Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The IX Astana Finance Days 2026 forum, themed “Delivering Impact. Capital in Action,” is continuing on 10 September at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The event brings together investors, representatives of the financial and technology sectors, regulators, government and quasi-government institutions, and international businesses.
The second day’s programme focuses on strengthening Kazakhstan’s role as a regional financial and trade hub, further developing the capital market, aviation finance, direct investment, digital assets and Islamic finance, artificial intelligence infrastructure, creative industries and new sustainable finance instruments.
The second day’s business programme opened with a plenary session titled “From Transit to Transactions: Building Kazakhstan as a Regional Financial and Trade Hub.” Participants included Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC Samruk-Kazyna; Renat Bekturov, Governor of the AIFC; Yilmaz Kocagoz, Co-Head of Regional Sales for Emerging Markets in EMEA at Goldman Sachs; and Jad Ellaoun, Managing Partner and Regional Head for the Middle East at Brookfield. The session was moderated by Drew Guff, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Siguler Guff.
Participants discussed how Kazakhstan’s geographical position, the development of transport routes, financial infrastructure and capital markets could help transform transit flows into investment projects, transactions and long-term partnerships.
The discussion continued with the session “Kazakhstan’s Capital Market: The Way Forward.” Representatives of the AIFC Financial Services Regulatory Committee (AFSA), the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, FTSE Russell and the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan considered ways to increase market liquidity, expand the investor base and improve market infrastructure.
The regional agenda continued with the session “Unlocking Investment Flows: Integrating China and Kazakhstan’s Capital Markets.” Representatives of Astana International Exchange, CICC, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, Shanghai Stock Exchange and JSC Samruk-Kazyna discussed cross-border capital raising, access for Kazakh issuers to international investors and further development of financial cooperation with China.
Particular attention was given to investment residency mechanisms. At the session “Residency Through Investment: Positioning Kazakhstan for Globally Mobile Capital,” government representatives and international experts discussed the development of relevant mechanisms, including the AIFC Investment Tax Residency Programme.
As part of the AIFC’s partnership with global platforms Bybit and Binance, digital assets traded on platforms licensed by AFSA have become available as a new investment instrument under the programme.
Aviation finance as a new area
Aviation finance was one of the key industry areas on the second day. At the roundtable “Untapped Potential of the Regional Aviation Finance Market in Kazakhstan and Central Asia,” representatives of government bodies, airlines, airports, cargo carriers, financial institutions and leasing companies discussed financing for aircraft, aviation infrastructure and other strategically important industry assets.
As part of the event, the AIFC presented its first analytical report, “Aviation Finance in Kazakhstan and Central Asia: Global Trends and the Role of the AIFC.” The study examines aircraft financing and leasing models, the experience of international aviation hubs, the investment potential of Central Asia and the Caucasus, and opportunities offered by the AIFC jurisdiction for structuring aviation transactions.
It was also announced that Kazakh cargo airline Jupiter Jet had successfully completed its first aircraft leasing transaction with a US-based lessor. The AIFC Aviation Finance Hub supported the company in structuring the transaction.
The AIFC and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan also plan to sign a memorandum of understanding on supporting projects in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The document provides for cooperation in developing SAF projects, facilitating interaction among market participants and creating conditions for attracting financing to Kazakhstan’s emerging sustainable aviation fuel sector.
Direct investment and digital assets
A separate part of the programme is devoted to developing the direct investment market. The AIFC, Qazaqstan Investment Corporation (QIC) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) presented a joint report containing previously unpublished data on investment activity, as well as the results of surveys and interviews with market participants.
In the technology track, participants discussed the development of the AIFC digital asset ecosystem, Islamic investment instruments and new forms of market infrastructure.
At the session “Beyond Traditional Markets: Developing Derivatives and Prediction Markets,” representatives of AFSA, ITS, AIX, Bloomberg, Binance and Orient Capital Management discussed the use of new financial instruments and approaches to their regulation.
Creative industries enter the investment market
A significant part of the second day’s programme is devoted to turning intellectual property into an independent investment asset.
At the panel session “Creative Industries as a New Asset Class,” representatives of the music industry, game development, digital platforms, venture funds and investment companies discussed financing mechanisms for creative projects, intellectual property monetization models and criteria for assessing the investment readiness of creative-sector companies.
