Growing technology exports and major investment in computing infrastructure are giving Kazakhstan a stronger foothold in the digital economy. The challenge is to turn that momentum into lasting gains for businesses and workers.
In Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan is preparing to put its energy resources to a new use: powering the computing systems behind artificial intelligence. The planned Data Centre Valley represents an attempt to build another export industry, selling access to advanced computing alongside the country’s established trade in natural resources.
For European businesses and policymakers, the development raises an increasingly practical question. Could Kazakhstan become a significant partner in digital services, industrial AI and the infrastructure connecting European and Asian markets?
There is already evidence of a growing technology business. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, citing National Bank figures, reports that IT services exports reached $1.142 billion in 2025, against imports of $429 million. A separate ministry statement puts exports in 2020 at $33.5 million, making the increase approximately 34-fold over five years. These figures cover IT services broadly; they should not be read as a measure of AI revenue alone. Ministry export figures, five-year comparison
The ministry also identifies Germany, Spain and the Netherlands among the markets served by companies in the Astana Hub technology ecosystem. That gives Kazakhstan’s digital ambitions an existing European commercial connection on which to build. Ministry report
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has made AI a national priority, declaring 2026 the Year of Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence. The government’s approach combines investment in computing infrastructure with support for skills, research and commercial applications. Its economic significance will depend on how effectively those elements work together. Firebird announcement
The scale of the infrastructure plans is substantial. In June, the government announced a package of AI agreements involving Firebird and NVIDIA worth $10 billion. It described 300 megawatts of available power capacity at Data Centre Valley and envisaged phased expansion to one gigawatt. Those figures describe agreements and development potential, rather than completed investment or operating computing capacity. Kazakh government announcement
An October update provided a more specific implementation milestone. Firebird said it had secured a US export licence for 45,000 NVIDIA Grace Blackwell GPUs for the first phase, under construction with Kazakhtelecom and targeting commercial launch in the third quarter of 2027. The company also committed to allocating at least 10 per cent of total GPU capacity to Kazakh companies and government agencies. Firebird project update
For domestic developers, access to that computing power could reduce a significant barrier to building and running AI products. For prospective overseas customers, the commercial calculation will include reliability, connectivity, security and price. Securing advanced equipment is a major step, but earning recurring revenue requires customers willing to use it.
Electricity will be central to that calculation. Kazakhstan’s energy base offers an opportunity, although supplying large computing facilities creates additional demands on generation and networks. The International Energy Agency forecasts electricity demand growth averaging around three per cent annually between 2026 and 2030, with coal retaining a share of nearly 60 per cent of generation over the outlook period. IEA Electricity 2026
For European companies assessing potential suppliers, that makes the source and carbon intensity of electricity relevant alongside cost. The implication is that Kazakhstan’s computing ambitions and its energy transition will increasingly need to be considered together.
International connectivity is another part of the business case. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are developing a fibre-optic link across the Caspian Sea, with Kazakhstan’s digital ministry reporting that commissioning is planned by the end of 2026. The ministry says the project is being implemented through a joint venture involving Kazakhtelecom and AzerTelecom. Ministry cable update
The route could strengthen connections towards European networks through the South Caucasus. Its eventual commercial value will depend on the wider network: terrestrial connections, transmission costs, service resilience and arrangements between operators. A subsea cable creates an opportunity; competitive international services require the entire route to function effectively.
Kazakhstan’s potential also extends to the people developing AI products. Higgsfield, the video and image creation platform with Kazakh roots, announced investment from NVIDIA and TCV in October through an extension of its Series B financing. The announcement illustrates how engineering talent connected to Kazakhstan can attract international backing and reach global customers. Higgsfield announcement
For national economic development, the relevant questions extend beyond fundraising. They include where research takes place, how many skilled jobs are sustained locally and whether successful businesses help train the next generation of founders and engineers.
Trust will matter too. Kazakhstan’s AI law, signed in November 2025, establishes principles covering accountability, transparency, explainability, privacy and safety. The presidential announcement also describes obligations on owners and operators to manage risks and support users, alongside requirements to label AI-generated outputs. Presidential announcement
For international customers, implementation will be decisive. Clear responsibilities, credible security practices and effective protection of information will influence whether businesses entrust important workloads to new providers.
There is a wider diplomatic foundation for cooperation. At their June 2026 meeting in Brussels, EU and Kazakh leaders welcomed closer work under Global Gateway, emphasised energy cooperation and supported expanding links in education, research and innovation, including through Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. Those relationships offer potential channels for collaboration in the emerging digital economy. EU–Kazakhstan joint statement
The next test will be economic performance. Computing infrastructure can support new exports, while industrial applications could help businesses improve maintenance, production planning and resource use. Those gains will require usable data, trained staff and investment within enterprises as well as data centres.
Kazakhstan has established a growing digital export business and attracted partners capable of expanding its computing resources. As the new facilities approach their planned launch, European customers will be looking for dependable services. Kazakh businesses and workers will be looking for something equally concrete: better access to technology, skilled employment and products that can compete internationally.
