Kazakhstan is no longer content with simply extracting minerals and exporting raw materials.
The country is now making a decisive push toward becoming a major producer of high-value industrial products — and the scale of that ambition was on full display at Astana Mining & Metallurgy (AMM) 2026, DKNews.kz reports.
Speaking at the 16th International Mining and Metallurgy Congress in Astana, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov outlined a strategy that combines large-scale geological exploration, artificial intelligence, advanced processing, and foreign investment to transform one of the country's most important industries.
The message was clear: Kazakhstan wants to move up the global value chain.
More than 1,500 delegates from 16 countries gathered at AMM 2026, including representatives from the United States, China, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Their presence reflects growing international interest in Kazakhstan's vast mineral wealth at a time when demand for critical metals is surging worldwide.
A $300 Billion Economy Looking for Its Next Growth Engine
Bektenov highlighted that Kazakhstan's economy grew by 6.5 percent in 2025, with GDP surpassing $300 billion for the first time in the country's history.
According to the Prime Minister, this growth is tied to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's broader strategy of building a technology-driven economy supported by industrial development, investment, and human capital.
"The new Constitution of our country enshrines the institutional foundations of this course. It strengthens guarantees for the protection of property and investments, reinforces the principles of the rule of law, and forms a solid foundation for the country's long-term economic development," Bektenov said.
"The implementation of large-scale projects in subsoil use, metallurgy, and deep processing requires significant investments and long investment cycles. Therefore, the stability of institutions, predictability of regulation, and trust from business become the most important conditions for the development of the industry."
For investors, the statement serves as a signal that Kazakhstan is trying to position itself as a predictable destination for long-term industrial capital.
The Hunt for New Deposits Is Accelerating
One of the biggest announcements from the forum concerned geological exploration.
Kazakhstan has launched one of the most ambitious geological mapping programs in its modern history. Authorities are conducting detailed studies across the country, with the total area under geological assessment expected to exceed 2 million square kilometers.
To support this effort, the government plans to allocate approximately $470 million between 2026 and 2028 for geological exploration.
The objective is straightforward: discover new deposits, expand the national mineral resource base, and create a pipeline of future mining projects that can attract both domestic and international investment.
As competition for strategic minerals intensifies globally, resource-rich countries are increasingly investing in exploration to secure future growth. Kazakhstan intends to be among them.
Artificial Intelligence Moves Underground
Perhaps the most future-focused part of the government's strategy is the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence into the mining sector.
Kazakhstan has already launched its Unified Subsoil Use Platform, which automates licensing procedures, monitoring, and the delivery of 22 government services related to mineral development.
More than 4.6 million units of geological information have already been digitized.
The next phase will involve AI-powered analysis of geological data to accelerate the discovery of new deposits and improve decision-making across the industry.
For a sector often viewed as traditional and resource-intensive, the shift reflects a broader trend transforming mining worldwide: data is becoming as valuable as the minerals themselves.
From Raw Materials to Higher-Value Products
The government's long-term vision extends beyond extraction.
Bektenov stressed that Kazakhstan's mining and metallurgical complex must increasingly focus on processing raw materials domestically and producing higher-value products.
That transition is already underway.
Over the past two years, the country has launched production facilities worth more than $1 billion, including projects focused on cathode copper, ferrosilicon, ferroalloys, and other industrial products.
Several major projects are now reshaping the industry's future:
- A copper smelter worth more than $1.5 billion is under construction in the Abay Region, allowing more copper concentrate to be processed inside Kazakhstan rather than exported.
- A new hydrometallurgical plant in Pavlodar Region is being developed with a capacity of 300,000 tons of gold-copper concentrate and up to 15 tons of gold annually.
- Qarmet is carrying out a large-scale modernization program in Karaganda Region, including plans to manufacture higher-value steel products such as automotive steel.
The projects illustrate a broader economic strategy: capture more value domestically instead of relying primarily on raw commodity exports.
Global Partnerships, Not Just Foreign Investment
Kazakhstan is also seeking deeper cooperation with major industrial economies, including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and European countries.
Officials say the goal is no longer limited to attracting capital. Increasingly, attention is focused on technology transfer, localization of production, and workforce development.
This approach reflects the changing nature of industrial competition. Countries that successfully attract advanced manufacturing and technological expertise often gain far more long-term benefits than those that rely solely on resource extraction.
Mining's Future Was on Display in Astana
Alongside the congress, AMM 2026 hosted a large international exhibition featuring 69 companies from 15 countries.
Prime Minister Bektenov toured displays from major industry players including Qarmet, Kazzinc, Kazakhmys, KAZ Minerals, ERG, and XCMG, as well as national business pavilions representing the United States, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia.
Exhibitors showcased technologies ranging from industrial automation and digital mining solutions to environmental protection systems and advanced processing equipment.
The exhibition offered a glimpse of where the industry is heading — smarter, cleaner, more automated, and increasingly integrated into global supply chains.
Why This Matters
The race for critical minerals is becoming one of the defining economic stories of the decade. As countries compete to secure supplies for electric vehicles, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence infrastructure, resource-rich nations are gaining strategic importance.
Kazakhstan possesses some of the world's most significant mineral reserves. The question is no longer whether the country can extract them, but whether it can turn those resources into a modern industrial economy.
The announcements at AMM 2026 suggest the government believes the answer is yes.
