Azerbaijan, September 26. What drives a
tech company to establish its presence in a new market? Why do
founders choose to build their teams there, and why do highly
skilled professionals decide to relocate and grow their
careers?
Entrepreneurs need more than just low taxes or modern
infrastructure. They need a country where the rules are clear—how
to operate, register a business, find talent, secure the necessary
status, and scale operations. This practical approach lies at the
heart of the Trusted Kazakhstan concept.
Magzhan Madiyev, CEO of Astana Hub, notes:
“Kazakhstan is steadily building an environment where international
IT and AI professionals, entrepreneurs, and technology companies
choose the country for long-term operations and scaling.”
But what does this mean in practice?
Can You Work for the Global Market from
Kazakhstan?
One indicator is technology exports. In 2025, exports of
Kazakhstan’s IT services reached $1.142 billion, up from $33.5
million in 2020. Kazakhstani IT solutions are exported to more than
110 countries.
For a technology company, this means that the Kazakhstani market
is becoming not an end point, but a platform from which it can
begin to expand and enter other markets.
Digital government infrastructure also contributes to this. In
the UN E-Government Development Index 2024, Kazakhstan ranked 24th
out of 193 countries.
At the same time, the country is expanding its international
digital connectivity. The approximately 4,500-kilometer
West–East digital superhighway stretching from
Aktau to Khorgos, combined with the Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Line,
is set to become a key segment of the digital corridor connecting
Europe, Central Asia, and China.
This redefines Kazakhstan’s traditional geographical advantage,
gradually transforming the nation into a strategic gateway for the
transit of not only physical goods, but also data, digital
services, and technology.
For an international entrepreneur or specialist, getting to know
a country begins not with a grand strategy, but with highly
practical considerations. To address this, Kazakhstan offers the
Digital Nomad Visa and Digital Nomad
Residency. Astana Hub participants benefit from a
specialized regulatory regime, while the Astana International
Financial Centre (AIFC) provides a separate legal jurisdiction
based on the principles of English common law.
All of this creates a clear pathway from initial interest to
launching a real project.
However, infrastructure alone is not enough: technology
companies cannot emerge without people who know how to build
technology.
Where Do You Find the Talent to Build
Technology?
This is one of the central questions of the global AI race. You
can build data centers, attract investment, and establish
specialized regimes for business. But without engineers,
researchers, entrepreneurs, and AI specialists, the technology
ecosystem cannot function. That is why human capital is another key
component of Trusted Kazakhstan.
Initiatives like AI Qyzmet, AI Sana, Tomorrow School, and
QazCoders are expanding across the country, alongside the
integration of AI programs into universities. At the same time,
mechanisms are being put in place to attract international
talent.
It is not just about increasing headcount. What matters equally
is the expertise they bring to the country. International
specialists share their knowledge, build teams, launch projects,
and integrate the local tech community into global professional
networks.
This is how the next level of trust emerges: people come not
just to work in Kazakhstan—they become part of its technology
environment.
Why Trust, Specifically?
Because deciding to enter a new country is relatively easy to do
once. What is far harder is ensuring they stay, invest, expand
their teams, and launch their next project.
This brings us to the core question: what convinces businesses
and professionals to stay? Trusted Kazakhstan is not a standalone
marketing campaign or a single government tool. It is a set of
conditions that addresses the practical questions of international
business:
Can I register a company here? Are the rules clear? Can
I find talent? Is there access to capital? Do digital services work
seamlessly? Can I scale? Is there an international professional
community?
The more clear and affirmative answers an entrepreneur,
investor, or specialist receives, the higher the likelihood that
initial interest in the country will evolve into a long-term
presence.
Where Can You See This Ecosystem in Action?
From September 23 to October 23, AI MONTH is taking place across
Kazakhstan—a month-long program bringing together key events in
artificial intelligence and technology.
Developers, entrepreneurs, startups, investors, international
technology companies, researchers, and government representatives
come together in different formats—from hackathons and educational
initiatives to international discussions and investment
platforms.
The centerpiece international event of AI MONTH is AI & Digital
Bridge 2026, taking place from October 1 to 3 in Astana.
This is where you can see the Trusted Kazakhstan concept in
action.
International participants will have the opportunity not just to
hear about the country’s technological progress, but to see
companies and products firsthand, meet founders, developers, and
investors, find partners, and experience Kazakhstan’s tech
ecosystem from the inside.
Among the forum’s headliners are Balaji Srinivasan, Founder of
The Network School; Yerzat Dulat, Co-Founder and CTO of Higgsfield
AI; and Jamie Beaton, Co-Founder and CEO of Crimson Education.
Their participation also reflects three resources that
technology-driven economies are competing for today:
entrepreneurship, technology, and human capital.
The AI & Digital Bridge program will cover artificial
intelligence and its impact on the economy, investment and venture
capital, technology entrepreneurship, digital infrastructure,
startups, talent, Creative Industries, and GameDev. The forum will
also feature a technology exhibition, Startup Alley, Astana Hub
Battle, and other formats for direct interaction among companies,
investors, and technology teams.
This is the practical meaning of Trusted Kazakhstan: not simply
to tell the world about Kazakhstan, but to create an environment
where international interest turns into real projects,
partnerships, companies, and long-term presence.
The forum will take place from October 1 to 3 at the EXPO
International Exhibition Centre in Astana.
October 1 will feature a special high-level program by
invitation only, bringing together heads of government agencies and
international delegations, as well as technology industry
leaders.
The open program for ticket holders will take place on October
2–3.
AI & Digital Bridge 2026 is organized by the Ministry of
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, Astana Hub, and the Akimat of Astana.
The organization of the forum is made possible through the
support of its partners and sponsors. All expenses for AI & Digital
Bridge 2026 are covered by sponsorship funds.
Gold Partners: Freedom Bank Kazakhstan JSC, Kaspi.kz,
Samruk-Kazyna JSC, and Kazakhtelecom JSC. Silver Partner: Halyk
Bank. Business Partner: Beeline Kazakhstan. Bronze Partner: Yandex
Qazaqstan. Official Airline Partner: Air Astana.
Trusted Kazakhstan is part of the country’s broader technology
positioning: Kazakhstan is the Eurasian AI
Hub.
At such venues, you can see the Trusted Kazakhstan concept in
action: the international technology community has the opportunity
not just to hear about Kazakhstan’s development, but to directly
connect with companies, entrepreneurs, developers, investors, and
the ecosystem’s infrastructure.
The organization of AI & Digital Bridge 2026 was made possible
through the support of the forum’s partners and sponsors. All
expenses for the forum are covered by sponsorship funds.
The forum is organized by the Ministry of Artificial
Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
Astana Hub, and the Akimat of Astana.
Learn more about the forum at https://digitalbridge.ai
