Kazakhstan is moving to position itself as a Central Asian hub for innovation and digital finance through the ambitious Alatau City Project, with the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Bozumbayev Kanat calling for stronger partnerships with Korea in areas from smart city development to renewable energy and healthcare.
Speaking at an international investment roadshow titled “Alatau Rise with Kazakhstan” in Seoul, Wednesday, Bozumbayev said the Kazakh government is pursuing a comprehensive strategy to transform its urban and economic landscape through advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and digital finance.
“The new framework aims to protect investment capital and ensure transparent capital flow,” he said, noting that a special fiscal regime covering taxation, budgetary arrangements and cooperation with international funders will simplify business regulations and strengthen investor confidence.
He added that the urban innovation drive “has already turned the city into a powerful platform for technological companies and exporters,” with strong potential for collaboration with Korean firms in electronics, renewable energy, healthcare, irrigation and digitalization of public services.
“I invite Korean investors and visitors to become part of this mutually beneficial cooperation,” Bozumbayev said.
Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Park Hong-keun, who chairs the Korea-Kazakhstan Interparliamentary Friendship Group, expressed gratitude to the Kazakh government and to the Korean community in Kazakhstan for organizing the event.
“As I listened to the opening remarks by the deputy prime minister, I was once again reminded of how close our two countries are,” Park said. “The Alatau City Project is not just an urban development initiative — it represents a bold national declaration for Kazakhstan to shift from a resource-dependent economy to one driven by innovation and technology.”
Park praised the contributions of ethnic Koreans in Kazakhstan, noting their pivotal role in the country’s development since the early 20th century.
“Despite the harsh environment, they became the cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s economic progress,” he said. “The Korean community there, which inherited the spirit of General Hong Beom-do — a symbol of Korea’s independence movement — continues to serve as a strong bridge between our two nations.”
He added that Korea is committed to being “a strong partner in ensuring Alatau City becomes a key player in Kazakhstan’s future economy,” pledging continued parliamentary support for bilateral cooperation.
“I hope today’s meeting will mark a new starting point for deepening friendship between our two countries,” Park said. “As chairman of the friendship group, I will continue to do my utmost to strengthen our partnership and create new momentum for shared growth.”
The roadshow opened under the theme “The New Eurasian Haven: Alatau City,” featuring remarks from Bozumbayev and several dignitaries, including Rep. Gwak Sang-eon, chairman of the National Assembly’s Industry, SMEs and Startups Committee; Tskhay Yuriy, chairman of Caspian Group; and Kim Vyacheslav, chairman of Kaspi.kz Bank.
Morning sessions explored mobility and hydrogen economy initiatives, with Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev, Vice Minister of Energy Ilyas Batayev and Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Ozhass Saparbekov outlining cooperation strategies with Korea in future mobility, hydrogen energy and industrial innovation.
Afternoon sessions focused on smart city, digital governance and AI development, featuring Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai Engineering, the Astana International Financial Centre and the Korea Institute for Smart Cities.
The cultural session included Kogay Maksim, executive secretary of the Association of Koreans in Kazakhstan, who highlighted the cultural potential of Alatau City through the “K-Park” concept, and Han Jae-hyuk, professor at Soonchunhyang University and director-general at Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who discussed Korea’s global cultural promotion policies.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Kim Hyun-bin
Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: The Korea Ttimes , 15.10.2025
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