Kazakhstan’s nationwide reading campaign is going digital. Participants in the “Kitap Oqityn Ult” — or “Reading Nation” — marathon will gain access to e-books, audiobooks, an integrated Kazakh-Russian dictionary, personalized recommendations and an AI-powered chat tool for discussing books, DKNews.kz reports.
The Reading Nation Public Foundation and Bilim Group Ltd have signed a memorandum of cooperation. The agreement was signed by Foundation Chairman Bakhytzhan Turlybekov and Bilim Group Ltd CEO Alexander Savchenko.
Under the memorandum, the KITAP digital reading platform will become the marathon’s digital partner and support initiatives aimed at expanding access to electronic and audio books.
AI chat and a dictionary will be built into the reading experience
The partnership goes beyond simply moving books onto screens.
KITAP includes an integrated Kazakh-Russian dictionary that allows users to see translations and explanations of words and expressions directly inside a book without leaving the text.
The platform also features an AI-powered chat tool designed to help readers discuss what they have read, ask questions about a book’s content and explore the text in greater depth. According to the project materials, the feature can also be used for educational purposes.
For Kazakhstan, the language component is particularly relevant: digital reading tools and support for the state language are being integrated into the same platform.
Algorithms will recommend what to read next
KITAP also uses personalized recommendations based on a reader’s interests and preferences.
Reading statistics allow users to track their progress and are intended to help maintain a regular reading habit. The partners are also considering special book collections and digital offers specifically for marathon participants.
The KITAP platform provides access to digital books, audiobooks and educational content, bringing several reading formats together in one ecosystem.
“Our goal is to raise reading from the level of a personal habit of individual people to the level of a shared cultural value of society. To achieve this, it is important to give readers the opportunity to choose the format that is most convenient for them. The partnership with the KITAP platform will strengthen this direction of the ‘Reading Nation’ marathon and expand access to e-books and audiobooks,” said Bakhytzhan Turlybekov, Chairman of the Reading Nation Public Foundation.
Kazakhstan’s reading campaign is moving into digital formats
The stated purpose of the partnership is to combine traditional reading with modern digital tools rather than replace printed books.
The project aims to make books available to people in Kazakhstan in different formats and encourage a sustainable reading culture.
The nationwide Reading Nation marathon itself is designed to promote reading across Kazakhstan, build a consistent reading habit and increase public interest in books.
More information about the broader initiative is available through the official Reading Nation platform.
Kazakh-language support becomes part of the product
One of the most practical elements of the partnership is the integration of language tools directly into the reading process.
The Kazakh-Russian dictionary allows readers to clarify unfamiliar vocabulary without switching to another service. The AI chat goes a step further by allowing users to work with the meaning and content of an entire text rather than individual words.
For students, language learners and readers building their Kazakh vocabulary, that turns an e-book into a combination of reading material, dictionary and interactive study tool.
“Digital technologies are creating new ways to bring books closer to readers. By connecting the KITAP platform to the ‘Reading Nation’ marathon, we will be able to offer convenient ways to use e-books and audiobooks and complement the traditional reading experience with modern formats. For us, the key priority is to make the necessary content convenient and accessible to everyone who wants to read,” said Alexander Savchenko, CEO of Bilim Group Ltd.
The partnership brings e-books, audiobooks, language tools, reading statistics, personalized recommendations and AI functions into a single reading environment.
We previously reported on Kazakhstan’s broader push to strengthen reading culture and bring books back into the public and digital agenda. The KITAP partnership now adds a concrete digital layer to that effort.
