On 2 October, Astana hosted the panel session“Digital Qazaqstan 2029: From Strategy to Economic and Government Transformation”as part of the international AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum. Representatives of government agencies, businesses and international consulting firms discussed the adoption of artificial intelligence, the development of digital services and the indicators that will be used to assess the results of these changes.
Digital Qazaqstan is a national strategy for digitalisation and AI adoption through 2029. The strategy aims to reduce the time required to deliver public services and social support by at least 50%, double exports of IT services and digital solutions, halve the number of inspections of compliant businesses, and introduce digital twins at no fewer than 60% of large industrial enterprises.
The session was moderated byAliya Ospanova, Director General of the Digital Government Support Centre. The discussion focused on practical questions: what changes citizens and businesses should experience, how to ensure coordination between government agencies, and what conditions are needed to achieve the strategy’s goals.
“Digital transformation should be measured by the outcomes it delivers for people, government and the economy, rather than by the number of technologies introduced. This principle should guide the further implementation of Digital Qazaqstan,” Aliya Ospanovaemphasised.
Aray Urazova, Deputy Director General of the Digital Government Support Centre, presented the strategy’s structure, comprising 20 initiatives across three pillars. For citizens, the focus is on services triggered by life events without the need to submit separate applications, alongside more targeted social support. For businesses, priorities include AI adoption in production processes and a service-based approach to tax administration. For government, the strategy provides for a unified data architecture, paperless interagency collaboration and information security.
Yerbol Ospanov, Vice Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan, outlined the priorities for healthcare digitalisation: a unified digital patient profile, personalised services providing access to medical records and preventive care reminders, AI adoption, and the expansion of telemedicine, including in school healthcare and remote regions.
By 2028, at least 95% of healthcare organisations are expected to be integrated into a unified digital ecosystem, while the share of clinical decisions supported by AI is targeted to reach at least 80%. These measures are intended to improve the quality of care, reduce doctors’ workloads and enable more efficient use of healthcare resources.
Asset Turyssov, Vice Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, presented digitalisation and AI initiatives supporting the economy and businesses. The strategy envisages a transition to “invisible” tax administration and a “tax as a service” model, reducing the administrative burden on compliant businesses and automating tax procedures.
Mikhail Volkov, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, shared international experience in digital transformation, focusing on approaches to technology adoption that drive productivity growth in key sectors and opportunities to adapt global practices to Kazakhstan’s priorities.
Nariman Mukushev, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan JSC, discussed digitalisation and AI adoption in banking, contributing practical insights from the financial sector and its interaction with government platforms.
Concluding the session, participants highlighted that the practical value of digital projects should be reflected in more convenient services, time and resource savings, higher productivity and better decision-making.
About the Forum
AI & Digital Bridge 2026 is organised by the Astana Hub International Innovation Cluster in cooperation with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Astana Akimat.
AI & Digital Bridge 2026 is made possible through the support of the forum’s partners and sponsors. All costs associated with the forum are covered by sponsorship funding.
Gold Partners - Freedom Bank, Kaspi Bank, Samruk-Kazyna JSC and Kazakhtelecom JSC. Silver Partner - Halyk Bank. Business Partner - Beeline Kazakhstan. Bronze Partner - Yandex Qazaqstan. Telecommunications Partner - Freedom Telecom Operations LLP. Technology Partner - Transtelecom JSC. Official Airline Partner - Air Astana.
