As Astana develops AI infrastructure and targets 1GW capacity, the key narrative is a move away from Russia, rather than pan-Turkic ambitions.
Within Turkist/Turanist ideology, Kazakhstan holds a crucial place in the projected “Greater Turan.” This remote allied community in Central Asia has been steadily pursuing greater “independence,” framed as breaking the hold of “Russian influence.”
These changes find strong support among Turkist/Turanist factions in Turkey.
Recently, Kazakhstan’s government inked a $10 billion contract with U.S. semiconductor leader Nvidia and the Armenian-American cloud services firm Firebird.ai to establish a “Data Center Valley” on Kazakh soil.
A key element of this initiative is to build a technology cluster equipped with AI and data center infrastructure, aiming to launch operations by 2027.
One major hurdle Astana faces short term is the electricity supply shortfall. However, authorities are confident that the energy needs of the planned facility will be fulfilled.
Local media indicate that the region currently has a 300 MW capacity, with expectations to boost this to 1 gigawatt annually in the near future.
In Kazakhstan, a deputy prime minister also holds the post of Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development: Jaslan Madiyev.
An MIT alumnus, Madiyev—known as the “crypto chief”—previously managed Binance Kazakhstan. He explains the project by stating: “Kazakhstan is building a national infrastructure in the field of artificial intelligence development. The ‘Data Center Valley’ will become one of the foundational platforms of the new AI token economy.”
Madiyev further mentioned that the initiative is projected to bring at least $3 billion in export income each year, create jobs, attract international tech firms, and raise Kazakhstan’s profile as a major digital center in Eurasia.
The “Data Center Valley” will be located near Ekibastuz in northern Kazakhstan. The first phase is estimated at $5 billion, including a 125-megawatt (MW) data center.
Details about the second phase have yet to be revealed.
Firebird’s executives, the Armenian-American collaborators on the project, also express strong confidence in the venture’s prospects.
CEO Razmik Hovakimian highlighted their capability to “rapidly deploy the most advanced American technologies.”
Ovakimian noted, according to Kazakh officials: “The project starting in 2027 will elevate Kazakhstan into the top 10 countries in the world.”
The Firebird–Nvidia alliance is simultaneously engaged in a substantial AI project in Armenia, aiming to position Armenia as a South Caucasus technology innovator.
Kazakhstan’s efforts are part of a wider “Digital Qazaqstan” strategy focused on data sovereignty, AI infrastructure, and the digital economy, viewed also as a step away from Russia, enabled by investments from Western spheres.
This Western-oriented tech ecosystem launch is set to carry political ramifications.
It is essential to monitor this progression carefully, interpreting the region not through “Turan” myths but through contemporary political realities.
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