China Construction Bank Corporation Joins the AIFC Financial Community

China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB) received a licence to carry out financial services at the Astana International Financial Centre. CCB is authorised to carry on the banking services and capital market operations through its Astana Branch in the AIFC. CCB is second largest bank in the world by total assets and is the first fully authorised branch of a foreign bank in the AIFC.

The AFSA license was granted to CCB by Dr Kairat Kelimbetov, the AIFC Governor on the sidelines of the Second Belt and Road Forum on 25 April 2019 in Beijing.

Dr Kelimbetov said: “We welcome the CCB at the AIFC. We are keen to take advantage of our location along the New Silk Road and in particular the Belt & Road Initiative by offering an attractive regulatory environment. Due to its strategic location between Europe and China, the AIFC aspires to be a financial services hub for projects in Eurasia.”

Mr Mukhtar Bubeyev, the Acting CEO of AFSA said, that AFSA is delighted to see CCB among the AIFC participants.

Mr Tian Guoli, Chairman of the CCB stated: “Kazakhstan, where the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed, is one of the most important countries along the Silk Road. The establishment of the Astana branch is CCB’s foremost pro-active response to the Initiative”.

Chairman of CCB further said “Astana Branch will give full play to the advantages of CCB Group to support the bilateral trade and investment cooperation between China and Kazakhstan. The Branch will actively serve the Belt and Road Initiative by providing high standard financial services in order to facilitate interconnection and production capacity between China and Kazakhstan. Furthermore, CCB is committed to build a new financial cooperation platform between China and Central Asia in the AIFC.”