Apple, Google and Microsoft aim to increase presence in Kazakhstan

ALMATY. June 8 (Interfax) - Apple, Google and Microsoft intend to increase their presence in Kazakhstan, Kazakh Invest said in a press release.

The announcement was made during an investment conference with the American companies in Astana chaired by Kazakh National Economy Minister Alibek Kuantyrov.

"The representatives of Google expressed the company's interest in expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan after leaving the Russian market, as Google is now refocusing on the Kazakh market. Microsoft plans to create a multi-regional hub in Kazakhstan to cover the Central Asian states, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Mongolia and Pakistan. Microsoft also plans to organize training courses for IT specialists, which will allow Kazakhstan to increase its digital exports," the press release says.

In addition, Boeing came up with an initiative to conduct training courses in Kazakhstan in to help the republic to bolster its pool of qualified aviation specialists.

The investment conference was attended by representatives of more than 20 large companies from the U.S., including Apple, Microsoft, Boeing, Chevron, Coca-Cola, EPAM Systems, ExxonMobil , Google, General Electrics, Mastercard, Valmont Industries, Baker Hughes, Citibank and others.