The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world. ASTANA – Officials discussed implementing Kazakhstan’s Digital Qazaqstan Strategy at a government meeting on Oct. 6, outlining plans to expand AI-powered public services, develop large-scale computing infrastructure, and accelerate digital transformation across the economy. The strategy, approved through 2029, covers digital government, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, telecommunications, IT, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies, the Prime Minister’s press service reported. Photo credit: Shutterstock. $10 billion data center project A Data Center Valley is being developed in Ekibastuz with a planned capacity of at least 1 gigawatt. Construction of the first facilities has begun. The government plans to commission 186 megawatts (MW) in 2027 and a further 109 megawatts (MW) in the second quarter of 2028. Kazakhstan has signed a $10 billion package of agreements with Firebird AI, and more than 20 international technology companies and investors have expressed interest in the project. AI-powered public services The national QazTech platform is becoming the foundation of Kazakhstan’s digital public services. Migration of 92% of systems planned for this year has been completed. Through eGov GPT, 51 services are currently available, with the number expected to reach 150 by the end of this year. AI has processed more than 3.2 million appeals through e-Otinish. The government plans to increase the share of public services using AI to 40% by 2028 and halve service delivery times by 2029. Expanding the digital economy More than 4,000 5G base stations have been deployed in over 20 cities. The Trans-Caspian fiber-optic project has reached 390 kilometers of cable between Sumgait (Azerbaijan) and Aktau, with the launch scheduled for October. Kazakhstan’s IT service exports exceeded $1.1 billion in 2025. The target is to increase IT exports to at least $2 billion by 2029 and develop at least three unicorn companies. AI in energy and industry The energy sector has a portfolio of 45 AI projects, with a projected annual economic effect of around 23 billion tenge (US$50.4 million). The initiatives target a 25% reduction in accidents and a 90% reduction in energy-resource losses. At KAZ Minerals, digital twins have increased copper recovery by 2% and factory productivity by 7%. In the automotive industry, AI has reduced defects by 39%. Kazakhstan is also developing industrial robotics, autonomous transport and satellite technologies. Commercial drone delivery is planned for 2027, while commercial air-taxi operations are targeted for 2028. Digital construction BIM (Building Information Modeling), a digital method for designing, constructing and managing buildings and infrastructure, became mandatory in August for a range of technically complex facilities. Its application is expected to reach 100% of new technically complex projects by 2028. AI is already being used to review construction documentation, with 864 projects processed through automated checks. The government aims to complete the Digital Qazaqstan Strategy measures by 2029 and move key sectors towards data-driven management and greater use of artificial intelligence. The post Kazakhstan Accelerates Digital Transformation as Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Link Nears Launch appeared first on The Astana Times.