Global Capital Takes Notice of Central Asia in Astana

Global Capital Takes Notice of Central Asia in Astana

While much of the world has been consumed this September with the war in the Middle East and the summit of the Group of 20 nations in New Delhi, another significant development took place in Kazakhstan's capital city. Astana Finance Days 2026, the ninth edition of the Central Asian financial forum, finished its week of meetings on September 10 with a huge increase in international participation and attention.

This is what happened at the event, and why it's important.

The numbers tell their own story

Astana Finance Days 2026 attracted roughly 8,000 participants from 90 countries, compared to last year's 5,500 visitors from 82 countries. More importantly, the meeting included representatives of global financial institutions and asset managers with more than $26 trillion in assets. For comparison, the 2025 edition's institutional attendees managed roughly $1.5 trillion in assets under management.

The event was held under the motto "Delivering Impact. Capital in Action" and was hosted by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which has organized the forum since its founding in 2018.

What is the AIFC and why is it important?

As the name implies, the AIFC is a financial center. It has its own court system, regulator and legal framework (based on English common law), separate from the laws of Kazakhstan. This structure was created to make it easier for companies to do business and raise funds in the region. Thousands of businesses have incorporated in AIFC, and Astana Finance Days has become the event where these organizations meet to form partnerships.

Two days, two tracks

The two-day event has a separate focus for each day. On the first day, the forum was dedicated to sovereign and institutional capital, finance infrastructure, tokenization and the changing world of finance. The second day of the event was focused on the opportunities for the capital markets in Central Asia, including aviation finance, private equity, digital assets, Islamic finance, AI infrastructure, creative industries and novel financial instruments.

"We connect investors, regulators and businesses to transform ideas into solutions, investments and partnerships," said AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov. Among the speakers at the event were representatives of the world's largest asset management companies, including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and Brookfield.

Senior government officials from Kazakhstan also participated in the event. Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev and National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov were among the Kazakh officials who spoke at the forum.

Results, not just rhetoric

Unlike many similar events, AFD 2026 did not just talk about the potential for investment in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, but also achieved specific results. For example, the AIFC announced the launch of its Junior Mining Platform. During the meeting, a working group was formed to help raise funds for young mining companies in Central Asia.

In addition, the forum ended with the conclusion of several agreements and the development of a number of new financial instruments, including joint international financial instruments, sustainable finance, digital finance, aviation finance and new financing products.

Zhanbolat Kakishev, the Chief Product Officer of the AIFC Authority, discussed some of the key themes of the event in an interview with investors and guests at the forum. Kakishev spoke about the competition in attracting international capital, the financing of the Middle Corridor, the attraction of investment in the mining industry, ESG factors and the security of currency risks.

The Middle Corridor is a transport route that connects China with Europe through the Caspian Sea, which is an alternative to the Russian-controlled northern route. This shipping lane has attracted increased interest from companies and governments looking for reliable supply chains, something that has become increasingly important in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The importance of the timing

There is reason to believe that the timing of this year's event is not a coincidence. Earlier this year, Kazakhstan has increased its efforts to improve relations with Gulf states, in particular in light of the threat to the Strait of Hormuz. This month, Saudi Arabia announced the closure of the strait, which has led to reduced oil exports and increased economic challenges.

At the same time, China has increased its efforts to become Kazakhstan's main trading partner. In this context, the event in Astana can be seen as a logical step in building the financial and economic potential of the country.

Finally, the event serves as a reminder that the companies and investors from Kazakhstan, its neighbors and partners in the United States, China, Hong Kong and the Gulf states are increasingly interested in the development of transport and commercial corridors through Central Asia.

What does it all mean?

For a region not known for its financial markets, this year's Astana Finance Days is a sign that there is growing international interest in the opportunities that Central Asia can offer. It remains to be seen whether the $26 trillion in assets under management of organizations that participated in the event will translate into increased investment in the economies of the region.

However, even if this figure represents only the potential of the region's financial markets, the increase in international attention to Astana as a financial center and the results achieved at this year's event are signs that Kazakhstan is on the right track.