From energy applications of AI to first market entries: the two days – May 4 and 5 – in Almaty confirmed that the region is entering a new phase of technological economic growth.
The second and final day of GITEX AI Kazakhstan 2026, held on April 5, fully met the expectations of the participants and guests of the forum: overcrowded exhibition pavilions, an intensive business program without a single pause, and a sense of high urgency characterized the day. All this vividly demonstrated a crucial trend — artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a critically important national infrastructure.
Over the two days of the forum, the Atakent International Exhibition Center hosted 336 companies and startups, as well as over 100 investors, whose combined portfolio under management exceeds 200 billion US dollars. GITEX AI Kazakhstan has firmly established itself as the largest AI and technology forum in the history of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
KAOUN International — the global organizer of GITEX events — brought together representatives of government structures, business, and the scientific community from more than 60 countries worldwide. The forum was organized with the support of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Astana Hub, and the Almaty city administration.
Global technology companies debut in the Kazakhstan market
The second day of the forum showcased the scale and potential of the exhibition program: leading international and regional technology companies presented next-generation innovative solutions in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning, hyperscale clouds, cybersecurity, fintech, 5G networks, and smart cities. Among the exhibitors were Cisco, Cloudflare, Daikin, Dell, H3C, Hikvision, Huawei, Kazakhtelecom, Lenovo, Presight, QazCode, Redington, Salesforce, and Yandex.
One of the most notable debuts of the forum was the participation of the global developer of collaboration platforms Atlassian. The company not only entered the Kazakhstan market for the first time but also participated in a GITEX event for the first time in its history, choosing Almaty as the launch site for its AI platform System of Work.
The central place in the exposition was occupied by Rovo AI — a collaboration AI tool that can be used both in the private sector and government structures.
Yana Kunakbayeva, head of partner relations in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Atlassian, noted:
“Rovo AI already has over 5 million daily users worldwide. The uniqueness of the platform lies in its functioning as an intelligent layer for all types of teams: from developers and IT services to HR and business departments.
Redington Türkiye and CAC also used the forum as a platform for strategic expansion in the region, presenting its most extensive presence in Central Asia for the first time.
Among its partners are BMC Helix, Cohesity, Dassault Systèmes, Mastercard, Qlik, and Red Hat. For Dassault Systèmes, participation in the forum marked the brand’s first entry into the Central Asian market.
Cloudflare — a global leader in cybersecurity, blocking billions of online threats daily and providing digital protection to millions of organizations, from the largest corporations to government structures — also entered the regional market, where demand for reliable and resilient digital infrastructure is growing especially rapidly.
Kazakhstan was represented at the forum by Kcell — the largest mobile operator in the country and one of the leaders in the implementation of national 5G. Kcell CEO Askar Zhambakin emphasized:
“At Kcell, we view artificial intelligence as a practical tool for improving customer experience and more efficiently managing networks. This becomes particularly important for Private LTE/5G, where businesses require stability and a high level of communication security.
Today, we hold leading positions in Kazakhstan in implementing Private 5G solutions, helping companies undergo digital transformation. For us, participation in GITEX AI Kazakhstan is an excellent opportunity to meet with partners and discuss the development of the digital market in Central Asia.”
Kazakh startups make their mark on the international stage
During the two days of the forum, more than 50 Kazakh startups participated in GITEX for the first time, showcasing the country’s growing innovative potential to the international investment and technology community.
Participants demonstrated a wide range of solutions and development directions. For instance, THRUST is engaged in developing rocket engine technology in Kazakhstan. Prosper Pay is developing a fintech platform for payroll, which already has over 120,000 users and is oriented towards global growth. Meanwhile, SHAI.PRO implements corporate AI solutions in the banking sector, government structures, and the educational sector.
The conference program of the forum was extremely intense and covered the most relevant issues of the AI economy — from hyperscale infrastructure and energy strategies to climate-oriented innovations.
