Almaty hosts GITEX AI forum as Central Asia draws global tech interest

Almaty is hosting GITEX AI Kazakhstan 2026 two-day event, drawing global tech firms and investors as Central Asia gains attention as a fast developing digital market.  President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the GITEX AI Central Asia & Caucasus exhibition in Almaty on 4 May.

Held on 4 and 5 May under the umbrella of GITEX AI Central Asia & Caucasus 2026, the event marks the first time the platform has expanded into Central Asia. Originally launched more than 40 years ago in Dubai, GITEX has developed into one of the world’s most established technology event networks, typically associated with major global markets.

Its arrival in Almaty signals a shift in focus. Central Asia, long seen as a peripheral market, is increasingly being viewed as a region with growth potential, and the choice of the city reflects that change. Almaty has emerged as a regional hub for business and technology, and is now being used as a base by companies looking to enter neighbouring markets.

The scale of the forum underlines that growing interest. More than 10,000 delegates have gathered at the Atakent exhibition centre, with more than 300 companies and start ups taking part. The event has also attracted more than 150 speakers and more than 100 investors from 28 countries. Investment funds represented at the forum manage assets exceeding $200 billion, giving the discussions a clear commercial focus.

That investor presence is closely linked to recent developments within Kazakhstan itself. Over the past seven years, the country’s technology ecosystem has grown eighteen fold, reaching an estimated value of $26 billion. At the same time, mobile internet penetration across Central Asia has reached around 93%, creating the conditions for the expansion of digital services and artificial intelligence.

These factors are helping position Almaty as an entry point for international companies seeking access to the wider region. Kazakhstan has also set a target of becoming a fully digital state within the next three years, aligning government policy with the type of investment and partnerships discussed at the forum.

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The programme reflects those priorities, covering artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, cyber security, Industry 4.0 and energy systems. More than 150 speakers from more than 60 countries are taking part in discussions that focus on investment, technology and skills, as the region seeks to define its role in the global digital economy.

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