In the era of rapid technological progress, information technology permeates all spheres of life. IT technologies are a competitive advantage in today’s global market. Kazakhstan, being at the forefront of the digital transition, is dynamically developing its IT sector, making it one of the drivers of its economic growth. The export of IT services has made the country a digital leader in Central Asia and opened up new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, reads an article published by MONTSAME Mongolian National News Agency.
The IT services and products market in Kazakhstan is growing exponentially — by an average of 35% annually for the seventh year in a row. Kazakhstan is among the world leaders in the e-government and fintech development index.
According to the United Nations E-Government Survey: E-Government for the People 2024, Kazakhstan was 24th in the world in terms of e-government development (+4 positions compared to 2022). Ahead of all CIS countries, China, as well as such developed countries as Switzerland, France, and Canada, Kazakhstan is among the countries with a very high e-government development index.
Along with the world leaders in the field of information technology — South Korea, Denmark, and Estonia — Kazakhstan is among the top ten in the OSI index, reflecting the volume and quality of online services.
Kazakhstan also ranks 20th in the Digital Intelligence Index and 36th in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking.
IT export
For Kazakhstan, the development of IT services exports is part of the digital transformation strategy aimed at diversifying the economy.
According to the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, in 2023, IT services exports from Kazakhstan amounted to $529 million.
The IT sector in Kazakhstan is developing thanks to government support and digitalization of public services. The government actively supports the development of new products and infrastructure development.
One of the support measures is the creation of special incubators, zones and programs. Among the largest are the Astana International Financial Center and the Astana Hub technology park. To date, over a thousand IT companies have been registered in the technology park, a third of which have foreign participation.
Another achievement of Kazakhstan’s IT industry is the Digital Bridge forum, which brings together leaders of the international IT community, Kazakhstani and foreign experts in the field of technology, IT companies, startups, and venture investors.
GovTech
The main goal of government technologies is to digitize processes and services to make them easily accessible. In Kazakhstan, digital government services have become an everyday reality.
The flagship of Kazakhstan’s GovTech is the eGov platform, a clear example of how information technology can make the process of obtaining government services easier and faster.
Through eGov.kz, people can get almost all government services — from registering vehicles and making an appointment with a doctor to obtaining certificates of no criminal record and processing social benefits. Kazakhstanis no longer need to stand in long lines and waste time visiting various government agencies.
A significant milestone in the development of GovTech in Kazakhstan was the launch of the eGov Mobile application. Today, every second Kazakhstani uses the application.
In addition, thanks to the implementation of the “Digital Documents” service, citizens of Kazakhstan do not need to carry physical documents with them. For additional convenience, the service has been integrated into popular banking applications.
In July, a new component of the mobile e-government was introduced – the eGov Business application for entrepreneurs. Using it, representatives of small and medium businesses receive the necessary government services directly from their smartphones. Through the application, they can sign documents, register or close a business, obtain licenses and much more.
Kazakhstan’s export of IT services and international projects confirm that the country not only implements advanced digital solutions internally, but also shares them with the world community. The prospects for Kazakhstan’s IT sector look promising: with sustainable growth in the industry and government support at all levels – from startups to large international companies – the country has every chance of becoming one of the international centers of innovation.
