Kazakhstan might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about the global artificial intelligence boom, but several large technology companies, including NVIDIA, have already begun to pay attention to this region.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang stated during his first visit to Kazakhstan on Friday that the country, with its energy resources and plans to expand data centers, has the potential to become a major AI computing hub serving Europe.
During a fireside conversation in Astana with Kazakhstani Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev ( Zhaslan Madiyev ), Jensen Huang emphasized the role of that country.
“It will become a hub, a computing hub, a AI factory hub for the entire Europe,” said Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA.
He also emphasized that it is very important for countries to develop their own AI capabilities, stating that nations should have the infrastructure necessary to provide AI services locally, while also adapting this technology to their own languages and cultures.
During this visit, Kazakhstan is seeking to attract billions of dollars in technology investment and positioning itself as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.
Billion-dollar ambitions of Kazakhstan AI
Kazakhstan has listed artificial intelligence as a national priority and declared 2026 as the "Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence" as part of a broader effort to promote the development of the digital economy.
In June this year, the Kazakh government announced a partnership with the US cloud company AI Firebird, planning to invest $10 billion in building AI infrastructure. The goal is to create a computing cluster driven by 100,000 advanced GPU, which includes NVIDIA chips.
NVIDIA stated that the company intends to invest in this enterprise; the enterprise is advancing a AI infrastructure expansion plan of approximately 20 gigawatts, covering Armenia, Kazakhstan, and other markets.
Meanwhile, AI, a video startup headquartered in San Francisco, also has a significant presence in Kazakhstan, with over 300 people working in the engineering and creative teams there.
The co-founder of the company, AI engineer from Kazakhstan, Yerzat Dulat, said exclusively to CNBC: "Forming a team in Kazakhstan was an unexpected bet for many people. Today, we have the support of some of the most influential names in the technology and media fields."
Jensen Huang's first visit to Astana is a perfect opportunity to share this news, as Kazakhstan is becoming the AI hub of Central Asia," said Yerzat Dulat, co-founder of Higgsfield.
Higgsfield reported on Friday that NVIDIA and investment firm TCV have invested in the extended portion of its Series B financing, but the amount was not disclosed. Previously, this AI video startup also completed a $400 million Series B financing in August, with a valuation of $5.4 billion.
Jensen Huang said during a conversation by the stove: "First and foremost, it's the investors who matter, not the company. The founders of Higgsfield are extremely visionary in the work they do."
The core of this initiative is Data Center Valley, which is a planned AI infrastructure hub located in Ekibastuz (Ekibastuz). Currently, it has a power capacity of 300 megawatts available and is planned to be expanded to 1 gigawatt.
Kazakhstan is promoting its competitive electricity prices, vast land reserves, and investment incentives as advantages to attract international data center developers; as the demand for computing power continues to grow, the benefits of this investment are beginning to become apparent.
Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated earlier this month that two supercomputing clusters powered by NVIDIA technology have been launched in the country.
Other international companies have also announced plans to invest in Kazakhstan's digital infrastructure.
According to the country's Ministry of Digital Development, Singapore's GK Hyperscale has also signed an agreement with the Kazakh government to develop two ultra-large-scale data centers, with an expected investment of 1.5 billion US dollars, and a combined IT capacity of 200 megawatts.
The project also includes plans to invest $1.2 billion in the construction of power infrastructure. Construction is initially scheduled to begin in early 2026, with the first data center module expected to go into operation in 2027.
Deepening ties between China and Central Asia
Enterprises' interest in Kazakhstan is growing, and it is not limited to the AI industry alone.
Volkswagen of Germany has accelerated its expansion in Central Asia this year. At the end of June, Volkswagen announced that for the first time, its operations and factories in China led to car exports to another country, this time Uzbekistan.
A few weeks later, this automobile manufacturer announced its entry into Kazakhstan again.
This expansion indicates that international companies are looking for new customers outside of China, while also leveraging the existing manufacturing capabilities of "Made in China" to serve surrounding markets.
In the "Tianjin Declaration" issued at the closing of the SCO Summit in 2025, member states mentioned the potential of platforms such as Kazakhstan's AI Innovation Center.
This year's SCO artificial intelligence event was held earlier this month in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, where representatives from member countries gathered to discuss national AI strategies, regulations, and opportunities for technical cooperation.
