Qatar, Kazakhstan bolster ties in tech, AI and innovation

Doha, Qatar - Qatar and Kazakhstan are deepening their strategic alliance by leveraging investment, digital innovation, and technological expertise to explore fresh prospects in artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, Mr. Zhaslan Madiyev, emphasized during an interview with *The Peninsula* at MWC26 Doha that the combined strengths of Qatar's investment capabilities and Kazakhstan's burgeoning digital ecosystem present significant opportunities for advancing cooperation in the digital realm.

The two nations have formally established a strategic partnership and are actively exploring collaborative projects in telecommunications and digital technologies. This partnership is further fortified by their shared participation in Pax Silica, an initiative dedicated to fostering trusted technology supply chains for the AI economy, which includes areas like AI, data centers, energy, critical minerals, research, and talent development.

Hosting MWC26 Doha solidifies Qatar's position as a hub for international discussions between governments, regulators, telecommunications firms, and technology businesses. This event coincided with the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, where global digital policy intersected with the practical implementation of technology.

Kazakhstan, for its part, sees MWC26 as a chance to build upon existing dialogues with Qatar. A cooperation memorandum signed by their respective digital development ministries in February 2024 underscores their commitment to digital infrastructure, innovation, and telecommunications. MWC26 Doha can catalyze specific projects and further cement the ties between businesses in both countries.

Madiyev outlined several promising domains for future cooperation, including AI, data centers, telecommunications, cybersecurity, digital public services, and skills development. These initiatives could involve knowledge sharing, joint investments, and collaborative projects between entities in both nations. Kazakhstan's digitalization and AI plans, as outlined in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's State of the Nation Address, align closely with these goals, emphasizing accelerated implementation of the Digital Qazaqstan strategy and the establishment of robust digital infrastructure.

Collaborating through international platforms like Pax Silica allows Kazakhstan and Qatar to discuss and implement trusted technology supply chains and AI infrastructure. AI has the potential to boost productivity across various sectors, including energy, industry, agriculture, logistics, and healthcare, while also enhancing public services. To fully realize this potential, Kazakhstan and Qatar must pool their computing resources, skilled professionals, and region-specific solutions.