Kazakhstan and China Launch Digital Economy Hub in Almaty

Kazakhstan and China inaugurated the IBI Digital Economy Hub in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to bolster cooperation in digital trade, investment, and logistics. The hub aims to connect companies from both countries, facilitate joint projects, and enhance cross-border supply chains.

Officials plan to develop a large high-tech industrial park over the next five to eight years in the Zhambyl, Almaty, or Karaganda regions, or at the Khorgos International Centre. The project requires an estimated $2 billion in infrastructure investment and is projected to generate over $10 billion in annual economic activity once operational.

Kazakhstan’s trade with China reached $48.7 billion in 2025, with a 27% year-on-year increase during the first five months of 2026, totaling $22 billion. The hub seeks to improve the quality of trade alongside increasing volumes and build upon existing Chinese foreign direct investment which totaled $2.826 billion in 2025.