Astana Advances in GFCI Rankings, Strengthening Its Position as a Regional Leader
Astana continues to strengthen its global positioning, rising 3 points to 65th in GFCI 39 among 120 financial centres worldwide. The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has consistently maintained its position as the leading financial centre in Eastern Europe and Central Asia for three consecutive years.
The latest GFCI results indicate a general decline in scores across many financial centres, reflecting broader shifts in global sentiment rather than changes in specific jurisdictions. Against this backdrop, Astana’s three-place rise to 65th globally represents a notable achievement, demonstrating Astana and AIFC’s growing recognition and trust among the international financial community.
Astana was also named among the top five financial centres expected by respondents to gain increasing importance over the next two to three years.
“Stability, predictability, and strong institutions now shape investment decisions. Financial centres must therefore go beyond capital flows to enable connectivity, drive innovation, and support cross-border cooperation”, – said Renat Bekturov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre.
The GFCI ranking is published twice a year and reflects the development dynamics of the world’s leading financial centers. It is one of the key international benchmarks and is produced through a partnership between the China Development Institute (CDI, Shenzhen) and Z/Yen Partners (London). The ranking is based on a comprehensive analysis that includes the business environment, financial sector development, infrastructure, human capital, and city reputation.
A total of 137 financial centres were evaluated, with 120 included in the main index. The ranking is based on 147 macroeconomic indicators, as well as more than 34,000 ratings from 5,200 online survey participants. Data sources include the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations.
Astana first entered the GFCI in March 2018, with its status as regional leader established in March 2023. The AIFC has played a key role in strengthening the city’s position by fostering a favourable investment climate and enhancing confidence in Kazakhstan as a regional financial hub.
The AIFC provides businesses with access to capital and offers a unique operating environment, including regulation based on leading international standards, advanced financial infrastructure, an independent judicial system, and strong support for innovation and financial technology. The Centre continues to attract both international and regional market participants, contributing to the growth of financial services and investment activity.
The GFCI 39 report is available at the following link.
Reference:
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction where investors and business meet emerging opportunities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in a transparent and sustainable environment backed by the principles of English Common Law. www.aifc.kz
AIFC Press Office,
Ainur Issabayeva, press secretary
E-mail: [email protected]
