In Central Asia's 2026 digital push, key nations are racing to build sovereign AI, data centers, and green energy infrastructure. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are moving beyond basic e-government services to establish full-stack technological independence. This momentum is being fuelled by surging demand for cloud-based services across industries, the rollout of 5G networks and the accelerating. Central Asia is emerging as a pivotal region for the growth of data center and AI infrastructure, driven by rapid advancements in digital technologies, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. This initiative highlights the region's commitment to sustainable digital transformation and growing capacity for AI and cloud computing. Tajikistan is set to construct its first fully hydropower data center in the Darvoz district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), marking a major leap forward in sustainable AI infrastructure in Central Asia, says press release issued by AI CONF 2025. The project is a joint venture. Carnegie Politika is a digital publication that features unmatched analysis and insight on Russia, Ukraine and the wider region.
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