On 4–5 September, with the support of the Astana International Forum, the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is hosting the eighth edition of Astana Finance Days under the theme «Where Capital Empowers the Future».
This year’s participants include asset managers representing firms with approximately US$1.5 trillion in assets under management – a testament to the forum’s status as the region’s leading platform for meetings, deal-making and dialogue among financial institutions, the business community, government bodies, and experts from Kazakhstan and across Eurasia.
Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC, commented: «The Astana Finance Days annual forum has established itself as a unique platform across Eurasia for discussing contemporary trends and challenges – and identifying practical solutions. The participation this year of representatives from firms managing a combined US$1.5 trillion in assets attests to this. AFD also continues to act as a venue for forging new partnerships and announcing key market developments. For example, this year’s forum will feature announcements on the expanded use of stablecoins, new listings in digital assets, social bonds, and Islamic finance. The programme promises to be rich and engaging – not only for industry professionals, but also for a wider audience with an interest in finance».
The forum continues to shape trends in the financial industry. In 2024, for instance, expert discussions at Astana Finance Days explored venture studios and investment in the creative industries. A year on, two venture funds in the creative sector and three venture studios have been registered at the AIFC. Among them is Tolqyn Film Fund, registered this year – Kazakhstan’s first investment fund dedicated to the production of feature films and animation.
At AFD 2024, the AIFC Academy announced the development of unique finance-oriented minor programmes for leading universities in Kazakhstan. These programmes have now been handed over to SDU and AlmaU for integration into their academic curricula.
Similarly, in 2021, the forum addressed the idea of establishing a new aviation hub within the AIFC jurisdiction. Since January 2025, the initiative has been actively advancing. Its main objective is to create a favourable environment for aircraft financing and leasing transactions – supporting not only the domestic market, but also the wider Central Asian region, underpinned by Kazakhstan’s strong track record in aviation safety.
On 4 September, the first day of the forum began with a solemn opening ceremony, immersing guests in the spirit and unique identity of Kazakhstan. This approach sets the tone for the entire Astana Finance Days 2025, emphasising the relevance of national values such as hospitality, fairness, and trust, which form the foundation of the AIFC’s work.
The cultural programme continued with a Fireside Chat featuring Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC, and Brett King, renowned futurist, entrepreneur, and author of global bestsellers such as Bank 4.0: Banking Everywhere, Never at a Bank, The Rise of Technosocialism: How Inequality, AI and Climate Will Usher in a New World, Augmented: Life in the Smart Lane, and others. In an interactive dialogue, they will discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on shaping the future and the evolving nature of modern finance.
Brett King: ” We are living in a time of extraordinary change with the emergence of non-human intelligence and climate impact. But the world of banking is being profoundly reshaped by digital transformation already, with Fintech’s commanding 50% more customers today than mainstream banking. Autonomous supply-chain and smart economies will need entirely new banking infrastructure to operate, which is why stablecoins and real-time payments rails are booming. Banking of 2050 will be unrecognizable from that which came before”.
Also open to all forum guests is the AIFC’s unique corporate museum – the `Museum of Trust`. This new initiative explores the history of Kazakhstan’s financial system, tracing its development from ancient times to the present day – beginning with the Great Silk Road and culminating in today’s advanced exchanges and financial ecosystems. The corporate museum is designed as a space that presents capital not simply as an economic tool, but as a phenomenon rooted in trust – from the earliest traders who accepted money as a universal medium of exchange, to today’s global financial markets, where transparent agreements between counterparties remain fundamental, no matter the geographical distance.
Additionally, on the margins of Astana Finance Days 2025, the inaugural meeting of the Turkic Green Finance Council took place. Established in 2024, with its permanent secretariat based at the AIFC, the council brings together heads and representatives of financial regulators, economic and finance ministries, and stock exchanges from member and observer countries of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS). The event concluded with the signing of a joint communiqué, in which the parties will reaffirm their commitment to sustainable green development, climate change adaptation, and environmental protection.
