Within the framework of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos 2026, the Kazakhstan delegation conducted an extensive series of meetings with technology companies, international organizations, financial institutions, and state partners. The agenda covered practical areas of digital transformation: AI and GovTech, sovereign computing infrastructure and data centres, telecommunications and satellite communications, fintech, cybersecurity, AI education, and the implementation of technologies in real sectors of the economy, including healthcare and industry.

Kazakhstan was represented at the forum by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhaslan Madiyev, and the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Assel Zhanassova. On the sidelines of the forum, they also participated in specialised discussions on digital governance, artificial intelligence development, infrastructure, and data protection.

During the session “Frontiers of Digital Governance: From DPI to Next-Gen GovTech,” featuring digitalisation ministers from various countries, Zhaslan Madiyev presented Kazakhstan's approach to transitioning from fragmented digital services to a systemic digital state model, where DPI serves as the foundational layer for data integration, sustainable processes, and citizen trust. Issues regarding the systemic implementation of AI in the country and partnership prospects were also discussed during the Google Roundtable on AI and Development, involving representatives from Big Tech companies and leading global research institutes. Kazakhstan presented an approach based on a unified digital stack, data integration through Smart Data Ukimet, the "once-only" principle for citizens and businesses, and the use of reusable AI agents in a protected environment. Special emphasis was placed on developing a sovereign computing base, including the national supercomputer Alem.Cloud, as the foundation for scaling AI in government, science, and business.

The program primarily focused on the themes of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. The main focus of the meetings was on key elements of the AI ecosystem, including computing and cloud infrastructure, AI model development, the applied level of solution implementation, and the development of human capital in the field of artificial intelligence.

At a meeting with Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, the Kazakhstan side presented the country's current progress in the development of AI and digital technologies. It was noted that Kazakhstan is among the first states to join the OpenAI Education for Countries program, aimed at integrating AI into national educational systems. Additionally, during the session “OpenAI - AI Benefits at Scale,” strategies for implementing AI technologies at a country level to maximize their socio-economic impact were discussed. The parties identified mutually beneficial areas of cooperation and agreed to proceed to their practical implementation, including educational programs and infrastructure initiatives in computing and data centers, such as the development of Data Center Valley projects in Kazakhstan.

During a conversation with the President and CEO of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang, Zhaslan Madiyev noted the successful development of cooperation with NVIDIA and the partnership's contribution to the launch of the first supercomputer in Central Asia on Kazakhstan's territory. In turn, Jensen Huang highly praised the pace of AI development in Kazakhstan and confirmed the company's interest in further expanding collaboration.

A meeting was held with Mansoor Al Mansoori, Chairman of G42 International, and Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight. The parties reviewed current initiatives and determined further directions for cooperation: the development of smart cities, data centres, and infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan, where the creation of an AI hub was identified as a priority. The Kazakhstan side emphasised the country's high potential for implementing AI initiatives and hosting data center capacities, including the readiness to offer conditions within a special (free) economic zone for investors, as well as infrastructural advantages — including the reduction of data transmission latency to approximately 85 ms, taking into account the construction of the Trans-Caspian fibre-optic line.

In negotiations with DeepLearning.AI, involving Andrew Ng, co-founder of DeepLearning.AI and Coursera and professor at Stanford University, and Kirsty Tan, co-managing partner of AI Aspire and managing partner of DeepLearning.AI, the Kazakhstan side discussed the development of the AI Nation concept and the scaling of AI training. Kazakhstan's successful experience in mass online training via Coursera was specifically noted. Following the meeting, two practical directions for further work were identified: a national AI training program (for public sector leaders, business, and the general population) and the development of the AI University project.

Particular attention was paid to data preparation issues during a meeting with the leadership of Scale AI as part of the “The Future of Generative AI” session. The parties discussed the creation of data infrastructure for national AI models and the application of RLHF (reinforcement learning from human feedback) methods to adapt AI to the needs of Kazakhstan's economy.

Sectoral implementations of AI in economic industries were discussed as a separate area. With representatives of Royal Philips, led by Jan-Willem Scheijgrond, Vice President for Global Government Affairs, areas of cooperation in healthcare and digital technologies were discussed. The parties considered the implementation of AI solutions for diagnostics, treatment, and patient route management, as well as the use of national IT solutions and digital platforms. Mutual interest in developing cooperation was confirmed, and further steps for partnership development were determined.

During a meeting with Robyn Scott, co-founder and CEO of the Apolitical platform, prospects for cooperation in developing managerial and expert competencies in AI governance were discussed. Apolitical is a global educational platform and professional network for civil servants and experts. Following the negotiations, the parties confirmed their interest in launching joint programs to develop AI governance practices, including applied solutions for digital transformation management teams. It was separately noted that Zhaslan Madiyev was included in the Government AI 100 list published by Apolitical, which features 100 civil servants and leaders exerting a significant influence on the formation and implementation of AI policy in government institutions worldwide.

At the “Building AI for the Long Term” session, with the participation of leadership from OpenAI, The Information, CoreWeave, and BlackRock, issues regarding the long-term development of computing power, the creation of AI systems, and investments in long-term AI development were discussed.

