BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 21. Deputy Prime
Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev and Deputy Chairman of the
Management Board of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Tigran
Sargsyan discussed digitalization of key sectors of Kazakhstan’s
economy at a meeting in Astana, according to the EDB press
service.
“The sides discussed promising areas of cooperation within the
EDB Digital Initiatives Fund, as well as the digitalization of key
sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy,” the bank said in a statement.
One of the central issues of the meeting was the digitalization
of housing and utilities. Bozumbayev noted the importance and
relevance of the work being carried out in Kazakhstan to modernize
the utilities sector. The implementation of relevant initiatives is
being carried out within the framework of the National Project
“Modernization of the Utilities and Energy Sectors” of
Kazakhstan.
Within the framework of cooperation with the EDB Digital
Initiatives Fund, funds have already been allocated in 2026 to
create the National Platform for Modernization of the Energy and
Utilities Sectors “Smart Turmys.” The platform is intended to
become a single center for data collection, accounting and
analysis, as well as a tool to improve the efficiency of sector
management.
Particular attention at the meeting was paid to the
digitalization of water supply and wastewater management. The sides
discussed current challenges related to providing Central Asian
countries with water resources, as well as long-term forecasts
indicating the risk of increasing water shortages in the region. In
this regard, digital technologies and modern management systems are
considered as one of the tools to improve the efficiency of water
resources use and infrastructure management.
During the meeting, a project on the digitalization of the water
supply and wastewater sector was presented, providing for the
introduction of modern digital tools to improve the efficiency of
sector management, monitoring and management decision-making.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan also presented the
concept for the development and opportunities of the new digital
city of Alatau City. The sides discussed the city’s potential for
introducing modern digital solutions, developing innovative
infrastructure and forming new approaches to managing the urban
environment.
Particular attention was also paid to the possibility of scaling
successful Kazakh experience to other EDB member countries. The
sides noted that a number of initiatives being implemented in
Kazakhstan are being introduced for the first time and may
subsequently be of interest to other countries in the region.
The replication of such solutions will not only improve the
efficiency of digital transformation in individual sectors, but
also strengthen regional cooperation.
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral
development bank carrying out investment activities in the Eurasian
region. As of the end of June 2026, the EDB’s accumulated portfolio
comprised 348 projects with a total investment volume of $22.1
billion. The largest share of the EDB’s portfolio consists of
projects with an integration effect in the areas of transport
infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture,
industry and mechanical engineering.
Under its 2022-2026 Strategy, the EDB is implementing three
megaprojects: the “Central Asia Water and Energy Complex,” the
“Eurasian Transport Framework,” and the “Eurasian Commodity
Distribution Network.”
