The former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan may be well known as a major exporter of natural resources such as uranium or oil and gas, but less has been written about its technology industry or startup ecosystem.

At a time when countries across the globe are pouring money into building their own little version of Silicon Valley — or at least, developing a framework that will allow them to keep step with the new economy — it may seem like Central Asia’s largest country hasn’t quite caught up with the times.

But there are a few reports that suggest otherwise. According to a report by The Next Web, between 2010 to 2014, the Kazakh government invested US$47 million into 600 Kazakh startups, as well as relaxed certain corporate laws to help them grow unimpeded.