Kazakhstan is
becoming a major regional player in the IT sector. Silkroad Innovation Hub will
soon open a representative office in the country, focusing on supporting and
promoting startups from Central Asian countries and Turkic states.
Additionally, the implementation of the Digital Nomad visa project will attract
IT specialists to the country, as announced by Kazakh Minister of Digital
Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin at the
Government’s meeting. According to him, the industry’s progress is evidenced by
the figures. Thus, last year, IT services exports increased fivefold, totaling
$334 million, with about half of this revenue generated by Astana Hub
participants. The international technopark is currently the only partner of the
Google for Startups program in the region. Moreover, legislative novelties will
be developed to promote venture capital investment and remove restrictions in
the industry. In Kazakhstan, there are currently 16,000 IT companies employing
over 180,000 people in the sector. For those wishing to pursue a career in the
digital sphere, the opportunity to study in advanced public schools under a
voucher system is being considered. Additionally, the training of domestic IT
teachers in cooperation with international partners will start in December.
“It is necessary to
create IT-hubs in every region, drawing from the experiences of Almaty and the
Karagandy region. Local authorities should ensure the development of human
capital. To this end, it is important to establish IT schools dedicated to
training and retraining programmers, designers, engineers, and other
professionals in this field. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education
should work on creating a more flexible IT training program that can stay
current with global trends. It is also necessary to facilitate student and
experience exchange programs, along with internships with top universities,” said
Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.
Kazakhstan's economy grows 4.9% in first eight months of 2023
The discussion also covered the main indicators of economic growth. In eight months, the domestic economy grew by approximately five percent. Overall, the government recorded positive dynamics in all major industries. Investment in fixed assets has increased by 12 percent. Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover has reached $79.5 billion over the period from January to July, with almost half of the sum accounting for exports. Supplies of processed products in monetary terms exceeded $14 billion.
