Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang confirmed the partnership during a high-profile visit to Astana, where he met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Huang emphasized that Kazakhstan possesses the essential energy reserves and scientific talent required to build a sustainable AI ecosystem. The project, operated by Firebird AI KZ Ltd., intends to launch its first data center phase by the third quarter of 2027, with long-term plans to scale capacity to 500 megawatts.

This development aligns with Kazakhstan’s participation in Pax Silica, a U.S.-led initiative focused on secure AI supply chains. While Kazakhstan also joined the Chinese-backed WAICO initiative—a move that initially sparked concerns regarding U.S. export eligibility—Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently clarified that the country is not required to choose between competing programs. For local officials, the focus remains on building native, Kazakh-language AI models to modernize sectors ranging from mining to agriculture.