Baiterek Holding discussed attracting investment in Kazakhstan's digital infrastructure.

Baiterek Holding participated in the "Kazakhstan-China" investment forum held in Almaty, which was attended by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Holding was represented by Timur Onzhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, who moderated the panel session titled "Digital Economy and Finance: Infrastructure for Future Investments."

The panel agenda focused on the development of digital infrastructure and financial opportunities for attracting investment. The session brought together representatives from the technology sector and financial institutions—key players in the preparation, financing, and implementation of such projects.

"It is important to us that investments bring modern technologies, new competencies, and opportunities for domestic business to Kazakhstan. In the digital sphere, this primarily means infrastructure that enables the development of cloud services, artificial intelligence, and other technological solutions. Our goal is to combine the capabilities of investors, technology partners, and financial institutions to prepare viable projects that deliver clear economic benefits for the country," noted Timur Onzhanov.

Panel participants included Liu Xuechao, Vice President of VNET Group; Yerlan Minavar, Business Development Director at Data Center Valley; Li Shan, representative of Silk Road Finance Corporation; Talgat Amanbayev, Chief Innovation Officer and Management Board Member of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Administration; and Vyacheslav Kim, Managing Director of Freedom Bank.

Developing digital infrastructure requires a long-term approach. Launching data centers necessitates reliable power supplies, telecommunications networks, technical expertise, and financing. Equally important is demand from the companies that will utilize the computing capacity. This mix of participants made it possible to combine the technological and investment aspects of the endeavor within a single discussion.

VNET Group, one of China’s leading independent data center operators, possesses experience in building and operating such infrastructure. The company specializes in data centers, cloud infrastructure, and colocation services. These facilities power the digital services and artificial intelligence systems used by both businesses and the general public.

The financial sector was represented on the panel by the Astana International Financial Centre, Silk Road Finance Corporation (an investment firm focused on projects along the Silk Road), and Kazakhstan’s Freedom Bank. A representative from Data Center Valley also participated. This composition allowed the discussion to integrate issues regarding digital infrastructure development with the capital raising required to build it.

During the forum, Marat Yelibayev, Chairman of the Management Board of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK), signed an agreement with the Astana Branch of China Construction Bank Corporation. The agreement establishes preliminary financing terms for the Development Bank, including funding for investment projects in priority economic sectors.

For the Baiterek Holding, engagement with investors and technology partners is linked to the goal of attracting long-term capital into Kazakhstan’s economy. The forum provided a platform for direct dialogue with representatives of the Chinese business community and for discussing avenues of cooperation in the digital sector.

Fostering such cooperation could expand Kazakhstani companies' access to advanced computing resources, generate demand for skilled professionals, and open up new opportunities for domestic developers.