Kazakhstan's services exports are on the rise, with a significant shift towards digital industries and a gradual move away from traditional transport services. In 2025, the country's services exports approached $13 billion, with transport services remaining the largest contributor, generating nearly half of the total revenue. However, the real story lies in the fast-growing digital sector, which is driving the country's economic transformation.
The digital services sector, including telecommunications, computer and information services, recorded the fastest growth, rising 35.6% to $1.4 billion. Computer services exports climbed 36% to $1.1 billion, surpassing the $1 billion mark for the first time, and even excluding digital asset mining, the sector still expanded significantly. This growth is supported by innovation hubs like Astana Hub, which exported IT services worth $681 million in 2025 to 111 countries, highlighting the expanding global footprint of Kazakhstan's technology sector.
The concentration of computer services exports in Astana is notable, with the capital accounting for more than 90% of the country's total. This reflects the growing technology ecosystem in Astana, centered around Astana Hub and the International AI Center Alem.ai. However, the country is also making efforts to broaden its export base, with the Eurasian Development Bank identifying modern warehousing as a key opportunity for Central Asia.
The shift towards digital services is not just a trend in Kazakhstan but a broader change in the global economy. Services now generate more than two-thirds of global GDP and attract more than three-quarters of foreign direct investment in advanced economies. Countries are increasingly competing by selling knowledge, software, financial services, and other high-value expertise, rather than just physical goods. For Kazakhstan, this transformation carries significant implications beyond the technology sector, as expanding services exports is seen as a key pillar of economic diversification, reducing dependence on commodities and creating higher-value jobs.
The momentum continued into 2026, with Kazakhstan's services exports increasing 14.1% year-on-year to $3.1 billion, while imports rose 8.8% to $3.3 billion. The country's services trade deficit narrowed by 34.5% to $219.1 million, with transport and travel-related services remaining the largest contributors. However, the growth in digital services is expected to outpace that of transport services, with digitally delivered services projected to grow by 5.6% in 2026, significantly outpacing the 1.8% growth in transport services.
This trend signals that Kazakhstan's next stage of export growth may depend on exporting technology, innovation, and specialized expertise, rather than just moving goods across borders. The rise of digital services points to the country's growing ability to compete in the global economy through human capital and knowledge, rather than natural resources alone. As the world shifts towards a more service-oriented economy, Kazakhstan is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend and further diversify its economy.