The business programme on the first day opened with a plenary session on «Infrastructure Investment to Emerging Markets». The session will be moderated by Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC. Speakers include Kanat Bozumbayev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Nurlan Zhakupov, Chief Executive Officer of Samruk-Kazyna; Hüseyin Özhan, Managing Director for Central Asia and Mongolia at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; Jad Ellawn, Managing Partner and Regional Head for the Middle East at Brookfield; and Nika Gilauri, Managing Partner at Reformatics.
This high-level session focused on attracting investment into infrastructure in emerging markets, using Kazakhstan as a regional case study. Participants will discuss the conditions that facilitate the inflow of long-term capital into large-scale infrastructure projects, including the energy, transport, and digital connectivity sectors.
The subsequent panel sessions covered topics including Kazakhstan’s economic cooperation with Gulf states, mitigating risks in green investments, ecosystems, institutional transformation and the future of finance, decarbonising the energy landscape, asset management, shaping the financial architecture of the Belt and Road Initiative, data protection in international financial centres, investment as a tool for global mobility, asset tokenisation, minor programmes, the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity, and more.
All these topics will further explore the theme of capital in its various forms and its contribution to economic development. For example, at the panel session «Digital Transformation of Justice and the Future of Investment Capital Protection», Lord Burnett of Maldon, Chief Justice of the AIFC Court, and Thomas Krümmel, Chairman of the International Arbitration Centre, discussed how digital technologies are transforming the dispute resolution system and the impact of these changes on protecting investment capital.
The AIFC continues to contribute to the promotion of Islamic finance in Kazakhstan. Following the session «Islamic Finance in Action: Ethical Banking and Investment for the Real Economy», the listing of sukuk issued by Tayyab Finance Sukuk SPC Ltd., a subsidiary of Tayyab Finance and an AIFC participant, on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) was announced. The company has registered an Islamic securities issuance programme with a total volume of up to 20 billion tenge, maturing by 2040. The funds raised will be allocated to the development of Islamic auto-financing products for retail clients.
Also, during this session, the launch of Junior Mining Investment Fund was announced, aimed at expanding investment opportunities within the AIFC. The Future Minerals Junior Mining Fund CEIC Ltd., established within the financial centre by GWM Capital, targets investors interested in Kazakhstan’s rapidly growing junior mining sector, providing financing for early-stage exploration and investment projects. The fund has a target size of US$100 million. It is structured as a closed-end fund and offers an investment opportunity compliant with Sharia principles.
After the session, an announcement was made regarding the listing of the debut tranche of social bonds on the Astana International Exchange (AIX), issued by the Socio-Entrepreneurial Corporation Aktobe (SEC Aktobe). The tranche amounts to 100 million tenge, within a total bond programme of 1 billion tenge. The proceeds are expected to be directed towards financing SEC Aktobe’s strategic initiatives, including support for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, implementation of industrial and agro-industrial projects, and other priority areas.
At the session «AIFC Dialogue: Strategic Investment for Global Mobility», the launch of a new integrated front office for investor support was announced, based at the AIFC Expat Centre.
This new format will provide comprehensive assistance – from visa and administrative services to advisory support – in a single, one-stop space.
Thanks to this initiative, the conditions of the AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme are becoming more attractive to investors, who may now qualify for a Golden Visa and residency status with a minimum investment threshold of US$300,000.
Ainur Zhumatova, Director of the AIFC Expat Centre and moderator of the session, said: «We aim to create the most supportive environment possible for investors – offering not only financial and legal tools, but also end-to-end assistance throughout every stage of their time in the country. The integrated front office model, bringing together the AIFC Expat Centre and NC KAZAKH INVEST JSC, will play a key role in delivering a client-centred and streamlined approach to working with investors and international professionals».
At the session «Tokenization of Assets: A New Era for Financial Markets and the Digital Economy», the launch of the Commodity Tokenization pilot project based at the AIFC was announced. This initiative is the first of its kind in the Eurasian region, aiming to digitally transform agricultural assets on a large scale by using blockchain technology to create an integrated digital ecosystem for the accounting, storage, trading, and financing of grain.
