ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for a comprehensive AI-driven transformation of Kazakhstan’s industrial sector, urging the government and businesses to focus on measurable gains in productivity, technological modernization and high-value production.
Chairing the third meeting of the Council for the Development of Artificial Intelligence on Oct. 2, Tokayev said AI was becoming a key factor in global competitiveness, Akorda reported.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with participants of the third meeting of the Council for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Astana. Photo credit: Akorda.
“Competition is going not only for natural resources, capital and markets, but also for the speed of increasing production efficiency,” he said, stressing that AI should become a key instrument for Kazakhstan’s industrial development.
AI in production
Tokayev said industrial production reached nearly 46 trillion tenge (US$102.5 billion) in January-August, while manufacturing grew by 8.4% year-on-year.
He instructed the government and Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund to identify enterprises where key production processes can undergo comprehensive AI-based transformation.
“Enterprises must review the entire production chain and determine where AI can provide the greatest increase in efficiency. The main criterion should be real results,” Tokayev said.
He also called for stronger links between science and industry, saying the Qazaq AI Research University should focus on applied research addressing real production challenges.
Scaling AI solutions
Tokayev called for a mechanism to accelerate the transition from effective industrial AI pilots to commercial implementation.
“Many promising solutions successfully pass the pilot project stage, but then become stuck due to additional approvals, repeated testing, overly complex procurement procedures and regulatory restrictions,” he said.
He also stressed the need for high-quality industrial data and common standards, while protecting commercial secrets and critical information.
‘Washington Model’ for global AI governance
In the final part of the meeting, Tokayev welcomed the voluntary agreement recently signed in Washington by U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders of major technology companies on the safe and responsible development of AI.
“I welcome this very important and timely initiative. It reflects a common understanding that the risks associated with artificial intelligence go beyond national borders and require coordinated action by both states and businesses,” he said.
Tokayev said the agreement could, after expert consideration, serve as a model for international AI governance.
“The ‘Washington Model’ could become the basis for an international treaty under the auspices of the United Nations. Kazakhstan supports the safe and responsible development of artificial intelligence. In this regard, we are ready to act as a platform for constructive international dialogue on these topics,” he said.
He instructed the AI Council to prepare concrete proposals for Kazakhstan’s international initiative, which he said it would present at the G20 Summit in Miami in December.
Tokayev proposed that the next Council meeting focus on AI in transport and logistics, saying its further transformation could increase efficiency and strengthen Kazakhstan’s transit potential.
