Special attention of the discussion was paid to the implementation of the state program Digital Kazakhstan, under which ambitious tasks were set to introduce the newest innovative technologies, reduce digital inequality, and provide high-speed Internet for the industry, agriculture and social sphere.

In addition, the parties discussed the opening of the office of Nokia in Astana. It should be recalled that this decision was made in 2018. To date, the preparatory work is in progress, the opening is scheduled for July 2018.

Nokia has been working in Kazakhstan for a long time. Since 2007, the company has supplied products/solutions under the Nokia Siemens Networks, although Siemens had been present in Kazakhstan since 1994, when the optical backbone network for Kazakhtelecom JSC was built.

In 2010, the company repurchased the telecommunications assets of Motorola, in 2012 – a wireless unit, Panasonic, was acquired, and in 2016 – the purchase of another telecommunications giant, Alcatel Lucent, was successfully completed.

About 50 employees work for Nokia Kazakhstan. The company continues to invest in its staff and projects in Kazakhstan, as the digital innovation market in Kazakhstan is rapidly developing.

In cooperation with the Government of Kazakhstan, Nokia is trying to improve its presence in the country through becoming a leading provider of digital infrastructure for enterprises not only in the information and communication technologies, but also in the mining, oil and gas, transport, energy, government and agro-industrial sectors of the economy.

Nokia is interested in stimulating the deployment of 5G communication networks in Kazakhstan as part of the implementation of the State Program Digital Kazakhstan. It is expected that commercial deployment of 5G communication networks will begin in 2019.

In the course of the meeting, Markus Borchert made his recommendations and suggestions for the timely introduction of these networks in Kazakhstan, as well as in general on the industrial development in the context of modern and high-tech solutions aimed at the development of the digital economy and manufacturing.

It should be recalled, the XI Astana Economic Forum started today in the capital. This year, the forum is being transformed into the Global Challenges Summit, this is a global agenda and a new format. The forum uses the latest modern multimedia solutions: TED talks, presentations by visionaries, innovative presentations, public interviews, special workshops, etc. Today, a plenary meeting was held with the participation of the Head of State. The forum will be held from 17 to 19 May at the Expo Congress Center and Hilton Astana.