The AI Gold Rush — Why Smart Investors Are Looking to Central Asia

By Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The AI Gold Rush

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a technological breakthrough; it is the most valuable economic asset of the modern era. With projections suggesting AI could add $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030—surpassing the GDPs of most nations—the race to harness its power is intensifying. Yet, a new divide has arisen: 80% of AI investment is concentrated in just a few countries, and many key markets remain underutilized, undervalued, and untapped for AI-driven growth. This is a missed opportunity—not just for emerging economies seeking to leverage the technology's transformative potential, but for investors looking for first-mover advantage in the next AI frontier.

In recent years, the global AI discourse has centered around technological powerhouses like the United States and China—where companies like OpenAI and DeepSeek continue to push the boundaries of AI capability. However, the AI revolution is not the exclusive domain of these geopolitical giants, and a new wave of ascending powers is seizing the moment to build AI-powered economies that offer not just strong returns and access to new markets but a direct path to long-term prosperity and competitiveness in the digital age.

AI Needs a New Investment Hub — Kazakhstan Is Ready

As the country's Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace, I am proud to say that Kazakhstan is on this very trajectory. We are currently developing Central Asia's first AI supercomputing cluster, ensuring that AI companies operating in Kazakhstan have the computing power to train and deploy advanced models locally. Meanwhile, our KazLLM and AlemLLM language models are enabling AI-driven innovation across industries, from fintech to digital governance, with full linguistic and cultural adaptation.

We are backing this commitment to innovation and local empowerment with a $4 billion AI investment pipeline, prioritizing venture-backed AI startups, government partnerships, and cross-border tech collaborations. My experience—having led Kazakhstan's largest public-private investment projects, managed sovereign wealth funds, and spearheaded digital asset policies—has reinforced one key insight: the AI-driven economy will be built where capital meets capability.

From Regulation to Education — How Kazakhstan Is Fostering AI Capability

AI isn't just about the technology itself—it's about how governments and societies adapt to support AI-driven economies. Here in Kazakhstan, we are actively reshaping digital governance, leveraging banking, investment, crypto, blockchain, and Web3 strategies to make our regulatory environment more agile, investment-friendly, and adaptable to emerging tech industries. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a special economic zone operating under English common law, has played a central role in this effort, providing AI and fintech companies with tax benefits, simplified business registration, and direct access to Central Asia's rapidly growing digital economy.

While investment from abroad is critical to supporting this growing economy and expanding Kazakhstan's AI capacity, talent development is what anchors our transformation. The government has announced plans to train one million citizens in AI skills by 2029, thus bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and industry needs. Moreover, the National AI Platform, which aggregates data from 90 government systems, serves as both a training ground and a testing lab for models in healthcare, energy, and urban planning. These initiatives recognize a fundamental truth: AI's economic impact hinges not on algorithms alone, but on the humans who design, deploy, and govern them.

Examples from the Gulf: Pioneers of AI Transformation

As emerging economies like Kazakhstan seek to leverage AI's groundbreaking impact, the Gulf region offers a compelling model of strategic investment and innovation. The UAE has become a global innovation hub, with Abu Dhabi's $100 billion MGX fund advancing next-generation infrastructure and strategic partnerships with firms like BlackRock and Microsoft. Saudi Arabia's Project Transcendence is reshaping industries through Arabic-language AI models that optimize energy grids and healthcare systems, while Qatar's AI-driven government services—streamlined during the World Cup's historic infrastructure demands—demonstrate how public-sector adoption can redefine efficiency. These nations are not merely adopting AI; they are exporting frameworks, from NEOM's smart city blueprints to cross-border funds targeting the world's most disruptive startups.

Their success underscores the value of aligning technical ambition with regional needs. The UAE and Saudi Arabia's investments in sovereign AI funds and talent incubators have elevated the region's role in shaping AI's future. Similarly, Kazakhstan's $4 billion AI pipeline and hyper-local models like KazLLM aim to position Central Asia as a solutions exporter for emerging markets. Just as Gulf nations leverage AI to diversify beyond hydrocarbons, Kazakhstan's focus on agriculture, energy, and cross-border collaboration proves that domestic strengths, when paired with strategic vision, can redefine a nation's economic trajectory—turning untapped potential into leadership in the AI-driven era.

Astana International Forum: Where AI Meets Investment

These transformations are not built in isolation—they thrive on strategic partnerships, investment synergies, and collaborative innovation.

That's why Kazakhstan is hosting the Astana International Forum (AIF) on
May 29–30 under the theme "Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future,"—a global platform where investors, policymakers, and tech leaders can engage in high-impact discussions, explore investment-ready AI projects, and connect with Kazakhstan's emerging AI ecosystem. For those looking to expand their AI portfolio, AIF is the meeting point of capital, technology, and policy innovation.

Kazakhstan's AI strategy is not just about national progress—it is about building an interconnected digital economy where investment, technology, and policy align for mutual benefit. As AI reshapes global markets, the real opportunities lie in partnerships that bridge regions and industries. The Astana International Forum provides the ideal platform for serious investors, innovators, and policymakers to explore AI's next frontier—one that Kazakhstan is well-positioned to lead.