From Infrastructure to Panda Bonds: AIFC showcases projects to Shanghai business community
On 28 April 2026, in Shanghai, the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), in partnership with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, held the AIFC Connect: Shanghai 2026. The business event aimed to strengthen business ties between Kazakhstan and China, foster new partnerships, and engage international entrepreneurs in joint projects through the AIFC platform. The event was organized with the support of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Shanghai, companies such ITS, Freedom Holding Corp., Solidcore Resources, and KAZ Minerals, and brought together over 150 representatives of businesses and financial institutions from Kazakhstan and China.
The business program opened with welcoming remarks by Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC; Nurlan Akkoshkarov, General Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Shanghai; representatives of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. In their remarks, they emphasized the development of investment cooperation, integration of capital markets, and the expansion of bilateral business engagement.
The event featured a series of pitch presentations from representatives of KAZ Minerals Management, Solidcore Eurasia, ITS CSD, AIFC, and the AIFC Green Finance Centre (GFC). These presentations showcased a wide range of projects: from mining and industrial initiatives to digital solutions and green finance instruments.
AIFC Governor, Renat Bekturov stated: “We are observing sustained growth in interest from Chinese businesses towards Kazakhstan. This is driven, among other factors, by the country’s role in major international transport and investment initiatives, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the Belt and Road Initiative. AIFC has successfully established the infrastructure that allows for the structuring of transnational projects. We offer investors unique advantages, including a legal framework based on English common law principles and regulation aligned with global standards.”
The growing Chinese business interest in Kazakhstan is supported by data. According to the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics, approximately 8,300 Chinese companies are currently operating in Kazakhstan.
Nurlan Akkoshkarov, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Shanghai, noted: “Kazakhstan and China are comprehensive strategic partners, united by strong mutual trust and a shared vision for sustainable development. China remains one of Kazakhstan’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching USD 48.7 billion”.
Discussions on the integration of Kazakhstan and China’s capital markets involved representatives of Samruk-Kazyna JSC, CICC, Freedom Broker, and Jiaxin International Resources Investment Ltd. During the event, a MoU was signed between the AIFC GFC and the International Green Economy Association (IGEA), aimed at advancing joint environmental initiatives. The AIFC GFC serves as the regional hub of the Green Investment Principles (GIP) in Central Asia for the Belt and Road Initiative. Recently GFC in collaboration with Chinese partners launched the CASI Academy – ESG-focused educational programmes for Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
During the event, AIFC Insights analytical centre presented a report on capital markets in Central Asia and the Caucasus. According to experts, Kazakhstan has consolidated its status as a financial leader in the region, with bonds in circulation totaling USD 81 billion as of September 2025.
One of the key announcements of the business meeting was the expansion of listing opportunities for yuan-denominated bonds (panda bonds) on the Astana International Exchange (AIX), one of whose shareholders is the Shanghai Stock Exchange. This development strengthens AIFC’s positioning as a platform for cross-border financing and opens additional channels for attracting capital into infrastructure and industrial projects. Significantly, in April of this year, AIX successfully completed the first panda bond placement in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, issued by Kazakhstan’s Samruk-Kazyna JSC, worth 3 billion yuan.
AIFC also introduced several new initiatives, including the region’s first platform for junior mining companies aimed at attracting investment into geological exploration, particularly relevant given that over 65% of Kazakhstan’s territory remains underexplored.
In response to the global decarbonisation agenda, AIFC presented its regional AIFC Carbon Platform, enabling market participants to access international environmental instruments, including I-REC certificates and carbon credits.
Additionally, participants were introduced to the AIFC Aviation Hub, designed to facilitate the structuring of aircraft leasing and financing transactions.
The forum concluded with a series of B2B meetings, where representatives of businesses and financial institutions from both countries explored practical formats for future cooperation.
Reference:
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction where investors and businesses meet emerging opportunities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in a transparent and sustainable environment backed by the principles of English Common. aifc.kz
AIFC Connect is a series of exclusive events where experts and senior executives from the financial and industrial sectors are introduced to AIFC initiatives and Kazakhstan’s investment opportunities for doing business. Previous editions of AIFC Connect have been held in Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Seoul.
AIFC Press Office,
Ainur Issabayeva, press secretary
E-mail: [email protected]
