For the first time in Astana, the world's largest tech and startup event, GITEX, will take place.

The first GITEX Central Asia & Caucasus x Ai Everything Kazakhstan will take place from June 2 to 4, 2026, in Astana. The organizer is the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the support of Astana Hub.

The GITEX Central Asia & Caucasus x Ai Everything Kazakhstan forum will bring together leaders in technology fields, including data center architects, AI specialists, cybersecurity experts, and FinTech professionals. Participants will gain direct access to a global community of developers, investors, policymakers, and corporations—from ideas to pilots and real deals.

Central Asia and the Caucasus are becoming one of the fastest-developing digital regions in the world. According to the World Bank forecast, the combined GDP of the region will grow by 4.7% in 2025–2026. Venture investments reached $95 million last year, and the IT services market is expected to grow to $5.6 billion by 2029, according to Statista. Countries in the region are actively developing digital talent and automating key industries—from government services to finance and energy. All this lays the foundation for large-scale innovations.

At the center of these processes is Kazakhstan. The country hosts the largest data hypercenter in the region, has digitized 90% of government services, and launched flagship international projects, including the artificial intelligence center alem.ai. It is in this country that GITEX Central Asia & Caucasus will take place for the first time—a local edition of the world's largest tech forum, which was announced on the first day of GITEX EUROPE in Berlin.

The organizer of the exhibition is KAOUN International, with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Astana Hub. GITEX Central Asia & Caucasus x Ai Everything Kazakhstan will bring together key players in AI, data centers, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, FinTech, startups, and deep technologies. Kazakhstan will become the ninth node in the global GITEX network, which already includes Berlin, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Vietnam.

The event strengthens investment and technological ties between the UAE and Central Asia. The announcement ceremony was attended by the UAE Minister of State for Investment, Mohammed Alhaoui, representatives of the Kazakh ministry, and Astana Hub.

GITEX will strengthen the technological corridor between Astana and Abu Dhabi. In 2024, the parties signed a strategic agreement on AI data center projects. Additionally, Presight from Abu Dhabi opened its first office in Central Asia to develop AI solutions in Kazakhstan. All this is accompanied by negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between the UAE and the EAEU.

Source: gitex-europe