Artificial intelligence for climate, energy, and green data
Eni Kazakhstan Chairman and Managing Director Zeger Hoiting and Siemens Smart Infrastructure Head Vladimir Korol discussed how artificial intelligence has moved from the stage of industrial ambitions to a real operational effect.
According to Hoiting, the use of AI in subsurface analysis allowed Eni to reduce drilling time by 35%, opening up new opportunities for exploration at depths of up to nine kilometers.
“Subsurface analysis is one of the key breakthroughs made possible by modern computing power. Reducing drilling time by 35% means significant savings not only in time but also in emission levels.”
Meanwhile, the advantages of AI are not limited to geological exploration. Hoiting added that in the field of predictive maintenance and operational management, AI systems have reduced downtime to about 1% per year, and the cumulative effect of their use simultaneously enhances financial efficiency and promotes emission reduction.
Vladimir Korol from Siemens emphasized that the main industrial value of artificial intelligence lies in its integration throughout the entire technology lifecycle, achieving measurable environmental effects.
“Thanks to AI, we get measurable data that helps identify shortcomings in real processes before they manifest, without compromising reliability.
Today in energy, we are witnessing how artificial intelligence goes beyond loud slogans and starts to really help decarbonize operations and address climate challenges through millions of data-driven decisions made every day.”
Quantum leap: technological breakthroughs for a new industrial era
Damir Bogdan, Chief Strategy and Alliance Officer at QuantumBasel — the first commercial center of competence in quantum computing and artificial intelligence in Switzerland — drew the audience’s attention to perspectives beyond AI, emphasizing that quantum technologies are not just an addition to artificial intelligence, but a necessity for solving tasks that AI alone cannot handle.
“Tasks are becoming increasingly complex, and no artificial intelligence is capable of solving them all. This is why new technologies are needed to enhance AI capabilities, and quantum computing is one such technology. If you aim for a real innovative breakthrough, you should not limit yourself to investing only in AI. It is important to think about the future now and take the next step to be ready when the technology becomes mainstream.”
Speaking about the global growth of investments in quantum technologies, Bogdan noted that the UK is investing 5 billion dollars, France 3 billion, Japan is increasing its investment from 750 million to 7 billion dollars, and China has brought its investments to 15.5 billion dollars. According to him, the global race for quantum competencies has already begun, and the number of patents in this field is doubling annually.
Supernova challenge: international pitch battle for recognition and awards
The final of the Supernova startup competition brought together fast-growing companies from around the world before a jury composed of representatives of the global investment community. At stake was a prize fund of 30,000 US dollars in the form of non-refundable cash grants, as well as the opportunity to perform at Expand North Star — the largest international startup and investment event, which will take place in December in Dubai.
The winner of the competition was the Kazakh startup IDOCS — an innovative document management automation system integrated into commercial, financial, legal, and HR processes.
The second and third places were taken by the Uzbek fintech startup GetMobi and the Kazakh project AISAAT, offering AI verification of climate data for agriculture.
Additionally, AISAAT received an additional prize from the competition partner — Yandex Cloud credits, and the LUMI by ASPEX project won the right to participate in Expand North Star 2026 in Dubai.
GITEX AI Kazakhstan will return in 2027 — June 8–9
The GITEX AI Kazakhstan forum has concluded, firmly establishing itself as a key platform for shaping the digital future of the region, where policy, capital, and innovation unite to accelerate the real implementation of artificial intelligence. The next meeting will take place on June 8–9, 2027, continuing to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position in the global AI economy.
About GITEX AI Kazakhstan
GITEX AI Central Asia & Caucasus Kazakhstan debuted in Almaty on May 4–5, 2026 — uniting the world’s largest technology network with one of the fastest-growing digital economies on the planet.
The organizer is inD, with the support of the Ministry of AI and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana Hub, and the Almaty City Administration. The forum brought together global corporations, startups, investors, and government representatives to jointly shape the AI future of the region.
Sovereign cloud and supercomputing, fintech, cybersecurity, telecom, venture growth — GITEX AI Kazakhstan is becoming the main platform for large-scale cooperation and real business results in Eurasia.
