Astana Finance Days 2025 Reinforces Kazakhstan as Regional Financial Hub
Astana Finance Days (AFD) 2025, held on Sept. 4–5 under the theme “Where Capital Empowers the Future,” confirmed Kazakhstan’s position as a leading financial hub in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The forum gathered over 5,500 participants from 82 countries, representing institutions managing $1.5 trillion in assets.
The event opened with a cultural ceremony reflecting Kazakhstan’s principles of hospitality, fairness, and trust, central to the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Over two days, participants engaged in 400 bilateral meetings, 65 expert consultations, and networking activities, highlighting the forum’s role as a practical business platform.
Key highlights included the inaugural Turkic Green Finance Council, the 42nd General Assembly of the Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges, and four new listings on the Astana International Exchange, featuring Kazakhstan’s first social bonds, an Islamic sukuk, a dual IPO with Hong Kong, and the world’s first Solana ETF with staking functionality.
Memoranda of understanding were signed with partners from Qatar, Mongolia, Air Astana, Nazarbayev University, and the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund. The AIFC Awards 2025 recognized firms excelling in Shariah-compliant finance, digital assets, auditing, and AI-driven solutions, while the AFD Exhibition Hub showcased innovations from fintech, crypto, and investment sectors. Forum speakers, including AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov and futurist Brett King, shared insights on sustainable finance, regulatory sandboxes for fintech startups, and building trust in global markets.
Photo credit: AIFC
