AIFC Green Finance Centre supports Climate Bonds Initiative annual conference

Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) annual conference took place virtually on 8-10 September, with AIFC Green Finance Centre as one of the event partners.

This year conference under the tagline “Green transition, the opportunity of the decade” saw over 3000 investors, asset managers, policymakers and stakeholders from civil society discuss how to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and more inclusive economy.

Some of the highlights of the conference include launch of the AIIB-Amundi Climate Change Investment Framework (CCIF), J.P. Morgan Green Bond Index, as well as introduction of the transition label.

Sean Kidney, CEO of CBI, said: “This year’s conference theme is transition – exactly the challenge facing Kazakhstan. The recent inaugural green bond from Damu Fund has started the green bond market in Kazakhstan; it’s especially interesting because funds are going to renewables by SMEs. It’s fantastic! Thank you AIFC for the continuous support and let’s make the transition happen”.

AIFC works on the development of green bond market in Kazakhstan and the region by creating a regulatory framework and introducing legislative standards for the creation of a green financial system, providing consulting support for green bond issuers on AIX platform, including the first issuer of green bonds – Damu Fund.

 Aidar Kazybayev, CEO of AIFC GFC, said: “AIFC GFC is pleased to support the CBI initiative which brings together leading experts, policymakers and financial professionals to discuss the ways to respond to one of the world’s biggest challenges and deliver the message to the market and regulators. Our longstanding partnership with CBI started in 2018 when Mr. Sean Kidney joined the AIFC Green Finance Advisory Council, then continued by arranging green bonds trainings for market players in Kazakhstan. We are grateful to CBI for its support of the AIFC Green Growth Forum and we believe there are many other opportunities ahead”.

Reference:

The Astana International Financial Centra was created by the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Leader of the Nation, Nur-Sultan Nazarbayev as part of the “100 steps to implement five institutional reforms” national program. The Centre’s development strategy until 2025 was approved by the Management council of the AIFC during the council’s meeting on July 2, 2020. In accordance with the strategy, the vision of AIFC is in becoming the leading financial centre in the region that includes Central Asia, the Caucasus, EAEU countries, western China, Mongolia, and Eastern Europe. The mission of the AIFC is in assisting the sustainable and long term development of the region. As the head of state Tokayev noted, “AIFC, with its unique opportunities, can act as a universal platform that connects the countries in the region.” The strategic directions for the sustainable development of the AIFC include the development of a circular economy, financial technologies, and “digital financial centre.” https://aifc.kz/

AIFC GFC is AIFC’s organisation responsible for introduction of green finance instruments in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, promoting Astana International Financial Centre as a green finance hub and attracting green investments into Kazakhstan. For more information, please visit: https://gfc.aifc.kz/

 Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) is an international, investor-focused not-for-profit organisation working solely on mobilising the $100 trillion bond market for climate change solutions. For more information about CBI, please visit https://www.climatebonds.net/