Astana Finance Days 2025 Outcomes: Asset Managers Overseeing $1.5 Trillion, 5,500 Participants from 82 Countries, New Listings and Agreements
160 speakers, 40 events over two days, four listings on the AIX, and seven agreements – these are the outcomes of Astana Finance Days 2025, held under the theme “Where Capital Empowers the Future”, the leading financial event in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The forum took place on 4-5 September 2025 with the support of the Astana International Forum, bringing together over 5,500 participants from 82 countries – including representatives from government bodies, the expert community, business, and financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Brookfield, BNY Mellon and others, collectively managing $1.5 trillion in assets.
This year’s AFD forum featured several notable new elements. For the first time, the event opened with a formal ceremony that immersed guests in the spirit and distinct cultural identity of Kazakhstan, setting the tone for the entire forum and underscoring the relevance of national values such as hospitality, fairness, and trust – the very principles underpinning the work of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin, said: ” One of the key tasks set before us by the Head of State is attracting investment. (…) The AIFC plays an important role in realising this vision. Since its establishment, the Centre has provided a unique institutional environment based on the principles of English common law, independent regulation, and international standards. This strengthens the trust of global investors and enables the Centre to serve as a platform for sustainable growth, capital mobility, and financial innovation”.
The forum’s guests were also welcomed by Renat Bekturov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre: “All forms of capital come together at the AIFC. Under its roof, we unite investors, innovators, and entrepreneurs on the principles of transparency, openness, and integrity. We believe the AIFC is setting the pace for a new financial system in Central Asia. It is a modern financial centre, home to a vast number of registered companies and over $17 billion in attracted investment. The AIFC stands at the crossroads of history – we are recreating the New Silk Road”.
The ceremony concluded with a Fireside Chat featuring Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC, and Brett King, one of the forum’s headline speakers, renowned futurist and entrepreneur. During the discussion, Brett King remarked: “Artificial intelligence will transform the landscape of financial services, as the shift towards autonomous independent systems and automation of supply chains is already underway. Traditional financial systems can no longer fully meet their objectives. In the 1960s, payment systems were very different, whereas today we see autonomous operations. This means we need a new technical infrastructure to support the next generation of financial services”.
Guests at Astana Finance Days were also introduced to the AIFC’s unique corporate museum, the “Museum of Trust.” This initiative by the financial centre chronicles the history of Kazakhstan’s financial system from ancient times to the present day, portraying capital not merely as an economic tool but as a phenomenon founded on trust.
A dedicated networking zone was set up at the AFD venue, where representatives from AIFC bodies offered consultations to anyone interested. Over two days, specialists from AFSA, the AIFC Authority, the Expat Centre, and the AIFC Academy delivered 65 consultations. In addition, participants held around 400 bilateral meetings, leveraging the event to strengthen business relationships.
A networking zone was also set up at the AFD venue, where representatives of AIFC bodies provided consultations to all who wished. Over the course of two days, specialists from AFSA, the AIFC Administration, the Expat Centre, and the AIFC Academy conducted 65 consultations. Additionally, forum participants held around 400 bilateral meetings in this space, taking advantage of the event’s opportunities to develop business connections.
Also notable was the announcement of the winners of the AIFC Awards 2025 during the official AIFC reception held as part of the forum. These awards recognise companies that have made a significant impact on the financial centre’s ecosystem through innovation, collaboration, growth, and influence. The winners in the following categories were:
- Category: “Best Shariah‑Compliant Financial Institution” — Al Safi Bank Ltd.
- Category: “Innovation in Fund Structuring” — Abylai Global Solutions Ltd. and Fonte Capital Ltd.
- Category: “Outstanding Contribution in Digital Asset Services” — ATAIX Eurasia Ltd.
- Category: “Visionary in Alternative Financial Solutions” — RCS Trust and Corporate Services Ltd.
- Category: “Best Advisory & Structuring Partner “- Legal Consulting Community Limited
- Category: “Excellence in Audit Services” — Moore Kazakhstan (AIFC branch)
- Category: “Best AI‑Driven Company» — Presight AI Kazakhstan Ltd
- Category: “Regional Business Expansion through AIFC” — Solidcore Resources plc
- Category: “Tech for Finance Excellence” — Freedom Finance Global PLC.
The business programme of Astana Finance Days 2025 comprised 40 events, including two plenary sessions, as well as over 30 panel discussions, round tables, and side events.
On 4 September, a plenary session was held on the topic “Infrastructure Investment in Emerging Markets”. The session was moderated by Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC. Speakers included Kanat Bozumbayev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Nurlan Zhakupov, Chief Executive Officer of “Samruk-Kazyna” JSC; Hüseyin Özhan, Managing Director for Central Asia and Mongolia at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); Jad Ellawn, Managing Partner at Brookfield and Head of the Middle East; and Nika Gilauri, Managing Partner at Reformatics.
Participants discussed strategies for attracting investment into infrastructure across emerging markets, using Kazakhstan as a regional case study. The session explored the conditions conducive to drawing long-term capital into large-scale infrastructure projects, including those in energy, transport, and digital connectivity.
The second day of the forum, 5 September, began with a plenary session on the theme “The Power of Portfolio Investments: Strengthening Financial Markets in Central Asia”. The session was moderated by Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC, and featured speakers including Timur Suleimenov, Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan; Kanat Sharlapaev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Economic Affairs; Hani Kablawi, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of International at BNY Mellon; Timur Turlov, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp.; and Ryad Yousuf, Partner at Goldman Sachs.
An important part of the business programme was the keynote address by one of the forum’s headline speakers – Brett King, the renowned futurist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. On 5 September, he delivered a speech titled “Towards Bank 5.0 – How AI, Fintech and Quantum Are Reshaping the Future of Banking”. In his address, Brett King explored the future of the banking sector and how technology is already driving its transformation.
As part of the forum, the inaugural meeting of the Turkic Green Finance Council took place, alongside the autumn meetings of FEAS (the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges), including the 42nd General Assembly session and a roundtable discussion.
Several listings of new financial instruments were announced on the sidelines of AFD at the Astana International Exchange. The following securities placements were disclosed:
- Listing of sukuk by Tayyab Finance Sukuk SPC Ltd., an AIFC participant financial company, to develop Islamic auto-financing for retail clients.
- The debut tranche of social bonds was listed by the Socio-Entrepreneurial Corporation Aktobe (SEC Aktobe). Proceeds from the issuance will be directed towards financing the corporation’s strategic priorities, including support for businesses and the implementation of industrial and agro-industrial projects.
- A listing ceremony was held for the mining company Jiaxin International Resources Investment Limited, which launched its IPO simultaneously on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) and the Astana International Exchange. The company is developing the Boguty tungsten deposit in the Almaty Region, one of the largest tungsten deposits in the world.
- The listing of the world’s first spot ETF fully focused on the digital asset Solana (SOL), featuring staking functionality – Fonte Solana Exchange Traded Fund OEIC Plc.
Astana Finance Days also maintained its status as a platform where new agreements are concluded between financial market participants and important initiatives for the investment market are introduced. Thus, on 4 September, the launch of a unified front office to support investors at the AIFC Expat Centre was announced. This new format of engagement will provide comprehensive support in a single space, operating on a ‘one-stop shop’ principle.
Memoranda were signed by:
(1) The AIFC Authority and the Qatar International Financial Centre Authority – a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of data protection.
(2) AFSA announced the launch of an initiative allowing AIFC participants to pay regulatory fees using USD-pegged stablecoins. Bybit Limited was the first signatory of the multilateral memorandum.
(3) The `Damu` Entrepreneurship Development Fund and the Association of Islamic Finance and Business (AIFB) have signed a memorandum of cooperation to unite efforts in developing Islamic financial instruments in Kazakhstan.
(4) The AIFC Expat Centre and Air Astana signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate within the AIFC framework in creating favourable conditions for the entry, stay, and integration of foreign investors and experts.
(5) The AIFC Academy and Nazarbayev University signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen and develop scientific and educational ties.
(6) AFSA and the Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia signed a memorandum of understanding. In addition, several other documents were signed on the sidelines of the forum.
Additionally, two reports were presented on the sidelines of the AFD forum: a joint study by the AIFC and the China Innovation Finance Institute on the development of economic ties between Central Asia and China, and an analytical report by the AIFC on Kazakhstan’s mining industry.
Notably, a distinctive feature of this year’s forum was the AFD Exhibition Hub — a unified exhibition platform for Astana Finance Days. It brought together companies operating in capital markets and digital innovation, offering a space to showcase solutions, enhance market positioning, and establish direct connections with strategic partners. Exhibitors in 2025 included the crypto exchange ATAIX, fintech firms AnchorX and LMAX Group, Advanced Payment Solutions, brokerage Alatau City Invest, investment company Halyk Finance, digital bank Brillink, and the non-profit organisation CFA Institute, which provides financial education to investment professionals.
The forum was organised by the Astana International Financial Centre, the leading financial centre in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region according to the Global Financial Centres Index, with the support of Astana International Forum. Astana Finance Days 2025 was supported by 28 partners, including Gold Partners Freedom Broker and KAZ Minerals; Silver Partners Solidcore Resources, ITS, and MYD Production; Bronze Partners ERG, LMAX Group, and Teniz Capital Investment Banking; Industrial Partner Allur; Crypto Partner Binance; Fintech Partner Mastercard; and Partners Al Safi Bank, Abylai Global Solutions, Emerald Capital Partners, RCS Group, Bitfinex Securities, Grata International, Halyk Finance, Fitch Ratings, Phillip Capital, Zubr Capital, Vitis Capital, White Hill Capital, Tabys Pro, Smart Capital Management, zypl.ai, Eurasian Bank, and Solana Superteam KZ.
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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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