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Kazakhstan is emerging as an unexpected contender in the global artificial intelligence race, drawing attention from Nvidia and other international companies seeking new markets, computing capacity and digital infrastructure opportunities. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made his first visit to the country on Friday.

During a fireside chat in Astana with Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister and minister of artificial intelligence and digital development, Huang presented an ambitious vision for the country. He said Kazakhstan could become a major AI computing center serving Europe.

“It’s going to be a hub, a computing hub, an AI factory hub for all of Europe,” Huang said. His assessment centered on Kazakhstan’s energy resources and its plans to increase data center capacity.

Huang also emphasized the importance of countries building their own artificial intelligence capabilities. He said nations should possess the infrastructure needed to deliver AI services domestically while adapting the technology to their own languages and cultures.

The visit arrives as Kazakhstan works to attract billions of dollars in technology investment and establish itself as a regional artificial intelligence center. The government has made AI a national priority and designated 2026 as the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence.

In June, Kazakhstan’s government announced plans for a $10 billion AI infrastructure investment with Firebird, a U.S. AI cloud company. The project is intended to create a computing cluster powered by 100,000 advanced GPUs, including Nvidia chips.

Nvidia intends to invest in Firebird, according to an announcement from the chipmaker. Firebird is pursuing an AI infrastructure expansion of approximately 2 gigawatts across Armenia, Kazakhstan and additional markets.

Nvidia is also backing Higgsfield, a San Francisco based AI video startup with a substantial operation in Kazakhstan. More than 300 people work across the company’s engineering and creative teams in the country.

Higgsfield cofounder and Kazakhstani AI engineer Yerzat Dulat told CNBC that “building a team in Kazakhstan was an unexpected bet for many. Today, we’re backed by some of the most influential names in technology and media.”

Higgsfield said Friday that Nvidia and investment firm TCV invested in an extension of its Series B funding round, although the company did not disclose the amount. The startup previously raised $400 million in a Series B round at a $5.4 billion valuation in August.

“The first thing and the last thing is you invest in people, not companies. And the founders of Higgsfield are visionary in the work that they do” Huang said during the fireside chat. Dulat called Huang’s first visit to Astana a fitting moment to share the investment news.

A central piece of Kazakhstan’s infrastructure campaign is Data Center Valley, a planned AI center in Ekibastuz. The project already has 300 megawatts of available power capacity, with plans to expand that capacity to 1 gigawatt.

Kazakhstan is promoting competitive electricity costs, large land reserves and investment incentives to international data center developers. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said earlier this month that two supercomputing clusters powered by Nvidia technologies had already launched in the country.

Singapore based GK Hyperscale has also signed an agreement with Kazakhstan’s government to develop two hyperscale data centers, according to the country’s digital development ministry. The planned facilities carry an expected investment of $1.5 billion and a combined information technology capacity of 200 megawatts.

That project also includes a planned $1.2 billion investment in power infrastructure. Construction was initially scheduled to begin in early 2026, with the first data center module expected to become operational in 2027.

International corporate interest extends beyond artificial intelligence. Volkswagen announced its entry into Kazakhstan after revealing in late June that its China business and factories were leading vehicle exports to Uzbekistan, illustrating how companies are using Chinese manufacturing operations to serve neighboring markets.

Kazakhstan’s AI ambitions have also gained attention through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The 2025 Tianjin Declaration noted the potential of platforms including an AI innovation center in Kazakhstan, while an organization event in Astana brought member state representatives together to discuss AI strategies, regulation and technological cooperation.

DISCLAIMER: GoldInvestors.news is not a registered investment, legal or tax advisor or broker/dealer. All investment/financial opinions expressed by GoldInvestors.news are from the personal research and experience of the owner of the site and are intended as educational material. Although best efforts are made to ensure that all information is accurate and up to date, occasionally unintended errors and misprints may occur.