Regional | ORIENT. In June 2026, Central Asia will take a powerful step into the global tech scene. The world's largest IT brand, GITEX, is officially coming to the region: the GITEX Central Asia & Caucasus forum will be held in Astana from June 2 to 4. For neighboring countries, including Turkmenistan, this is not just an exhibition, but an opportunity to integrate into a unified digital ecosystem that is currently being built through joint efforts.

GITEX Central Asia 2026 in Astana will become a platform where the interests of investors from Dubai (organizers of GITEX – DWTC) and the technological potential of Central Asia will converge. For Turkmenistan, which is actively developing its IT parks and e-government system, this is an excellent opportunity for partnerships, sharing AI expertise, and attracting venture capital.

Speaking at a government meeting today, January 6, Kazakhstan's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Zhaslan Madiyev, outlined the industry's key priorities for 2026. One of the key projects remains the construction of a fiber-optic communication line (FOCL) along the bottom of the Caspian Sea.

According to Madiyev, construction of an optical cable across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan is planned to be completed by the end of this year. The gist: Kazakhstan wants to increase its share of global transit traffic from the current 1.5% to 5% by 2027. This "digital bridge" between Asia and Europe across the Caspian Sea makes the region an independent and sustainable player on the global internet map.

The minister also announced revolutionary changes that will affect every traveler: in 2026, Starlink technology and that of other operators will be available on Kazakhstan Temir Zholy trains and Air Astana flights. Direct satellite-to-smartphone communications (without the need for towers) will begin to be implemented as early as next year. This is critical for countries with vast deserts and hard-to-reach areas.

Furthermore, Kazakhstan is launching production of its own remote sensing satellites, planning to export space services worth over $75 million.

2026 has been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan.