Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov discussed collaboration in the areas of digitalization, IT education, and the development of Kazakhstan's technological ecosystem with Arkadiy Dobkin, Chairman of the Board, CEO, and President of one of the largest American technology companies, EPAM Systems, as reported by primeminister.kz.
The meeting addressed current trends in the global technology market and the prospects for creating new joint business solutions and research initiatives, including the establishment of an artificial intelligence laboratory at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence.
EPAM Systems is a global leader in software development and consulting. Currently, EPAM operates in over 17 cities across Kazakhstan and employs around 1,000 staff, with services worth more than $40 million exported in 2024 as part of its participation in Astana Hub.
Regarding the development of IT education, both parties emphasized the significance of the EPAM Kazakhstan training center, which has educated over 5,000 specialists. Under the Tech Orda program, the company has trained more than 700 students in key IT skills, including Java, Python, and Data Engineering. This year, an additional 300 students have been selected for training.
“President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set a strategic goal. Kazakhstan must become a territory of total digitalization and accelerated development of artificial intelligence. We are actively working in this direction. Over the past five years, the volume of IT services exports has increased from $30 million to $600 million. However, this is not enough; we have significant potential. Kazakh specialists are talented and competitive. Collaborating with global giants will enhance our efficiency and ensure rapid development,” emphasized Olzhas Bektenov.
Arkadiy Dobkin highlighted the favorable investment climate in Kazakhstan and presented several proposals for further cooperation in digitalization and the implementation of new technologies in the real economy sector.
Following the meeting, the Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry was tasked with enhancing project support and ensuring the necessary assistance.