Kazakhstan to create ‘Crypto City', train 1 million citizens in AI
ASTANA : Kazakhstan plans to establish a 'Crypto City', where cryptocurrencies can be used for purchasing goods and services, and to train one million of its citizens in artificial intelligence (AI) over the next five years.
Kazakhstan president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who announced the 'Crypto City' initiative at the Astana International Forum here, said the country is committed to investing in human capital and expanding opportunities for young professionals.
'Our immediate goal is to reduce regional disparities and strengthen the middle class,' he said.
To achieve this, Kazakhstan will boost its capabilities in key sectors such as digital technologies, AI, clean energy, and value-added manufacturing. The country also plans to launch its most powerful supercomputer.
'We are placing great emphasis on AI. Our goal is to become a hub for academia and innovation by welcoming branches of foreign universities and establishing research and development partnerships,' added Tokayev.
Building talent from the ground up
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's digital development, innovation, and aerospace industry minister Zhaslan Madiyev said the government aims to train one million citizens in AI within the next five years.
The AI education programme will be embedded into the national school curriculum, starting with 500,000 schoolchildren and 300,000 university students. Students will be introduced to generative IT, graphics, coding, programming and other AI-related modules from a young age.
'The programme will also include adults who are interested in learning AI. Even those from rural areas will be included, with transport provided to help them attend classes,' Madiyev told reporters.
He added that university students and teachers in Kazakhstan have been learning about blockchain technology since 2022.
According to Madiyev, the government is working to regulate and license cryptocurrency exchanges to facilitate the use of crypto in daily transactions.
'Kazakhstan is exploring how the crypto industry can be applied across various sectors, including through standardised tenders for sales and purchases,' he said.
However, he noted that enhancing cybersecurity will be a key challenge moving forward, with the government actively looking into measures to address potential threats.
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