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.
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.
A 24-year-old man who killed six people in Poland’s central city of Krakow had advanced military-style shooting skills, according to a s...
Monday marks the second of two days of national mourning in Poland as police bolstered security after six people were killed in a mass sh...
Global temperatures are projected to rise by up to 2.8°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100 under current climate policies, according to a Uni...
Poland has declared two days of national mourning after a gunman opened fire in Kraków's historic main square. Investigators are examining possible far-right influences and the discovery of three bodies at the suspect's home.
Monday marks the second of two days of national mourning in Poland as police bolstered security after six people were killed in a mass shooting in Kraków.
Russian forces launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv early on Saturday, 7 November, injuring two people and damaging residential buildings, just three days before U.S.-led peace talks with Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-aligned group towards Riyadh on Sunday (8 November), after loud booms were heard in the Saudi capital. The Aramco building was damaged by falling debris.
New Zealand’s ruling centre-right National Party has taken a narrow lead over the opposition Labour Party in Saturday’s general election, with the country’s current three-party coalition projected to retain power.
Environmental organisations worldwide are increasingly using artificial intelligence to monitor wildfires, protect endangered species and analyse climate data, even as the technology's rising energy and water consumption raises concerns about its environmental impact.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would support states seeking to generate wealth through artificial intelligence, pledging to work with them as Democrats outlined plans to address the technology following Tuesday’s elections, which unsettled markets.
Dubai will host GITEX Global 2026 from 7 to 11 December, bringing together global technology leaders, governments and investors as surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) puts pressure on energy supplies, computing capacity and digital infrastructure.
Saudi Aramco's acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in artificial intelligence (AI) company HUMAIN is putting a spotlight on a wider investment question: why are some of the world's biggest energy companies moving deeper into AI, and what do they expect to gain?
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment