Kazakhstan "To Build an AI·Digital Currency Experimental City"…First Investment Event in Korea

'Alatau Rise With Kazakhstan' Roadshow

Held on the 15th–16th at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul

"A testbed city where all technologies can be experimented"

"Benchmarking growth models from Singapore, Shenzhen, and South Korea"

The Kazakh government held the first investment roadshow for the mega future city project 'Alatau City,' which is being promoted with the goal of becoming the "Singapore of Central Asia," in Korea on the 15th.

At the press conference, Sayasat Nurbek, Kazakhstan's Minister of Science and Higher Education, said, "Alatau City will be a 'testbed-type city' where all technologies can be experimented and verified," adding, "Kazakhstan, as a neutral country often called the 'Switzerland of Asia,' has a reliable investment environment."

Wong Hieng Phin, national project advisor for Alatau City who was in charge of the project's design, said, "Alatau City will be the only place in the world where all new technologies can be tested," and added, "It will be possible to experiment with everything from air and land transportation to new forms of communication and digital currency."

Regarding why the first roadshow was held in Korea, Dmitry Mun, Deputy Minister of AI and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, explained, "The Kazakh government aims to develop Alatau City into a convergence-type smart city of advanced technologies," and said, "We judged that Korea possesses world-class capabilities in advanced technology and infrastructure, and particularly has extensive experience in building smart cities."

Choi Yuri, chairperson of Caspian Group, said, "Historical ties and trust were important reasons for choosing Korea as the first investment partner," adding, "About 100,000 Koryo-saram live in Kazakhstan, and since the 1937 forced relocation they have become a respected community locally." She added, "Vyacheslav Kim, chairman of Kaspi Bank and one of Kazakhstan's six billionaires, is also Koryo-saram and is currently overseeing Alatau City's financial support and project financing."

Alatau City was designed by benchmarking Singapore's city branding strategy, Shenzhen's industrial park growth model, and South Korea's advanced industry growth roadmap. Designated as an official national project of Kazakhstan, this project will be built in the Alatau area north of Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, covering approximately 880 km² (1.14 times the size of Busan). It is scheduled to be developed in phases until 2048.

In the first phase, focusing on 440 hectares (ha), which is about 1/200 of the total area, 25 trillion won will be invested to create a specialized zone that will perform four core functions: industry, finance, tourism, and education. Also, to mark the 90th anniversary in 2027 of the forced relocation of the Koryo-saram, a 'K-Park' will be built within Alatau City. This space, which will be promoted with private funds from the Koryo-saram community rather than government budget, is expected to become a symbol of Korea-Kazakhstan cultural exchange.

The 'Alatau Rise With Kazakhstan' investment roadshow for economic and industrial cooperation with the Korean government and companies is taking place over two days on the 15th–16th at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul.

Im Dayeon, reporter allopen@hankyung.com