The Ministry of Digital Development aims for Tesla, Baidu, and Yandex to test their drones in Kazakhstan.

“To attract global players in the unmanned transport market to Kazakhstan, we propose creating the necessary conditions. In the first phase, this will involve a 'regulatory sandbox,' within which regulatory acts will be adopted, and test sites for pilot launches will be selected. In the next phase, as the project gains success, it will be launched on a national scale,” said the minister.

According to him, launching such an initiative for unmanned transport will bring benefits to Kazakhstan. Firstly, it will attract international companies and investments. Companies like Waymo (Google), Tesla, Baidu, Mobileye, Yandex, and Huawei are actively seeking countries with flexible regimes for testing unmanned vehicles.

“Secondly, such a program will draw foreign investment into research, infrastructure, and the production of components for autonomous vehicles. For example, in the UAE, the 'regulatory sandbox' has allowed companies like WeRide and Cruise to test unmanned taxis in Dubai, accelerating local transport digitization. This will also foster the development of local startups in unmanned technology. As a result of the initiatives mentioned, Kazakhstan will strengthen its status as a regional technology hub,” added Zhaslan Madiyev.

He also emphasized that the unmanned vehicle market has enormous potential. Experts predict exponential growth in this market in the near future. By 2035, the market for unmanned vehicles is expected to reach $3 trillion, an increase of nearly 100 times.

At the end of last year, it was announced that a control center for unmanned trains would be established in Astana as part of the LRT launch, which will automate key management processes of the LRT, from train launches to their stops at stations.