Alatau City: A Platform for Technological Dialogue Between Kazakhstan and South Korea

Government Support and Strategic Partnership

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, who oversees the implementation of the Alatau City project at the government level, highlighted the strong potential for cooperation in electronics, energy, healthcare, education, and digital services.

“More than 800 Korean companies are already successfully operating in Kazakhstan. We invite you to take part in our national project - Alatau City, a symbol of Kazakhstan’s new industrial era”, he said.

The official opening of the Roadshow featured a ceremony for signing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between governmental and business institutions of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea:

• On cooperation in green and hydrogen energy (Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan and GGGI);

• On urban air mobility and the development of a transport hub (Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, Korea Airports Corporation (KAC), and AAAG);

• On the construction of a light rail transit (LRT) system (Akimat of Almaty Region and RETD).

On October 15-16, the Roadshow also hosted negotiations with representatives of Korean government bodies and businesses, focusing on concrete steps to develop cooperation within the Alatau City framework.

Minister of Industry Kim Jung Kwan proposed expanding cooperation in the manufacturing sector and called for greater participation of Korean companies in construction projects in Kazakhstan, as well as closer collaboration in the supply chains of critical minerals.

“The Republic of Korea can offer Kazakhstan cutting-edge technologies and expertise in artificial intelligence and next-generation mobility to support the country’s vision of becoming an international hub connecting Asia and Europe”,  he said.

He added that Korea is committed to being a “reliable partner in supporting Alatau City’s emergence as a key player in Kazakhstan’s future economy”.

Kwak Sang On, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, described Alatau City as “Kazakhstan’s national program for the future” and expressed confidence that Korea’s experience in building smart cities would help unlock the full potential of this ambitious megaproject”.

Seoul became the first stop in a wider dialogue on the future of Alatau City. In the upcoming posts, we will share more about the meetings, partners, and ideas shaping this new foundation for Kazakhstan-Korea cooperation.

Alatau City as a Model of Trust and Technological Progress

“Innovation is not just about technology and science. At its core lies trust between people. When a city or a country says, “We are going to grow, we have a development strategy”, success depends on how much people believe in it. It takes joint effort and engagement from all sides. Only then do investments come, partnerships form, and international players place their trust”. 

This statement by Park Moon Gu, Partner and Head of Digital Transformation at KPMG Korea, voiced during the panel session “Innovation and Growth: The Advantages of Developing Alatau City” at the Seoul Roadshow, perfectly captures the spirit of the Alatau City project. 

Having received the status of a fast-track development zone, Alatau City is the first project in Kazakhstan where technology is not just a tool, but the very foundation of the city model. A digital ecosystem is being built from scratch, enabling the seamless integration of PropTech, Smart City, artificial intelligence, and data governance solutions - free from the limitations of legacy systems.

Park Moon Gu emphasized that Kazakhstan’s success depends on its ability to unite resources, talent, and governance into a cohesive system that inspires international collaboration. When trust is the foundation, investment flows naturally.

Korean partners are particularly focused on PropTech, hydrogen, and fintech - areas where Korea’s expertise and Kazakhstan’s ambition complement each other. These are fields ripe for co-design, testing, and development of solutions that will define new standards for the urban economy.

“For the first time in Kazakhstan, Alatau City will create an integrated framework that lays the foundation for a regulatory sandbox - a space for testing and implementing new digital technologies, financial tools, and innovative governance models”, said Dmitriy Mun, Deputy Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.

This is exactly what Korean investors are looking for today: an opportunity to deploy their solutions in a real-world environment, where innovation is state-supported and the market is open to shared growth. 

Kazakhstan and Korea: Joint Projects in Hydrogen and Future Mobility

The Alatau City Roadshow in Seoul (October 15–16) highlighted the growing strategic cooperation between Kazakhstan and South Korea in hydrogen energy and future mobility.

The global electric vehicle (EV) market is growing rapidly: in 2024, sales surprised 10 million units, accounting for 12% of total global car sales. While the hydrogen vehicle segment is still in its early stages, it is already showing strong growth. According to forecasts, by 2030 the global value of clean hydrogen mobility market is expected to grow by a factor of five. 

South Korea is the seventh-largest car manufacturer in the world and home to one of the top-3 global automotive industry accounts for around 15% of the country`s total manufacturing output and approximately 11% of employment, making it the leading sector in Korea`s economy. 

According to South Korea`s Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Mr. Lee Seung-Ryeol, Korea was the first country in the world to launch mass production of hydrogen-powered vehicles. As of the end of 2024, over 40,000 hydrogen cars haave been sold, with this number expected to exceed 50,000 by the end of 2025. In addition to passenger vehicles, the country also produces hydrogen-powered buses and trucks, which are now being exported to Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Like Kazakhstan, South Korea is implementing a national hydrogen strategy. By 2030, the country aims to have at least 300,000 hydrogen vehicles on the road and around 660 hydrogen refueling stations. 

With its vast natural resources and strategic geographic location, Kazakhstan is becoming an important partner for South Korea. Hyundai Motor Group is already collaborating with Astana Motors and Allur Group to localize production and lay the groundwork for future mobility innovations.

According to South Korea`s Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Lee Seung-Ryeol, cooperation between the two countries could include joint research and development, localization of component manufacturing, workplace training, and knowledge exchange in the field of transportation policy.

Deputy Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, Mr.Bakytzhan Ilyas, emphasized that hydrogen energy is one of the key pillars of Kazakhstan`s new economic model:

“Hydrogen has the potential to become a balancing element in energy systems with a high share of renewables, as well as a foundation for the development of clean transportation and smart industrial clusters”, he said.

He added that Kazakhstan is interested in learning from Korea’s experience in hydrogen-powered buses, trucks, and industrial equipment.

“We invite companies from the Republic of Korea to participate in pilot projects for the production of green hydrogen in Alatau City”, said Mr. Ilyas.

The project is being implemented by Alatau Advance Air Group through private investment with government support. Commercial launch is planned by the end of 2028. As part of the initiative, a network of vertiports will be built in the cities of Alatau, Almaty, and the Almaty region, connected by safe air routes.

From Dialogue to Action

Seoul became the starting point of a broader conversation about the future of Alatau City. Korea sees Kazakhstan as a partner not only capable of adopting advanced technologies, but also of offering its own development models.

The key task now is to turn the agreements reached into concrete projects that will build trust and set a new standard for cooperation between government, business, and investors.