ASTANA – The role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies took center stage in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s remarks at the plenary session of the fifth Eurasian Economic Forum on May 28 in Astana. Addressing the forum, Tokayev said Kazakhstan, as chair of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) this year, has proposed using AI to ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, the bloc’s so-called four freedoms, and to increase the competitiveness of member states.
According to Tokayev, the broad adoption of new technologies will become a key factor in ensuring sustainable economic growth across the EAEU, an economic bloc comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Russia. “At the same time, new technologies should not become the cause or source of ‘digital gaps’ between the members of the EAEU.
On the contrary, they are designed to become an instrument of economic interconnectedness and powerful synergy of cooperation between our countries,” he said. The role of AI and digital technologies took center stage in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s remarks at the plenary session of the Fifth Eurasian Economic Forum on May 28.
Photo credit: Akorda Tokayev noted that AI within the EAEU will be implemented with consideration for the security and interests of all participating states. He highlighted the adoption of a joint statement on the responsible development of artificial intelligence, an initiative he first proposed in December 2025.
“The main purpose of this document is to fix the common approaches of the union’s members to digitalization of key sectors of the economy, to ensure the safe introduction of AI technologies, taking into account mutual interests,” Tokayev said. He said the current transformation of the global order and technological landscape presents a unique opportunity for EAEU countries to strengthen their position in the emerging world economy.
Tokayev also called for accelerating the use of AI and digital technologies in trade and logistics, including stronger integration of national digital systems to speed up customs procedures, identify bottlenecks, and forecast cargo flows in real time. He added that mutual recognition of digital signatures among EAEU members could significantly reduce business costs and increase trade volumes within the union.
Tokayev also emphasized the importance of introducing intelligent technologies in agriculture to strengthen regional food security.