ALMATY – Kazakhstan presented its vision for sustainable, technology-driven urban development at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku held on May 17-22, where Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted artificial intelligence, climate resilience and water security as central pillars of the country’s urban transformation strategy.
Kazakhstan presented its vision for sustainable, technology-driven urban development at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku. Photo credit: PM’s press service. The forum, held under the auspices of UN-Habitat, brought together more than 20,000 participants from over 100 countries, including heads of state and government, international organizations, urban planners, academics and business leaders, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on May 18.
Speaking on behalf of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Bektenov said Kazakhstan is pursuing a human-centered approach to urban development focused on safety, accessibility and environmental sustainability. “Today, more than 63% of Kazakhstan’s population lives in cities, which are becoming engines of economic growth and centers of human capital,” Bektenov said.
AI and digitalization at the center of urban policy Bektenov said Kazakhstan’s decision to declare 2026 the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence reflects the country’s broader ambition to modernize urban governance through advanced technologies. He noted that Kazakhstan has established a legal framework regulating the transparent and safe use of AI, while more than 1,200 public services are now accessible through the country’s digital government ecosystem.
The prime minister also highlighted the launch of the Alem.ai international AI center in Astana and Kazakhstan’s willingness to cooperate internationally on AI initiatives through the newly created Asia-Pacific Digital Solutions Center for Sustainable Development in Almaty under the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Among the flagship projects presented at the forum was Alatau City, a large-scale urban development initiative designed as a hub for advanced urban growth, international investment and innovative infrastructure solutions. According to Bektenov, the project aims to create a technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable urban ecosystem.
Kazakhstan also used the forum to emphasize climate adaptation and water management challenges facing Central Asia.