Kazakhstan defines top digital priorities for air transport

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In early December, the Government of Kazakhstan approved a digital transformation map for the transport sector, which establishes key priorities for the aviation industry, among other fields.

Regarding passenger aviation, the government has set a goal to launch biometric identification in ten of the country’s international airports by 2027. This measure is intended to reduce border crossing times and enhance the quality of passenger service, government officials noted.

To develop air cargo transport and transit potential, the Ministry of Transport has been tasked with completing the implementation of the Smart Cargo ecosystem for online cargo monitoring by April 1, 2026. While the system is already operational, some services and information resources have yet to be fully integrated.

Furthermore, to accelerate the transition to paperless workflows in air cargo, the Ministries of Transport, Finance, and Agriculture must finish integrating their systems with the e-Freight platform by March 1, 2026. This will automate the exchange of customs, veterinary, and phytosanitary documentation.

According to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the development of the transport database’s information-analytical system is ongoing. While a unified data pool has been established and cargo monitoring modules have been launched, the current monolithic architecture complicates integration and the adoption of innovations.

Consequently, the Ministry of Transport—in collaboration with the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development—has been instructed to transit to a modular, scalable architecture with open interfaces (APIs) and introduce AI-powered tools for data forecasting and flow management.

CentralAsia+ Aero earlier reported: Astana Airport launches automated passport control system.