ArmInfo.If Armenia has something to showcase to the world today, something that sets it apart, helps and attracts cooperation, it's definitely the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, which has successfully joined the global technology race and is expanding into more countries and regions. One of TUMO's newest locations is in Kazakhstan, a country undergoing fundamental and profound changes in both the economy and social life.
The pragmatism of Kazakhstan-a key, some might say pivotal, country in the greater Central Asian region today-has elevated it to a key position not only in geopolitical and logistical terms, but also in the development of modern information technology and artificial intelligence, which would essentially be impossible without the social and human capital that has been cultivated and strengthened over many years. Therefore, the emergence of TUMO in this area, within the impressive modernist architecture of the region's biggest digital technopark, Astana Hub, is not the result of some random agreements, but far- reaching and well-thought-out steps by the political leadership of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In anticipation of the opening of the Armenian center, thanks to the thoughtful and rational approach of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Armenia, the author of these lines had the opportunity to visit the complex along with a group of journalists from various countries, from Austria to South Korea. The architectural solutions of the complex, blending the best practices of modernism with elements of futurism, are truly impressive. The building was constructed for Astana EXPO 2017, and today it serves as the workspace for the digital technopark. The Armenian TUMO franchise project is actively involved in developing a large part of this workplace.
The choice of TUMO's location here, in the Astana Hub technpark, aligns perfectly with the country's technology policy, and this is no coincidence. In September, the country transformed its Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry into the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. These priorities are grounded in a deep understanding of global trends, which can only be kept pace with significant transformations in human capital development. TUMO will be one of the structures responsible for "nurturing" specialists, as they say, right from the cradle.
Daniyar Zhumagulov, who is responsible for international relations and serves as the head of the Astana Hub investment office, emphasized the significance of the TUMO creative center's opening in Astana as an essential element of the unified ecosystem established in the area. He talked about the ecosystem's operating principles, as a single organism supporting all its components and processes.
After all, the days when technology parks were just constructed as buildings with low utility bills and rent are long gone. For any country this type of park is already outdated and, as practice has shown, unsustainable for achieving significant breakthroughs in technology sectors. Therefore, many companies from developing countries, that are on the rise and nearing "unicorn" status are leaving technology parks and "relocating" to countries with well-established IT ecosystems. There, the government, together with "business angels", provides comprehensive, systemic support, including venture capital, to help their "clients" enter the global IT market. This is a complex set of educational, tax, investment, consulting, stock exchange, and other tools that create a favorable environment for fledgling ideas to thrive and generate high returns on investment. Although the situation in the global IT market today is not easy due to the impending revolution, where algorithms and neural networks, like the "internal combustion engine" once did, are throwing "unnecessary" workers out onto the street, nevertheless, creative solutions and the people behind them are still finding their "place in the sun."
Kazakhstan has long understood this, not only because it created an agency with an unusual name, but also because, unlike "old solutions," "new" ones can do without "Silicon Valleys," albeit in similar conditions. This is the purpose of the Tomorrow School, Kazakhstan's first peer-to-peer school of artificial intelligence. It offers a unique opportunity to receive free training in AI, requiring no prior programming skills. Students advance through a knowledge map, where each task unlocks the next. This ensures consistent development of skills-from the basics to complex projects, creating a continuous learning process. The Tech Orda program, aimed at developing human capital in the IT sector, is also operating in Astana. The program provides funding for people aged 18 to 45 to receive free education, specifically aimed at training IT specialists.
Thus, in an effort to address these complex issues rationally, Kazakhstan has adopted the best global ecosystem practices. They believe it's important to create conditions so that people in the "steppes of Kazakhstan" feel as comfortable as in the "valleys of California." This involves implementing a zero-tax start-up tax regime, a highly relaxed immigration policy for specialists, attracting venture capital, assisting in organizing the export of information products, and utilizing many other tools within the so-called IT ecosystem, including incubators supporting early-stage startups and accelerators offering growth acceleration programs for startups. Google supports the Astana Hub in terms of "acceleration". Moreover, the accelerator is not only just for Kazakhstani specialists; young companies from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, and Georgia are also involved. According to Daniyar Zhumagulov, it's wrong to focus only on Kazakhstan; it's far more reasonable to enter global markets jointly, as a unified regional "front." Armenian companies aren't among them yet, but everything flows.
By the way, in Kazakhstan, ttvery few people or possibly none at all, are aware of Yerevan's Engineering City, which is also aiming to establish itself as a regional technology hub and a supplier of high-tech products to the global market. The collaboration between the two could be mutually beneficial. While Yerevan's Engineering City is preparing to reach its full capacity, the statistics of Astana Hub, which has branches in all major cities of the country, are impressive. In 2018, the Astana technopark had only 185 participants, with 5 of them being foreign companies. By 2024, that number had increased to 1,716, with 454 being foreign entities. Revenues during this period surged from $35 million to $1.3 billion, and export revenue from services rose from $34 million to $481 million. Additionally, Astana Hub retains 1% of its revenue "rightfully" and has not received external budget support for two years.
The IT industry is not he only sector driving Kazakhstan's economy towards a perception beyond being an oil and gas exporter. Other high added value sectors are also contributing to positioning the country in global intellectual property markets.
