Freedom Holding Corp., a fintech company listed on the Nasdaq, has announced a series of strategic initiatives aimed at establishing Kazakhstan as a regional centre for artificial intelligence, while also strengthening the country’s technological and economic ties with the United States. The projects span education, infrastructure, and international investment, and mark one of the most ambitious AI development programs in Central Asia.
“The countries that learn to build with AI will define the next economic era. We intend for Kazakhstan to be among them,” Timur Turlov, founder and CEO of Freedom Holding Corp. said.
At the core of the strategy is the integration of artificial intelligence into national development.
“As a country, our most valuable investment is in the intellect of our people,” Timur Turlov stated. “AI should expand human capabilities, strengthen the teacher, empower the engineer, and support the entrepreneur. That is our guiding principle.”
Timur Turlov added: “Technology is not a replacement for talent - it is an amplifier of talent. And we are building an infrastructure that amplifies at national scale.”
ChatGPT Edu to Enter Kazakhstan’s Schools and Universities
One of the most significant moves is the introduction of ChatGPT Edu-the specialized educational version of OpenAI’s platform - into Kazakhstan’s school and university system.
The initiative, formalized during the C5+1 Summit in Washington, is a three-way collaboration between OpenAI, the Ministry of Education, and Freedom Holding Corp., which will serve as the local operator and investor. The company has committed to purchasing 165,000 licenses annually for three years and managing the technical rollout.
The program makes Kazakhstan one of the first countries in the world to deploy generative AI tools in education at a national scale. The goal, according to project organizers, is not to replace educators but to equip them with tools for preparing materials, creating personalized assignments, and reducing administrative workload.
“We are entering a stage where the ability to learn faster than others is a fundamental competitive advantage,” Turlov said. “Ensuring access to AI in education is an investment in national capacity to think, adapt, and lead.” He also noted: “Every child who learns with AI today becomes a creator of solutions tomorrow. That is how nations leap forward.”
In parallel, Freedom Holding Corp. has launched a major infrastructure project with NVIDIA and the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The initiative includes building a 100-megawatt data center designed to support AI research, cloud services, and high-performance computing.
With an estimated $2 billion in investments, the center is intended to enable Kazakhstan not only to deploy AI systems but also to train and host large-scale models within its borders - laying the foundation for what officials call “sovereign AI capacity.”
“Artificial intelligence is a strategic resource for national development,” said Turlov. “Our task is to ensure that Kazakhstan does not just adopt global solutions but contributes to creating them.”He continued: “Owning computing power is the new form of economic independence. With it, we are not just users of innovation - we become producers.”
Alongside infrastructure and education initiatives, Freedom Holding Corp. has announced additional programs targeting cooperation with U.S. companies in investment, telecommunications, media, and fintech. Company representatives describe these partnerships as a shift from technology import to co-development.
“Partnership with the United States is not just about technology transfer; it is about co-creation,” Turlov said. “Our goal is for Kazakhstan to be a contributor to global innovation.”
“We are building bridges, not pipelines,” he added. “Pipelines move resources one way. Bridges create a two-way flow of ideas, talent, and capital.”
The initiatives align with a broader national goal: transforming Kazakhstan into a Central Asian technological hub and fostering digital and entrepreneurial capability within the local economy.
Freedom Holding Corp. argues that the projects are not isolated, but interconnected components of a larger long-term strategy: linking education, innovation, and investment.
“We are shaping an ecosystem in which technology, education, and business reinforce one another,” Turlov said. “This is how nations gain long-term resilience and influence in the global economy. If we get this right, the next generation of global founders will not be leaving Kazakhstan to build the future - they will be building it here,” the CEO of Freedom Holding concluded.
