Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visits Kazakhstan to discuss AI hub plans
On his first trip to Astana, Huang said the Central Asian nation could become a major AI computing hub serving Europe
Jensen Huang has been to a lot of places pitching the AI boom. On Friday, he added Kazakhstan to the list.
The Nvidia CEO made his first visit to the country and said it could become a major AI computing hub serving Europe.
A fireside chat in Astana
The visit took place on October 23, 2026. Huang sat down for a fireside chat with Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan’s deputy prime minister and minister of artificial intelligence and digital development.
The conversation was held at the alem.ai International Artificial Intelligence Center in Astana. It served as the closing event for “AI Month 2026,” a national program that kicked off on September 23.
The month-long push featured hackathons and infrastructure announcements.
Huang singled out three advantages during the chat: abundant energy, existing data connectivity, and growing computational capacity. He also highlighted the country’s national large language model as part of the case for becoming an AI hub for Europe.
The hardware behind the hype
Kazakhstan is not starting from zero. State operator Kazakhtelecom has already deployed hundreds of Nvidia GPUs, including 400 H200 chips and 480 B300 chips.
AI, tech, and the markets they move—in one daily briefing.
Daily. Free. Join 34,000+ readers across crypto, finance, and policy.
Kazakhtelecom is planning to acquire more than 1,000 additional GPUs next year.
There are also plans for 1,000 Nvidia Vera Rubin GPUs to be deployed in the Ekibastuz region.
The Data Center Valley project aims to start with 125 MW of power capacity and expand in phases, potentially reaching 1 GW. The project anticipates $10 billion in investment from commercial partners, including Firebird.
Washington’s green light
Kazakhstan has received US approval to import 45,000 Nvidia GB300 Blackwell Ultra GPUs. It is also seeking approval for approximately 65,000 more.
Why Kazakhstan, and why now
The broader push sits under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s 2026 initiative to build out the country’s digital and AI capabilities. Several Big Tech companies have taken interest in the country, with Nvidia now among the most visible.
Kazakhstan sits between Europe and Asia, and Huang framed it as a computing hub that could serve European demand.
What this means
For investors in AI infrastructure, the key things to watch are whether the additional export approval for roughly 65,000 chips comes through, whether Data Center Valley hits its initial 125 MW phase, and which partners beyond Firebird sign on.