Day: June 30, 2025

At this month’s Eurasian Economic Forum in Minsk, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged fellow Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) leaders to reorient toward the future. “Digitalization and artificial intelligence… should become an absolute priority of the EAEU,” he told the plenary session, warning that “we are already living in the era of AI.” Tokayev cited forecasts that AI could contribute $15 trillion to global GDP and displace 300 million jobs by 2030, arguing the EAEU bloc has a “historic opportunity” to act now. “It is important to use this window of opportunity in a timely manner… to strengthen our role in the emerging digital world order,” he stated. “A small group of countries will emerge as leaders in this field… others may be left behind. The EAEU must lead — or, at the very least, avoid lagging behind.”

Tokayev’s remarks capped a speech outlining Kazakhstan’s sweeping digital agenda, which includes a national supercomputer, a high-profile artificial intelligence hub, and a “CryptoCity” pilot zone. These efforts signal not only a pivot away from extractive industries but a push to establish Kazakhstan as the heart of Central Asia’s digital and data infrastructure.

Once seen as an economic hindrance, Kazakhstan’s landlocked geography is now being leveraged as a potential asset. A 3,700 km West–East Fiber-Optic Highway is under construction, connecting China’s Xinjiang province to the Caspian Sea. The project, expected to be completed in 2026, aims to provide a secure, high-speed terrestrial route for global data flows between Europe and East Asia. By pairing this with expanded redundancy and data center capacity, Kazakhstan hopes to serve as a neutral, cost-effective host for hyperscale data centers supporting global cloud providers and sovereign clients alike.

With abundant energy, political stability, and growing fiber capacity, officials argue Kazakhstan can reduce regional dependence on submarine cables routed through politically sensitive chokepoints.

Kazakhstan’s infrastructure investments are central to Tokayev’s vision. In Astana, the futuristic Nur Alem sphere — originally built to host the 2017 World Expo — is being converted into Alem.AI, an international artificial intelligence center focused on education, research, and applied technology. The facility will host labs, training academies, and co-working space for startups, to produce 10,000 AI specialists per year and generate $5 billion in AI-driven exports by 2029.

Complementing this is the new national AI supercomputer, developed in partnership with UAE-based Presight AI. Launched in May 2025, the system is rated at up to 2 exaflops, powered by NVIDIA H200 chips, and installed within a Tier III-certified data center. Government officials say it will be used for machine learning, scientific modeling, LLM development, and cybersecurity testing, and will eventually be made available to Kazakh universities and private sector firms.

Meanwhile, the CryptoCity pilot zone near Alatau will allow the regulated use of cryptocurrencies in daily life, from shopping to property purchases, within a restricted environment. It is being developed under the supervision of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development and Samruk-Kazyna, the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Though crypto transactions currently remain largely banned in the country, officials say the sandbox could pave the way for national reforms.

Of the Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan is the furthest along in transforming its digital economy. Uzbekistan is also moving fast, with 10,000 registered IT firms and major progress on digital exports, but Kazakhstan still leads the way in AI readiness rankings, cloud infrastructure, and the development of e-governance.

The Astana Hub, the country’s tech free zone, now hosts over 1,600 companies, including startups, accelerators, and multinationals such as TikTok and Telegram. The technology park offers tax breaks, streamlined visas, and legal arbitration in English common law. The government has modeled aspects of its ecosystem on Singapore and the UAE, and is actively working with investors from both nations to build out cloud, connectivity, and AI capacity.

Kazakhstan’s challenges — many of which Tokayev has publicly acknowledged — remain very real. Talent shortages are widespread, with over 70% of Kazakh companies reporting that they have struggled to hire qualified IT professionals. In response, the government launched a plan to train a million citizens in AI and digital skills by 2029, while also scaling up specialist academies like TUMO and Tomorrow School, and offering a Digital Nomad Visa for foreign tech workers.

Cybersecurity, too, is a growing concern. More than 30,000 cyberattacks were registered in just the first five months of 2025, double the number from the same period in the previous year. A major data breach in late 2024 highlighted vulnerabilities in government systems. In response, Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee and Ministry of Digital Development are working on a national cybersecurity strategy, while reinforcing defense capabilities with support from UAE and Israeli consultants.

Perhaps most significant for foreign investors is Kazakhstan’s incomplete regulatory environment. Core legislation on AI ethics, data protection, and digital assets remains under review. CryptoCity, in fact, exists because national laws do not yet allow crypto to be used for real-world payments. Tokayev has formed a National AI Development Council to fast-track legal reforms and has committed to finalizing a digital law package by the end of 2025.

Kazakhstan’s digital leap comes as companies across the globe are reevaluating where to build and host infrastructure. Cost pressures in North America, regulatory headwinds in Europe, and geopolitical sensitivities in East Asia are pushing tech firms to look for alternatives. If Kazakhstan can deliver on bandwidth, regulation, security, and talent, it may become more than just a case study in digital ambition. It could be a new high-tech junction on the global tech map. By transforming infrastructure into opportunity and vision into governance, it has a chance to turn its Eurasian geography into strategic leverage for the digital age.

Views on apex predator still polarised says Natural England head as activists apply for trial release in Northumberland

The head of the government’s wildlife regulator has said he remains “enthusiastic” about reintroducing lynx to Britain and would be “absolutely delighted” if it could be achieved during his two-year term.

But Tony Juniper, the chair of Natural England, added that debates over the animal’s release were “still quite polarised” and required “more engagement” to understand how communities would be affected.

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