Kazakhstan to Host ITU Acceleration Centre as It Expands Regional Digital Ambitions

Kazakhstan and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have agreed to establish an ITU Acceleration Centre in Kazakhstan to promote artificial intelligence, GovTech, and digital skills across Central Asia.

The agreement was reached during a meeting in Geneva between Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Zhaslan Madiyev, and ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

The ITU, a specialized agency of the United Nations founded in 1865, develops global telecommunications standards, coordinates radio-frequency spectrum use, and promotes cooperation in information and communication technologies. It has 193 member states.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the new center will serve as a regional hub for digital transformation. Its priorities will include building artificial intelligence expertise, strengthening digital skills, supporting GovTech adoption, and helping narrow the digital divide across Central Asia.

“We are pleased that our cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union is producing concrete practical results. We see this center as an important platform for digital innovation, AI skills development, capacity building, and regional cooperation,” Madiyev said.

During the meeting, Madiyev was also named one of the founding members of the ITU’s AI for Good Global Commission. AI for Good, launched by the ITU in 2017, promotes the use of artificial intelligence to address social and economic challenges.

The agreement comes as Kazakhstan continues to expand its digital infrastructure and position itself as a regional technology hub. The government has launched a series of initiatives aimed at attracting international investment in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data infrastructure. Earlier, The Times of Central Asia reported that SuperX was considering building a 1-gigawatt AI data center in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan has also joined OpenAI’s “Education for Countries” initiative, which supports the integration of artificial intelligence into national education systems. In addition, the government has established an AI Fund, backed by the National Bank of Kazakhstan, to finance strategic digital projects, research, and AI education programs.

The center adds another international component to Kazakhstan’s digital development strategy and supports Astana’s effort to position the country as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, GovTech, and digital skills.

Dmitry Pokidaev is a journalist based in Astana, Kazakhstan, with experience at some of the country's top media outlets. Before his career in journalism, Pokidaev worked as an academic, teaching Russian language and literature.