Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Identifies Kazakhstan as Potential AI Computing Hub for Europe

OPA WIRE, Oct 30 (OPA) — Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang met with Kazakh officials in Astana to evaluate the country's capacity to host large-scale AI computing infrastructure. During a fireside chat with Zhaslan Madiyev, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Huang suggested that Kazakhstan’s abundant energy reserves could be repurposed from raw exports into the production of intelligence. The nation is currently working to expand its power capacity to 40 gigawatts by 2035 to support these digital ambitions.

A central focus of the visit was the Data Center Valley project in Ekibastuz, an AI computing campus currently under development. The facility is scheduled to begin its first 50-megawatt phase in 2027, with the potential to scale energy infrastructure up to one gigawatt. Huang emphasized that beyond raw computing power, Kazakhstan must prioritize sovereign AI by maintaining control over its own data and foundation models, framing such infrastructure as a critical national security asset comparable to an electric grid.

The discussion also explored the potential for Physical AI, which involves systems that interact with the physical world, such as robotics and automated mining. Madiyev noted that Kazakhstan’s existing industrial base in mining, agriculture, and logistics provides a unique environment for testing these technologies. Huang described the integration of AI into these sectors as a significant opportunity for the country to influence the development of emerging industrial applications.

Following the technical discussions, Huang met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss deepening cooperation between Nvidia and the Kazakh government. The visit concluded at the end of the nation's designated AI Month, an initiative aimed at accelerating digital transformation. Huang also highlighted Nvidia’s investment in Higgsfield AI, a Kazakh-founded video startup, as an example of the country's growing capacity to bridge local innovation with global AI ecosystems.