EditKazakhstan’s $10Bn AI deal with NVIDIA and Firebird: a bold leap or regional standout?
Firebird’s CEO suggested the project could catapult Kazakhstan into the world’s top 10 countries for AI infrastructure by next year, when the project will be launched
Kazakhstan has secured agreements worth up to $10 billion with U.S. AI infrastructure firm Firebird and chip giant NVIDIA to build large-scale artificial intelligence infrastructure. The deal, signed on 16 June 2026, represents one of the most ambitious technology investments in Central Asia’s history and underscores the country’s push to become a regional AI and digital hub.
The partnership centres on the ambitious Data Center Valley project in Ekibastuz, which will feature advanced data centres and a massive computing cluster powered by up to 100,000 next-generation NVIDIA GPUs (including GB300 and Vera Rubin chips). Officials project the initiative could generate at least $3 billion in annual export revenue, create thousands of high-skilled jobs, and attract further global tech investment.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov described the project as a cornerstone of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s Digital Qazaqstan strategy, with 2026 designated as the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence.
NVIDIA Vice President Rev Lebaredian highlighted Kazakhstan’s abundant energy resources as a decisive advantage for power-hungry AI infrastructure.
Putting the deal in perspective
While $10 billion is a transformative sum for Kazakhstan – a resource-rich but traditionally hydrocarbon-dependent economy – it fits into the global race for AI computing capacity, where NVIDIA-backed projects are proliferating rapidly.
Comparisons with other countries show both the scale and the context:
- United Kingdom: In 2025, NVIDIA and partners (including Nscale and OpenAI) announced plans for up to £11 billion (around $14 billion) in AI infrastructure, including up to 120,000 Blackwell GPUs as part of the Stargate UK project.
- Malaysia: NVIDIA partnered with YTL Power on a $4.3 billion AI cloud and supercomputer initiative in a green data centre park.
- India: Reliance Jio is pursuing a massive 2,000 MW AI data centre project with NVIDIA technology
Kazakhstan’s deal stands out for its speed and strategic ambition in a region not traditionally associated with cutting-edge tech. Firebird’s CEO suggested the project could catapult Kazakhstan into the world’s top 10 countries for AI infrastructure by the planned 2027 launch.
Strategic significance for Kazakhstan
The investment aligns with Kazakhstan’s long-term goal of economic diversification away from oil and gas. Abundant and relatively cheap energy, including from renewables – a critical bottleneck for AI data centres globally – gives the country a genuine competitive edge.
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The project also includes ecosystem-building measures, such as Firebird Labs Kazakhstan at Alem.ai and cooperation with Kazakhtelecom.
For NVIDIA, the deal continues its aggressive global expansion of “AI factories” and sovereign AI capabilities, extending its reach into Central Asia and the broader Eurasian corridor. For Kazakhstan, the project perfectly aligns with the country’s strategic ambition to become a leading regional hub for information technology and artificial intelligence, while creating thousands of high-quality jobs for its young, well-educated population.
Whether this $10 billion commitment materialises fully remains to be seen – many such memoranda include phased or conditional elements. Still, the announcement sends a strong signal: Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a serious player in the global AI infrastructure boom, leveraging geography, energy, and timely partnerships to punch above its weight in the new digital economy.
Caption: The agreements were signed following a 16 June meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov [C] [Photo credit: gov.kz, via The Astana Times]
Updated: June 18, 2026 - 10:44
