Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Kazakhstan for the first time on Friday, underscoring the country's potential as a significant player in the global artificial intelligence landscape. During a fireside chat in Astana with Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan's deputy prime minister and minister of artificial intelligence and digital development, Huang emphasized Kazakhstan's potential to become a major AI computing hub for Europe, thanks to its energy resources and plans to expand data center capacity.
Huang highlighted the importance of countries developing their own AI capabilities, stressing the need for nations to have the infrastructure to deliver AI services domestically while adapting the technology to their own languages and cultures. His visit aligns with Kazakhstan's ambitions to attract billions of dollars in technology investment and establish itself as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.
Kazakhstan's AI Ambitions
Kazakhstan has made AI a national priority, with plans to enhance its digital economy. In June, the government announced a $10 billion AI infrastructure investment in partnership with U. S.-based AI cloud company Firebird. This initiative aims to build a computing cluster powered by 100,000 advanced GPUs, including Nvidia chips. Nvidia intends to invest in the company, which is pursuing an approximately 2-gigawatt AI infrastructure expansion across Armenia, Kazakhstan, and other markets.
San Francisco-based AI video startup Higgsfield has also established a significant presence in Kazakhstan, employing over 300 people in its engineering and creative teams. Co-founder Yerzat Dulat, a Kazakhstani AI engineer, noted that building a team in Kazakhstan was initially an unexpected move. However, the company is now backed by influential names in technology and media. Higgsfield said that Nvidia and investment firm TCV had invested in an extension of its Series B funding round, though the amount was not disclosed. Previously, the company raised $400 million in a Series B funding round, reaching a $5.4 billion valuation in August.
Central to Kazakhstan's AI initiative is the planned Data Center Valley in Ekibastuz, which currently has a power capacity of 300 megawatts, with plans to expand to 1 gigawatt. Kazakhstan is promoting its competitive electricity costs, vast land reserves, and investment incentives to attract international data center developers. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently announced the launch of two supercomputing clusters powered by Nvidia technologies in the country.
Other international companies are also eyeing Kazakhstan's digital infrastructure. Singapore-based GK Hyperscale has signed an agreement with the government to develop two hyperscale data centers, with a projected investment of $1.5 billion and a combined IT capacity of 200 megawatts. The project includes a planned $1.2 billion investment in power infrastructure, with construction set to begin in early 2026 and the first data center module expected to be operational by 2027.
Beyond the AI sector, Kazakhstan's appeal extends to other industries. Germany's Volkswagen has expanded its presence in Central Asia, using its China-based operations to export vehicles to Uzbekistan. This move reflects a broader trend of international companies seeking new markets beyond China while leveraging existing manufacturing capabilities.
The growing interest in Kazakhstan is also evident in regional cooperation initiatives. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) highlighted the potential of platforms like an AI innovation center in Kazakhstan during its 2025 summit. This year's SCO event on artificial intelligence, held in Astana, brought together representatives from member states to discuss national AI strategies, regulation, and opportunities for technological cooperation.
