What should Kazakhstan’s IT industry look like by 2029, and what steps must be taken today to enable local technology companies to compete successfully in global markets? These questions were at the heart of an expert roundtable that brought together leading IT entrepreneurs, startup founders, technology company executives, industry experts, and representatives of the education sector.
The discussion was based on the findings of a survey conducted among 30 leading representatives of Kazakhstan’s IT industry, providing valuable insights into the sector’s priorities and future challenges.
During the roundtable, participants highlighted the significant progress of Kazakhstan’s technology ecosystem, pointing to the rapid development of GovTech and FinTech, a growing startup ecosystem, and the country’s strong human capital as key competitive advantages.
At the same time, experts identified several strategic priorities that require coordinated action from government, business, and the professional community. These include strengthening the export potential of Kazakhstani technology companies, fostering fair market competition, modernising IT education, expanding access to venture capital, and creating favourable conditions for scaling innovative technology businesses internationally.
The discussion also resulted in a shared vision around five strategic priorities for the industry’s future development:
- expanding Kazakhstani IT companies into global markets;
- accelerating the development of AI, DeepTech, and B2B SaaS solutions;
- preparing a new generation of highly qualified professionals;
- implementing a “first customer” programme and supporting innovative pilot projects;
- building a competitive and sustainable market environment.
Beyond identifying existing challenges, the roundtable focused on developing practical recommendations and actionable mechanisms that could contribute to Kazakhstan’s future IT development strategy.
Constructive dialogue between government, business, academia, and industry experts remains essential for creating effective policies that strengthen the country’s technological ecosystem and enhance its global competitiveness.