Policy Recommendations based on Forum 2025

1. Build Regional AI and Digital Infrastructure Through Joint Investment

Shared GPU clusters, regional data centers, cloud architecture and AI Excellence Centers form the backbone of digital sovereignty. Without foundational infrastructure, no nation can deploy advanced AI systems or support competitive private-sector innovation.

2. Build Human Capital and Cyber-Resilience as Pillars of Digital Transformation

Competitiveness in the AI era depends on a skilled workforce and strong cybersecurity. Governments must invest in digital literacy, AI education, cybersecurity training, and continuous upskilling for public servants, youth, and SMEs.

3. Develop Local Language Models While Ensuring Global Interoperability

National LLMs/SLMs tailored for health, education, agriculture and public services are crucial for sovereignty. Yet they must remain interoperable with global architectures to ensure safety, performance, and compatibility with international partners.

4. Strengthen Public-Sector AI Literacy and Establish Cross-Ministerial Governance

AI transformation requires unified governance: inter-ministerial AI councils, data governance bodies, and systematic AI education for civil servants. Harmonized governance prevents siloed initiatives and accelerates national deployment.

5. Make AI a Flagship National Priority Led Directly by Heads of State

Presidents and prime ministers should personally champion national AI strategies, elevate AI to a top political agenda, and ensure alignment across ministries, investors, and global partners. High-level political will is essential for ambitious reform.

6. Strengthen International Public Advocacy to Position “Eurasia” as a New Global AI and Tech Center

Governments must actively promote the region in global forums, highlight success stories, and coordinate messaging to brand Eurasia as a rising hub of digital and AI-driven innovation. Visibility directly determines investment and partnership flows.

7. Adopt a Two-Phase AI Regulatory Path Aligned With the EU AI Act

The first phase should rely on soft-law tools: voluntary standards, risk assessments and sandbox experimentation. The second phase should gradually align national frameworks with the EU AI Act, ensuring both innovation and regulatory readiness.

8. Expand Regional Sandboxes and Public–Private R&D Partnerships

Cross-border sandboxes provide controlled environments to test AI systems, data flows, and compliance mechanisms. Partnerships with OpenAI, Google, Meta, Nvidia and others enable responsible scaling and accelerate adoption.

9. Connect IT Parks, AI Hubs, and Startup Ecosystems Across Borders

Interlinked regional hubs create a multi-country innovation zone. Shared R&D programs, talent mobility, joint acceleration and co-development make the region more attractive to global investors and Big Tech partners.

10. Promote a Gulf–Central Asia Digital Corridor and Joint Innovation Programs

A coordinated Digital Corridor with the GCC — covering cloud standards, secure data flows, and AI interoperability — would merge Gulf capital and Central Asian talent into a shared innovation engine strengthened by joint R&D hubs.