Astana to host Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation

Astana to host Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation

The United Nations Digital Solutions Center for the Sustainable Development of Central Asian countries is set to be established in Kazakhstan in the coming years. Its specific location, objectives, and functions will be announced during the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation, which is expected to take place in Astana this autumn and bring together ministers from 60 countries. Mazhilis, the Lower House of the Kazakh Parliament, ratified the agreement between the Kazakh Government and the UN to host the event. The document aims to promote digitalization in key sectors of the Asia-Pacific region’s economy, coordinate digital projects’ implementation, expand Kazakhstan’s influence at the regional level, as well as increase the country’s exports of IT services.

«We want the digital solutions center to be based here and become a hub, as well as to serve as a soft power for promoting our IT solutions in the region through the UN division in terms of economic impact. Over the past five years, our IT sector has grown tenfold to nearly $500 million annually. I believe that such initiatives provide a great opportunity for our companies and startups, allowing them to avoid spending money traveling abroad and organizing roadshows here in Kazakhstan. Thus, we aim to create a startup alley,» said Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry.

Three cassation courts to be created in Astana

A total of three independent cassation courts for criminal, civil, and administrative cases are set to be created in Astana as part of a draft law aimed at reforming the judicial system, which was approved by the Mazhilis in the first reading. According to the legislative novelties, local and cassation courts will be directly responsible for administering justice. Preliminary hearings will be excluded, and the trial process will be conducted orally in the presence of parties. Consequently, the role of the Supreme Court will change, focusing on clarification and ensuring uniformity in judicial practice, while reviewing acts only in exceptional cases. These and other innovations are expected to be implemented from July 2025 onwards.