$1.14 billion
IT service exports grew from roughly $60 million in 2021 to $1.14 billion in 2025, nearly a 19-fold increase in five years.
1,047 active projects
Kazakhstan's National Digital Investment Platform tracks 1,047 active projects worth $148.3 billion as of January 2026.
72 sectors
20 sector-specific digital transformation roadmaps now cover 72 sectors, with AI-First implementation mandatory for all central government agencies, targeted for completion by 2027.
Selected Market Examples
| Project | Publicly reported parties | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Data Center Valley (Ekibastuz, Pavlodar) | Government of Kazakhstan NVIDIA Firebird | Up to $10 billion 300 MW to 1 GW |
| Two hyperscale data centers (Central Kazakhstan) | GK Hyperscale Ltd (Singapore) | $1.5 billion 200 MW Tier III target* |
| AKASHI Data Center, Phase 1 (Astana) | Eurasian Development Bank | $230 million total ($90 million EDB financing) 41 MW Tier IV status to be confirmed* |
| Freedom Cloud Data Center (Almaty, Alatau Technopark) | Freedom Holding Corp. | ~$350 million 7.2 MW |
| AKASHI Data Center Campus, subsequent phases (Astana) | AKASHI Data Center (reported cooperation partner)* Strategic partners to be confirmed* | 4,200 server racks Tier IV target/status to be confirmed* |
| Green-energy Data Center | Kazakhtelecom CHN Energy | Up to 100 MW* |
* Reported target or status; not yet confirmed.
Market examples are based on publicly reported information and are shown for illustration only. They are not Whitecliff mandates.
