In this episode of East-West Connect, we explore Kazakhstan's groundbreaking digital transformation, focusing on the Digital Kazakhstan programme, e-government services and the introduction of the Neo Nomad Visa for digital professionals.
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00:00How has e-government or e-gov transformed how millions of people in Kazakhstan access
00:15public services?
00:17How is the government connecting with its citizens via apps, text messages, and online
00:21portals?
00:22And what about a visa for digital nomads from around the world?
00:27Welcome to EastWest Connect, I'm Chris Burns.
00:29We're highlighting business and economic developments in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asia region,
00:36connecting them with Europe and beyond.
00:38Digital Kazakhstan was launched in 2018 to boost the country's economic growth through
00:43digital technologies.
00:44The government says the program helped create 120,000 jobs so far.
00:50Digital Kazakhstan attracted about 60 million euros of investment into the country.
00:55And more than 80% of all public services became automated as part of the program.
01:01So what's it look like?
01:02Well, here's the e-gov portal that pulls it all together.
01:05A wide range of services for individuals, families, and businesses across a broad range
01:10of sectors.
01:11It has digitized operations in industry, transport, agriculture, medicine, education, and the
01:18postal services.
01:19How is it working on the ground?
01:21Well, one example of reaching out to the public is the Digital Family Card.
01:25Supported by the UN Development Fund, it helps provide targeted assistance, especially to
01:30families in need.
01:32To find out more about Digital Kazakhstan, we spoke with someone who's helping to make
01:36that happen.
01:39How does that Digital Family Card work?
02:21And that must reduce a lot of the repetitive paperwork among the different agencies, right?
02:52And how does that work for social workers?
03:04How do they use the app to better focus the aid that needs to get to certain needy families?
03:22Could the Digital Family Card here serve as a model for other countries in the region
03:28or even beyond?
03:52Now, here's a surprise for you.
03:54Statistics show e-gov is more successful in Kazakhstan than in some leading economies.
04:00In 2024, it ranked 24th in the UN Global e-gov Survey.
04:05That's ahead of Switzerland, France, China, and Canada.
04:09Why is that?
04:10Well, the website DataReportal says in 2024 there are more than 18 million Internet users
04:16in Kazakhstan.
04:17That's about 90% of the population.
04:20The country's postal service is also making a digital transition.
04:24We spoke to Asel Janasova, CEO of KazPost, to get the details.
04:31Kazakhstan has been actually the frontiers of countries that have implemented all the
04:39digital services.
04:40Everyone is mobile now.
04:43All online.
04:44It's all on my phone.
04:45It's on my pad.
04:47That's right.
04:48How do you adapt to that as a postal service?
04:51One of the things we're doing, we actually set up a strategy to be one of the regional
04:57logistical providers.
05:00Okay.
05:01Not just Kazakhstan.
05:02Central Asia.
05:03Definitely.
05:04Yes.
05:05Because we are trying to integrate, provide for our citizens, regional people, access
05:11to buy online from global marketplaces.
05:13There are 200 million people, potential clients, who can actually buy and can get their deliveries
05:19within five days.
05:20Excellent point.
05:21That's right.
05:22So what we did, we are now integrating, connecting to global marketplaces and giving people access
05:28to buy and receive it within five to seven days.
05:34Even what we see today, the rural areas, the villages, the 49% of the postals, they are
05:40going to villages.
05:42How does that work physically?
05:43You have like an app or something like that that makes that work?
05:46Yes.
05:47The marketplaces, the app.
05:48Then the key is the tracking services.
05:50So people usually get stressed when they don't know where is their parcel.
05:54So we need to get the proper in-time, real-time information to the clients.
05:58We've done new kind of service.
06:00It's called cargo to mail.
06:02So we transfer to mail at the border, which gave us availability to integrate any logistical
06:09carriers of the parcels or the cargo businesses.
06:13How does that deal with customs though?
06:16Do you help with the customs part?
06:18We help.
06:19And our businesses or citizens, they can declare online.
06:24So they don't need to go.
06:26They don't need to fill up papers at all.
06:29So it's everything online.
06:30We have implemented automated digitized sorting machine, which can sort 10,000 parcels per hour.
06:37So that means we are accelerating the timing.
06:40So who is the quickest?
06:42Delivery time up to seven days.
06:44Kazakhstan is huge and we deliver to every village.
06:47What's the future for KazPost?
06:49So we certainly see there is huge potential of the region.
06:55And I think Kazakhstan can be a transit hub for the cargo business, for the parcel business.
07:03So what we've done, we started nine countries.
07:06Transit delivers to nine countries to be one of the key landing points.
07:13So how to reach those who aren't yet connected?
07:16Well, World Bank is working with Kazakhstan on what it calls the DARE project.
07:20That's Digital Acceleration for an Inclusive Economy.
07:23The aim is to provide access to broadband in villages and other remote areas.
07:29And now for all you digital nomads.
07:31What about those of you who'd like to work in Kazakhstan?
07:34Well, the government is setting up what's known as the Neo Nomad Visa.
07:38It lasts up to one year and is aimed at bringing in people with skills like IT programming,
07:43marketing, finance, consulting, design and e-commerce.
07:47Well, that's it for now on EastWest Connect.
07:49Be sure to check out euronews.com for all the latest news.
07:53Thanks for watching and see you next time.