Kazakhstan Plans to Establish a World-Class Artificial Intelligence Cluster

During the 38th Plenary Session of the Foreign Investors' Council under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Citi, and Freedom Holding Corp. to jointly develop a large-scale AI cluster.

Commenting on the significance of the partnership, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhaslan Madiyev emphasized that Kazakhstan is transitioning to a new type of economy:

"By advancing cutting-edge technologies, we are building the foundation for Kazakhstan's digital sovereignty. Our strategic framework - from the Law on Artificial Intelligence to the Digital Qazaqstan Strategy through 2029 - defines our path toward a data-driven economy. By combining our capabilities with the expertise of global leaders such as Citi, we are introducing the most advanced approaches to financing and risk management. Together, we are creating an environment where high-performance computing and artificial intelligence become accessible resources for every Kazakhstani innovator, researcher, and business. Kazakhstan is becoming a country where the technologies of the future - from tokenized assets to world-class computing clusters - operate transparently, securely, and for the benefit of all citizens, setting new standards for quality of life."

Speaking on behalf of Citi, Global Head of Public Sector Stephanie von Friedeburg highlighted the long-term importance of the initiative:

"This Memorandum reflects our shared commitment to supporting Kazakhstan's ambitious digital transformation agenda and the development of advanced artificial intelligence infrastructure. Through this partnership, we aim to explore innovative financing approaches that can support the creation of a world-class AI cluster and computing capacity capable of serving government institutions, businesses, and researchers. We are ready to leverage our global expertise and access to international capital markets to strengthen Kazakhstan's position."

Freedom Holding Corp. Chief Executive Officer Timur Turlov also reaffirmed the company's commitment to implementing the initiative:

"Today's event represents the practical implementation of the large-scale policy pursued by the President of our country in the fields of digitalization and artificial intelligence. The course toward technological sovereignty and transforming Kazakhstan into a digital nation has been set at the highest level, and the memorandum we are signing today is a concrete step in that direction. Freedom Holding Corp. has substantial experience working with leading global technology companies, including NVIDIA and OpenAI, and we intend to apply this expertise to ensure the successful implementation of the project."

The key objective of the partnership is to establish an artificial intelligence cluster powered by advanced GPU technologies, along with the construction of a state-of-the-art data center that will serve as a computing hub for the public sector, scientific research, and businesses.

In addition, the agreement provides for the development of a digital assets ecosystem, further strengthening Kazakhstan's position in the global financial system.

The parties also expressed their commitment to expanding cooperation in digital banking and cross-border payments through the implementation of blockchain-based solutions that will make financial services more accessible, efficient, and transparent for all market participants.