Kazakhstan refused to build an electronic government on the Sber platform

2022: Kazakhstan refused to build an electronic government on the Sber platform

In mid-April 2022, it became known about the refusal of the Kazakh authorities to build an electronic government on the Sber platform. Instead of Russian software, it is planned to use domestic solutions.

In connection with the geopolitical situation, having considered our own experience, we ourselves will implement together with the domestic institute NIT [National information technologists - approx. TAdviser] on our domestic IT platform. A feasibility study is being prepared. We will switch to the domestic system in two to three years, by the end of the year the first services will appear - said Vice Minister of Digital Development and Aerospace Industry Askar Zhambakin.

In mid-April 2022, it became known about the refusal of the Kazakh authorities to build an electronic government on the Sber platform.

The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan added that by mid-April 2022 the department is conducting a risk assessment, including taking into account the geopolitical situation, analyzes the situation taking into account the opinion of the expert environment and the public.

To date, there are no legal relations with the Sber group to implement the platform - the ministry said.

They added that the creation of a platform for digitalization based on the resources of the national operator of NIT JSC, domestic IT companies and experts with experience in implementing such projects is considered as one of the priority solutions.

It was assumed that Kazakhstan would buy a platform from Sber for up to $500 million. This was stated in the draft memorandum on cooperation in the field of implementing projects on digital transformation, the transition to a platform model of digitalization and the concept of Data-Driven Government, which was approved by the Government of Kazakhstan. In March 2022, it was planned to conclude a cooperation agreement, but Kazakhstan postponed its signing.^[1]

2021

IT companies in Kazakhstan asked the president not to change the electronic government to the Sber platform

On September 9, 2021, it became known that IT companies in Kazakhstan asked the president not to change the electronic government to the Sber platform. Chairman of the Committee of ICT, Education and Innovation of the Presidium of the NPP of Kazakhstan Bolat Basheev believes that such a project involves a large number of risks, among which is a possible loss of "digital sovereignty."

According to Bolat Basheev, before the adoption of this memorandum, representatives of the IT community sent an appeal to the head of state Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, which detailed the arguments not in favor of acquiring a Russian platform.

IT companies from Kazakhstan asked the president not to change the electronic government for the decision of Sber

We ask you to protect the "digital" sovereignty and potential of the country, to support domestic business, to prevent the implementation of the project to transform Egov to foreign companies (including countries participating in the EAEU), and to give the subjects of Kazakhstan's business the opportunity to solve the tasks that our state sets for themselves, "the Atameken NPP ICT Committee, which includes 11 associations of legal entities and more than 250 companies, urged.

According to the authors of the appeal, a one-time platform replacement carries the risk of receiving failures. The proposal submitted by Sber does not contain a proposal for the reengineering of the regulatory documents themselves for the transition from "paper" to "figure," and without work on the reengineering of services, digitalization is doomed to failure. The purchase of the Sber platform, according to international practice, will entail inevitable costs for annual support, which over 15 years may amount to up to $1.2 billion. If you choose the Sbera platform, 15 thousand Kazakhstani developers risk being left without work. In addition, the issue of ensuring information security arises.

Askar Zhambakin, Vice Minister of Digital Development, in response to the request, said that after analyzing international experience, the department came to the conclusion that the platform based on Sber's solutions is optimal for switching to a platform model^[2]

"Sber" began to create a platform of electronic government of Kazakhstan

In early September 2021, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin and Sberbank head German Gref signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of digital transformation. Under the terms of the agreement, the Russian credit institution will implement e-government projects in Kazakhstan.

President Vladimir Putin took part in the signing ceremony in video communication. For his part, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the agreement with Russia on the digital transformation of the republic strategic and indicative of mutual trust.

The signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Sberbank is another clear example of the successful development of bilateral cooperation on a qualitatively new basis. This project symbolizes the mutual trust of our states, therefore it is truly strategic in nature, "Tokaev emphasized.

According to him, the participation of Sberbank, which has been successfully working on the Kazakh market for more than 15 years, in creating the institutional basis of the guest makes cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia more versatile due to such an extremely important area as intellectual technologies.

Among other things, the memorandum involves the transition of Kazakhstan to a platform model of digitalization and the concept of Data-Driven Government. The document provides for key approaches to the development of cooperation on the introduction of a digital platform for GovTech, reengineering and digital transformation of public administration in Kazakhstan using data analysis and artificial intelligence practices. The platform model of digital architecture will increase the speed and efficiency of public services. The financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.^[3]

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