{"slug": "kazakhstan-ready-for-large-scale-ai-rollout-pm-bektenov-says", "title": "Kazakhstan ready for large-scale AI rollout, PM Bektenov says", "summary": "Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov told the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum in Astana that Kazakhstan has the legal framework in place for large-scale artificial intelligence adoption, citing the country's Digital Code, Law on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Qazaqstan strategy. Bektenov said the Data Center Valley megaproject under construction in Ekibastuz, Pavlodar region with U.S.-based Firebird and key partner NVIDIA will become Central Asia's largest data center campus with up to 1 gigawatt of energy capacity, following a 125 MW facility due online in the first half of 2027 and a second 125 MW facility in 2028. He also said the Digital Nomad residency program has received more than 1,500 applications from IT professionals in 30 countries and that construction has begun on KazBot, described as Kazakhstan's first complex for producing robotic systems.", "body_md": "# Kazakhstan ready for large-scale AI rollout, PM Bektenov says\n\nKazakhstan has the legal framework in place for the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said at the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum in Astana, [Qazinform](https://qazinform.com/) News Agency correspondent reports.\n\n```\n\"For the first time, the protection of citizens' digital rights has been enshrined at the constitutional level. The Digital Code and the Law on Artificial Intelligence have been adopted, and the Digital Qazaqstan strategy is being implemented,\" Bektenov said.\n```\n\nAccording to the prime minister, the Digital Nomad residency program has already received more than 1,500 applications from IT professionals from 30 countries, while a separate program for strategic investors is being launched.\n\nBektenov noted that access to data and computing resources is becoming increasingly important, which is why Kazakhstan is accelerating the development of its digital infrastructure.\n\n```\n\"The Data Center Valley megaproject is currently under active construction. It will become the largest data center campus in Central Asia with an energy capacity of up to 1 gigawatt,\" he said.\n```\n\nHe named NVIDIA as the project's key partner, adding that Kazakhstan remains open to cooperation with other leading global technology companies. \"These data centers will provide the foundation for the development of artificial intelligence, cloud services, scientific research, and new digital industries,\" Bektenov said.\n\nThe project will also apply cloud-first principles and a data embassy mechanism. Bektenov has previously described data embassies as a way for foreign governments to host digital assets in Kazakhstan while retaining full legal sovereignty over them.\n\nData Center Valley is being built in Ekibastuz, Pavlodar region, together with U.S.-based Firebird, whose key partner is NVIDIA. In June, Bektenov told a joint session of parliament that a 125 MW facility would come online in the first half of 2027, with a second facility of the same capacity to follow in 2028.\n\nThe prime minister also highlighted Alatau City, another flagship project planned as a fully digital city. The most advanced solutions will be introduced there first and later scaled to other regions of the country.\n\nAccording to Bektenov, AI technologies are being widely integrated into the real economy, with enterprises already using autonomous machinery, unmanned aerial vehicles and industrial robots.\n\n```\n\"Construction has begun on KazBot, Kazakhstan's first complex for the production of robotic systems. Drone logistics has also been developed for the delivery of goods and medicines,\" he said, adding that the next stage is the large-scale deployment of technologies that have already proven effective.\n```\n\nEarlier, [Qazinform](https://qazinform.com/) reported former Austrian Chancellor Kurz [praised](https://qazinform.com/news/former-austrian-chancellor-kurz-praises-kazakhstans-ai-and-digital-push-e756bf) Kazakhstan's AI and digital push.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/kazakhstan-ready-for-large-scale-ai-rollout-pm-bektenov-says", "canonical_source": "https://qazinform.com/news/kazakhstan-ready-for-large-scale-ai-rollout-pm-bektenov-says-40ab65", "published_at": "2026-10-03 08:15:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-10-03 08:36:31.690983+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy", "ai-infrastructure", "robotics", "ai-chips"], "entities": ["Olzhas Bektenov", "Kazakhstan", "Data Center Valley", "NVIDIA", "Firebird", "KazBot", "Alatau City", "Digital Qazaqstan"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/kazakhstan-ready-for-large-scale-ai-rollout-pm-bektenov-says", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/kazakhstan-ready-for-large-scale-ai-rollout-pm-bektenov-says.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/kazakhstan-ready-for-large-scale-ai-rollout-pm-bektenov-says.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/kazakhstan-ready-for-large-scale-ai-rollout-pm-bektenov-says.jsonld"}}