On January 20, 2026, a delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) visited the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University in Astana to discuss potential collaborations in artificial intelligence and human capital development.
The ADB delegation included Antonio G. Zaballos, Director of the Digital Sector Office, SD2; Byeongjo Kong, Digital Technology Specialist; and Sandjar Saidkhodjaev, Digital Development Specialist. From ISSAI, the meeting was attended by Huseyin Atakan Varol, Founding Director; Yerbol Absalyamov, Executive Director; Amina Baikenova, Acting Deputy Director of Product and External Affairs; Alaidar Amirseiit, Government Relations Manager; and Aigerim Sarsenova, Senior External Affairs Manager.
During the meeting, Alaidar Amirseiit presented ISSAI, highlighting the Institute’s mission, core research areas, and ongoing projects. The ADB team was also shown demos of ISSAI AI products available on the ISSAI Playground. The discussion explored potential avenues for collaboration, particularly in human capital development in AI and capacity-building initiatives.