Lao Leadership Visits the Astana International Financial Centre

On 3 September, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith visited the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC, the Centre).

During the visit, the President of Laos was presented the AIFC’s institutional structure and regulatory model, as well as the Centre’s role in strengthening international investment and financial cooperation in the region.

The AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov presented the Centre’s key areas of activity, including investment attraction, capital market development, as well as AIFC’s opportunities for the development of financial technologies and innovative projects. It was noted that since its foundation, AIFC has facilitated the attraction of a cumulative USD 27 bn in investments into Kazakhstan. More than 6,300 companies from over 90 countries are registered within the AIFC ecosystem. As of 1 July 2026, AIFC participants contributed KZT 353.7 bn in taxes to the state budget over the entire period of their operations.

As part of the visit, President Thongloun Sisoulith also visited the Museum of Trust, the AIFC art space dedicated to the history of the formation of Kazakhstan’s financial system.

Trade and economic cooperation between the two countries continues to develop. In 2025, bilateral trade amounted to USD 1.02 mln, increasing by 18.8% compared to 2024. Kazakhstan’s main imports from Laos include tobacco products, footwear and textiles, while Kazakhstan’s exports mainly comprise control and measuring instruments, as well as profile projectors. One of the areas for cooperation between Laos and the AIFC is strengthening bilateral business and investment ties, facilitating the exchange of expertise in financial services and capital markets, and developing joint initiatives in sustainable finance, green finance and financial technologies. The AIFC can also serve as a platform for strengthening economic cooperation and enhancing connectivity between Central and South-East Asia.

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]