For Immediate Release
Press Release
Astana, Kazakhstan, April 17, 2024 – Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the non-profit organization TechnoWomen and with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, launched the 'TechnoWomen Central Asia: AI Future' International Forum in Astana.
The main theme of the event was the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region and the role of women in advancing new technologies. The forum included discussions on the formation of a regional professional community on AI applications in Central Asia, as well as sessions addressing the current state of the tech industry, the impacts of the industry on social issues, and prospects for the engagement of groups underrepresented in IT, particularly girls and women.
Aziza Shuzheeva, Chair of TechnoWomen, noted that "the goal of organizing and hosting the forum was to increase motivation among young girls and women to study neural networks and further involve them in the AI sector in the Central Asian region."
On the first day of the forum, representatives of government agencies, members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, and foreign experts together attended a round table on "Artificial Intelligence: Positive Opportunities and Potential Risks".
On the second day, participants were greeted with welcoming remarks from representatives of the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace, the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan, and the International Telecommunication Union. Experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan also participated in a key discussion on "New Opportunities for AI in Central Asia”.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony for the "TechnoWomen Leaders 2023" competition, presentations from participants in the TechnoWomen mentorship program for women and girls in IT and Culture Tech projects, and a range of practical seminars and master classes.
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USAID is the world's leading international development agency and a catalyst for achieving development results. For more information, visit USAID Central Asia Web site and Facebook page .
TechnoWomen is a non-profit organization based in Kazakhstan that brings together women working in various IT sectors, including telecommunications, media, fintech, edtech, healthtech, biotech, ecotech, nanotech, robotics, space, and other related industries. The organization's goal is to increase the number of women working in STEM fields, promote the development of women's entrepreneurship, and foster the emergence of a new class of progressive women in Central Asia. You can learn more about the organization's activities on their website: https://technowomen.kz