At the session «Shaping the Future of Belt and Road Finance», a joint study by the AIFC and the China Innovation Finance Institute (Chengdu) was presented, focusing on the development of economic ties between Central Asia and China. The study highlights a shift in the Belt and Road Initiative towards enhanced practical coordination among participants and streamlined border and customs procedures, which improve the predictability of capital and goods flows.
Kazakhstan plays a key role in this process due to its commitment to strategic national goals, reliable transport corridors, and a focus on clean energy. Against this backdrop, further steps are being explored to develop financial cooperation, including diversifying capital-raising channels. The AIFC’s platforms, including the Astana International Exchange, can provide practical infrastructure for attracting and structuring capital, as well as support projects through their legal ecosystem, which includes the AIFC Court and the International Arbitration Centre.
As is customary, the Astana Finance Days forum continues to serve as a platform for forging new agreements that establish long-term relationships between participants in the financial market. For instance, the AIFC Authority and the Qatar International Financial Centre Authority will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of data protection. The document lays the foundation for exchanging expertise and best practices in personal data protection, compliance with international standards, and supporting the development of digital financial services.
The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) announced the launch of an initiative to enable participants of the financial centre to pay regulatory fees using US dollar-pegged stablecoins. As part of the project, licensed digital asset service providers authorised by AFSA will be able to join as providers and act as agents for payers wishing to settle AFSA regulatory fees in stablecoins. Bybit Limited will be the first signatory of the multilateral memorandum of understanding (MMoU).
The Entrepreneurship Development Fund «Damu» and the Association of Islamic Finance and Business (AIFB) signed a memorandum of cooperation on the sidelines of Astana Finance Days. The two parties plan to join efforts to advance Islamic financial instruments in Kazakhstan. The agreement outlines expert support, information sharing, and joint educational initiatives aimed at entrepreneurs.
The AIFC Expat Centre and Air Astana signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the two parties within the AIFC platform to support the entry, stay, and integration of foreign investors, experts, and AIFC participants, as well as to contribute to the development of the necessary infrastructure.
Baurzhan Kankin, Chief Clients Officer at the AIFC Authority, noted: “We greatly value our cooperation with Air Astana and firmly believe that, as one of our key partners in logistics and air transport, the company plays a vital role – for many, it marks the very beginning of their introduction to our country. Advancing this initiative is an important part of our ongoing efforts to create a welcoming and supportive environment for AIFC participants among foreign investors here in Kazakhstan”.
The AIFC Academy and Nazarbayev University signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at strengthening and developing academic and educational ties. The agreement lays the groundwork for further collaboration in education and research, knowledge exchange, and the joint implementation of projects.
A distinctive feature of this year’s forum is the AFD Exhibition Hub – the unified exhibition platform of Astana Finance Days. It brings together companies operating in capital markets and digital innovation, providing a space to showcase solutions, enhance market positioning, and establish direct connections with strategic partners. Exhibitors in 2025 include the crypto exchange ATAIX; fintech companies AnchorX and LMAX Group; Advanced Payment Solutions; brokerage firm Alatau City Invest; investment company Halyk Finance; digital bank Brillink; and the CFA Institute, a non-profit organisation providing financial education for investment professionals.
Organised by the Astana International Financial Centre – which is ranked the number one financial centre in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region according to the Global Financial Centres Index – Astana Finance Days 2025 is supported by a range of partners: Gold Partners include Freedom Broker and KAZ Minerals; Silver Partners include Solidcore Resources, ITS, and MYD Production; Bronze Partners include ERG, LMAX Group, and Teniz Capital Investment Banking; alongside Industrial Partner Allur, Fintech Partner Mastercard, Partner Al‑Safi Bank, and others.
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is a leading financial hub in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, designed to connect global capital with the vast opportunities of emerging markets. Positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the AIFC combines international best practices with innovative approaches to create a world-class platform for investment, business, and financial services. www.aifc.kz
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