Kazakhstan signs $10 billion AI deals, launches Data Center

Kazakhstan has signed a series of agreements with U.S. technology firms to develop a major artificial intelligence infrastructure hub, marking a significant step in its national strategy to become a regional digital leader. The deals, valued at up to $10 billion, were formalized on June 15 and involve chipmaker Nvidia and the cloud company Firebird.ai.

The centerpiece is the "Data Center Valley" project, to be located near the northern city of Ekibastuz. The first phase, with an investment of $5 billion, will involve constructing a 125-megawatt data center expected to begin commercial operations in 2027. A second phase, with additional investments of roughly $5 billion, is planned but its timing remains undetermined. Officials said the project will create a large-scale computing cluster utilizing 100,000 of Nvidia's latest-generation GPUs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev said the initiative is a key platform for Kazakhstan's new AI-driven economy. He estimated the project would generate at least $3 billion in annual export revenue, create new jobs, and attract global technology companies to strengthen...