The Creative Pitch Day 2026 provided a practical continuation of the discussion. The organizers of the AIFC creative platform received more than 100 applications in film, music, game development and digital content. Nineteen projects were shortlisted and presented to potential investors.
The forum also includes the signing of a number of agreements in sustainable finance, creative industries, fintech, cross-border financial services and the development of capital markets in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In particular, memoranda are planned involving the AIFC Green Finance Centre, First Carbon Group Ltd., Green Investment Group LLP, HYT-CAPITAL, the Alliance of Creative Industries of Kazakhstan, CodeCoin Tech Ltd., Delta DA Ltd., JSC Altyn Bank, as well as Astana International Exchange and the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange.
Carbon market and tokenization
One of the forum’s significant events will be the official launch of trading in carbon units on the voluntary market at AIX. According to the materials presented, the exchange will become the first in Central Asia to provide its own exchange infrastructure for trading carbon units verified under the international Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
In addition, Tech Hub Ltd. and ōzen signed a framework cooperation agreement aimed at developing a platform for the tokenization of music royalties in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
Artificial intelligence as a new investment asset
New investment opportunities related to artificial intelligence are being presented at the session “AI as a New Driver of Capital and Markets.”
The AIFC Insights analytical centre presented a report titled “AI as Infrastructure: Investment, Compute, Power and Capital Formation across Kazakhstan and the Turkic Space,” focusing on computing capacity, data centres, energy and telecommunications infrastructure needed for further AI development.
In the sustainable finance track, preliminary findings of a joint AIFC-OECD study on financial risks related to natural capital were presented. The initial analysis covers the banking sector, which accounts for around 91% of the country’s financial-sector assets.
At a session on blue finance development, the AIFC Green Finance Centre, UNDP and the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) presented the results of work on Kazakhstan’s first national Blue Taxonomy and National Guidelines for the Issuance of Blue Bonds.
These instruments are expected to establish common criteria for financing projects related to water security, modernization of water infrastructure, wastewater treatment and protection of aquatic ecosystems.
New financial market instruments
Forum participants also considered the prospects for developing derivatives and prediction markets. AFSA presented the legal framework for testing Event-Based Contracts, under which payouts depend on the occurrence of a specific financial or economic event.
Testing of the new instruments will be conducted exclusively within the AIFC FinTech Lab, allowing products to be assessed in a controlled regulatory environment.
In addition, AFSA recognized clearing participation certificates that International Trading System Limited plans to issue as qualified investments. The new instrument is intended to improve liquidity management and facilitate secured financing through repo transactions.
Another initiative was the presentation of the AIFC Reinsurance Hub concept, a regional reinsurance hub for structuring, joint underwriting and reinsurance of large corporate, energy, infrastructure and transport risks.
The initiative is aimed at developing Kazakhstan’s and Central Asia’s reinsurance capacity, improving underwriting quality and expanding market participants’ access to international reinsurers. The parameters of a potential model are expected to be further developed with government bodies, regulators, the insurance community, investors and international market participants.
AIFC Awards 2026
The winners of the AIFC Awards 2026 were announced at the end of the forum’s first day. The awards recognize companies and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the development, strengthening and international promotion of the AIFC ecosystem.
The awards went to:
“Leading Asset Management Company” — OQAM Finance Ltd.;
“Financial Market Development Leader” — International Trading System Limited;
“Achievement in Islamic Finance” — MIZAN Islamic Finance Ltd.;
“For Contribution to Business Creation and Development in the AIFC” — Consult Engineering Group Limited;
“Leadership in Sustainable Finance and ESG” — Global ESG Partnership NPIO;
“Best Digital Customer Experience” — Ailat AI Ltd.;
“Best International Promotion of the AIFC Ecosystem” — Fonte Capital Ltd.;
“Best Promotion of the AIFC Ecosystem in Kazakhstan” — Abylai Global Solutions Ltd.
As part of the AIFC Legal Award 2026, Sayat Zholshy Law Firm Limited was named Law Firm of the Year, while Maksim Burak was named Lawyer of the Year.
Special AIFC awards for contributions to the development of international cooperation were presented to GulfLink Ltd., China International Capital Corporation (CICC), Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The AFD Exhibition Hub remains an important part of Astana Finance Days 2026. The unified exhibition platform brings together financial institutions, banks, investment and asset management companies, as well as fintech and technology projects.
Participants showcase products and solutions, hold business meetings and establish direct contacts with potential partners and investors.