Next, a series of meetings on the development of financial services and the regulation of digital assets took place. At a meeting with Martin Gilbert, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Revolut—the most digital bank in the world—the possibilities of the company entering the Kazakhstan market were discussed. As a first step, the parties are considering signing a memorandum, followed by a transition to the development of regulatory and organizational procedures.

In a dialogue with Tether's Business Development Director Benjamin Hubbel, the parties reviewed global trends in digital assets and exchanged approaches to regulating the issuance of stablecoins pegged to national currencies, including the establishment of a regulatory process for Kazakhstan. Additionally, infrastructure conditions for digital projects were discussed, such as Data Center Valley (accessible energy, low latency, Trans-Caspian fiber-optic lines, legislative support) and the Alatau City initiative, which provides for the possibility of transactions using cryptocurrency instruments.

The following series of meetings concerned telecommunications, telecom infrastructure, and sovereign communication solutions. At a meeting with John Gedmark, CEO of Astranis, the Astranis Space projects and possible formats for international cooperation in satellite communications were discussed. A special emphasis was placed on the development of secure application scenarios and maintaining a sovereign solution contour for state structures and critical infrastructure.

Within the working program on the sidelines of the forum, negotiations were also held with the head of GSMA, Vivek Badrinath, and the CEO of SAP, Christian Klein. The parties discussed key trends in the telecommunications industry, digital business transformation, and technology integration, as well as practical cooperation formats between telecom operators and corporate clients. Special attention was paid to the impact of SAP solutions on economic development and the implementation of ERP systems and digitalization in infrastructure projects.

A separate block was dedicated to cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructure. With Dream Security (with co-founder and president Sebastian Kurz and co-founder and CEO Shalev Hulio), prospects for expanding cooperation in AI cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection were discussed. The parties agreed to consider holding a joint expert workshop with the company's specialists and relevant departments of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and also discussed the possibility of launching R&D collaboration in Kazakhstan based on the model of Dream Security’s international research initiatives.

Another section of the program was devoted to interaction with international organizations and government representatives within the international digital agenda. In a meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the Kazakhstan side discussed the organization's priorities and further interaction on the international digital agenda. Kazakhstan confirmed its interest in continued active participation in the organization and the implementation of specific initiatives. Initiatives to develop a regional office for AI and cybersecurity were also considered, alongside Kazakhstan's participation in the ITU’s AI for Good Summit, whose key mission is to identify and promote innovative AI applications to solve global challenges.

During a meeting with Maroun Kairouz, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum (WEF), possible areas of cooperation with the WEF were discussed. Special attention was paid to the global level of events held in Kazakhstan, as well as prospects for interaction within AI and Digital Bridge initiatives.

On the sidelines of the forum, a meeting was also held with the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the State of Qatar, Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Mannai, where bilateral cooperation in the digital sphere, the exchange of digital transformation practices, and trends in AI and the role of energy in AI infrastructure development were discussed.

With the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the conditions for developing data centers and digital infrastructure were discussed, including Data Center Valley, approaches to data embassies, and smart city directions, with continued work at the team level.

In parallel, Assel Zhanassova held a separate series of meetings regarding infrastructure, financing, and logistics (Middle Corridor). As the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Assel Zhanassova conducted meetings with representatives of leading international corporations and financial institutions. The negotiations focused on the development of transport and logistics infrastructure, attracting international financing, and expanding transit cooperation, including the Middle Corridor.

With Gina F. Adams, FedEx Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs, prospects for forming a regional logistics hub in Kazakhstan and strengthening the country's role in global supply chains, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, were discussed. With Stephanie von Friedeburg, Head of Global Public Sector Banking, possibilities for financing new projects, including the modernization of port infrastructure, railway networks, and logistics hubs, were reviewed. With Nadia Calviño, President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), prospects for providing preferential financing for the construction and modernization of roads and the implementation of major infrastructure projects within the logic of Middle Corridor development were discussed.

With Sam Chaudhary, founder and CEO of ClassDojo, the possibility of launching pilot projects in Kazakhstan's preschool education system with subsequent scaling was considered. In negotiations with Jared Cohen, President of Global Affairs and Co-Head of the Goldman Sachs Global Institute, the parties reviewed the status of current interaction and confirmed interest in further developing the strategic partnership. With representatives of the Chancery of the President of the Republic of Latvia, issues regarding the simplification of entry permit procedures for drivers from Kazakhstan and practical aspects of transit cooperation were discussed.

Following the participation in the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, the Kazakhstan delegation demonstrated the active development of international cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, GovTech, infrastructure, and cybersecurity, as well as in financing and transport-logistics projects. During the forum, Kazakhstan strengthened interaction with leading technology companies, international organizations, and financial institutions, presented its own approaches to developing the AI ecosystem and the digital state, confirmed readiness to implement innovative solutions and scale projects in education, healthcare, industry, and critical infrastructure, and identified the country as a strategic partner for investment and international initiatives in the digital economy and sustainable infrastructure.