AIFC registers over 4,000 companies
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has marked a new milestone by registering over 4,000 companies. Since the beginning of 2025 AIFC’s regulator – the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) – has registered 505 new entities, representing an over 12% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Since the establishment in 2015 and the start of operations in 2018, the AIFC has demonstrated dynamic growth: the milestone of 1000 registered companies was reached more than three years after the launch – in September 2021; 2000 companies were registered over the next two years – by July 2023; and just a year later, in August 2024, the number of companies reached 3000; and in less than a year – in June 2025 – the AIFC surpassed the milestone of 4000 participants. The majority of new registered companies operate in financial services, mineral exploration and extraction, industrial production and trade, demonstrating the AIFC’s continued appeal across a diverse range of economic sectors.
Recent new arrivals include Cardiff University Kazakhstan Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of the globally renowned Cardiff University and a member of the prestigious Russell Group of the UK’s leading research universities. Founded in 1884, Cardiff University is also ranked 12th in the UK for graduate employability. This move aligns with the strategic initiative of Kazakhstan’s Head of State to attract leading foreign universities, an effort led by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cardiff University on 14 August 2024 to create a world-class research university in Astana.
AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov: “We are pleased to see that an increasing number of companies are choosing the Astana International Financial Centre as a platform for their operations and business development in Kazakhstan. Surpassing the milestone of 4,000 registered companies marks a significant expansion of our global reach and serves as clear evidence that the AIFC is steadily fulfilling its mission as a regional financial hub. The growing number of registered companies brings with it greater expertise, increased tax contributions and more employment opportunities for local professionals”.
Other notable companies recently registered at AIFC include:
- Caspian Port Development Company Limited: A joint venture between the UAE’s Noatum Ports (part of AD Ports Group) and Semurg Holding B.V. (BVI), the company will develop terminal infrastructure at the Port of Kuryk. This flagship project supports Concept for the Development of the Transport and Logistics Potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030.
- Vishwa Samudra Hospitality Services (Kazakhstan) Ltd.: A subsidiary of India’s Vishwa Samudra Group, which has diverse interests across infrastructure, logistics, maritime services, real estate, and more in countries such as Singapore, the UAE, USA, and Germany. The Kazakhstan entity will focus on construction project development.
- Coteccons Construction KZ Ltd.: A 100% subsidiary of Vietnam’s Coteccons Construction JSC, one of Southeast Asia’s most reputable private construction firms. Coteccons Construction brings the capacity of over 800 completed projects and more than 2,500 professionals, aiming to contribute to Kazakhstan’s infrastructure with world-class engineering standards.
- Kazakhstan Cultural and Creative Industries Foundation: A charitable foundation established to promote, develop, and invest in Kazakhstan’s cultural and creative industries. The Foundation is committed to advancing projects that preserve and elevate Kazakh cultural heritage and contemporary creativity.
- Dodo Brands: A top-7 foodservice company in Europe and the parent of Dodo Pizza and Drinkit. The company recently redomiciled from the British Virgin Islands to the AIFC. Dodo operates over 1,300 locations across 26 countries, including more than 100 Dodo Pizza stores and 14 Drinkit cafés in Kazakhstan. Its decision underscores the attractiveness of the AIFC for fast-growing, tech-driven businesses.
Today, the AIFC community includes companies from 84 countries, with the top 10 represented nations being China, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Turkiye, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, India, the Republic of Cyprus and the Netherlands. Companies at the AIFC operate across various regimes – as regulated financial institutions, FinTech startups, market infrastructure providers, ancillary service providers, and more.
Reference:
The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) is the independent regulator of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which is established in accordance with the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Astana International Financial Centre” for the purposes of regulating financial services and related activities in the AIFC. AFSA administers the AIFC Regulations and Rules and is responsible for the authorisation, registration, recognition and supervision of financial firms and market institutions in the AIFC.
Over 4,000 firms from 84 countries are registered in the AIFC. These firms provide banking, insurance, investment, professional and other services. The range of financial services offered at the AIFC is comparable to the list of services available in long-established financial centers of the world, such as London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and others. www.afsa.aifc.kz
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. Since its establishment in 2018, the AIFC has attracted over USD 14.8 bln in investments into Kazakhstan’s economy. www.aifc.kz
Contact information:
Public Relations and Communications Division of AFSA: +7 (717) 264 73 43; +7 7172 61-37-45 email: [email protected]
