The Qaz Steppe Innovation Hub was officially launched at the Trade House of Kazakhstan in Dubai. The pavilion is set to house a collaborative coworking center with a focus on maximizing the potential of the domestic IT industry, QazMonitor reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration.
Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliev, emphasized Kazakhstan's commitment to digital industry development. By the close of 2023, the export of Kazakhstan's IT services reached $500 million.
“The specialized platform, Qaz Steppe Innovation Hub, will foster the Kazakh IT services sector's reach to global markets, bringing together the business communities of Kazakhstan and the UAE, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, and enhancing the competitiveness of our IT firms," the Minister said.
The platform has already helped 15 Kazakh startups present their projects in the Middle East market and discuss prospect collaboration with representatives of 100 local and international companies. Among participants are industry giants such as EMAAR, Etisalat, Google, Microsoft, Mastercard, L'Oreal, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, among others. Kazakh entrepreneurs had the opportunity to meet with government agencies and companies from the UAE.
According to Timur Mauleshov, co-founder of Qaz Steppe Innovation Hub, entering the UAE and Middle East markets will spur the development of exports of high-tech solutions from Kazakhstan to international markets.
“Qaz Steppe Innovation Hub will be a unique platform for the implementation of the ambitious task of transforming Kazakhstan into an IT country, set by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Since 2021, Kazakh startups have attracted investments worth over $1 billion, being based in our country. The technological boom that is happening in the UAE today opens up new prospects for our talented specialists and interesting startups,” said Mauleshov.
He also said that the digital hub will provide a unique opportunity for Kazakh IT companies to receive support in finding new partners and investors. Over the past 5-7 years, Kazakhstan’s potential in the field of exporting IT solutions abroad has become evident both to foreign venture funds and to representatives of the international business community.
“Qaz Steppe Innovation Hub will provide comprehensive support to our entrepreneurs. We will create that very favorable environment in which, in the foreseeable future, Kazakh startups will be able to demonstrate their high potential in the rapidly growing market of the UAE and the Middle East,” concluded Mauleshov.
The list of attendees to the launch ceremony included:
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mohamed Saeed Mohamed Alariqi
Secretary General of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of the UAE International Chamber of Commerce, Humaid Mohamed Ben Salem
Secretary General of the UAE International Investors Council, Jamal bin Saif Al Jarwan
Regional Director of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Abdullah Baker
