AIFC (Astana International Financial Centre)

🔹 On November 6, during the 11th Summit of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), five member countries signed a Memorandum to launch the Turkic Green Finance Council. This initiative, proposed by Kazakhstan’s President, K.K. Tokayev, designates the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) as the Council’s Secretariat. 🤝 The Memorandum was signed by Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, represented by AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov. Kazakhstan will also serve as the Council's first presiding country. 📌 Council’s Mission: To advance green and sustainable finance across the OTS region by enhancing ESG investments in eco-friendly projects, providing guidance on green finance frameworks, implementing ESG reporting for public companies, and organizing regional ESG forums. 📣Renat Bekturov, CFA, AIFC Governor, noted: “The establishment of the Turkic Green Finance Council is a significant step for financial regulators and development institutions in OTS countries, as it fosters the growth of the green and sustainable finance market. We are pleased that the AIFC has been entrusted with a leading role in organising the Council’s activities and advancing financing instruments. Since its inception, the AIFC Green Finance Centre has acted as a development institution in Central Asia, providing comprehensive support to market participants. Notably, 60% of the green bonds and loans in Kazakhstan have been verified by the Centre,” The AIFC Green Finance Centre is Central Asia’s sole Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI)-accredited entity, supporting the Belt and Road Initiative’s Green Investment Principles. The Council welcomes new members among financial regulators, development institutions, financial sector associations, and government agencies focused on green economy and sustainable finance. 🔔 This Council represents a unified effort to elevate green finance and attract sustainable investments across the OTS region!

📈AIFC Participants have contributed over KZT 126 billion in taxes to Kazakhstan’s budget AIFC in numbers: 🕒 Time period: 2018 through the third quarter of 2024 🔊In the first three quarters of 2024 alone, AIFC participants paid KZT 41.3 billion in taxes to the Kazakhstani budget — an increase of KZT 4.4 billion compared to the entire previous year. Additionally, AIFC participants have created more than 9 600 jobs to date. ✔️Over 3300 companies from more than 80 countries are registered, including: 🔸Financial services (Amicorp Group International Trading System) 🔸Cryptocurrency exchanges (Binance, Bybit, BigONE Exchange) 🔸Professional services (KPMG Kazakhstan, EY PwC , Deloitte 🔸Venture capital (MOST Ventures, Quest Ventures 🔸Development banks (China Construction Bank, China Development Bank) The AIFC's main sectors include information and communications, professional services, and trade, with 42% significant representation from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Investments have reached significant levels through the Astana International Exchange and AIFC participants, while all companies comply with Kazakhstani tax regulations.

🌟 In this edition of our Spotlight interview series, we are delighted to introduce Inkar Bektybayeva — an outstanding IT specialist and the Chief IT Manager at the Astana International Exchange - AIX. Her career spans multiple countries and industries, with involvement in large-scale projects that make her journey truly unique. Inkar shares valuable insights into her professional achievements and accumulated experience, revealing the secrets to success in the fast-evolving world of information technology. Join us as we discover how she has overcome challenges and achieved significant results in her field.

🌿Azerbaijan Hosts Debut Green Bond Issuance with Support from the AIFC Green Finance Centre We’re thrilled to announce that Unibank, one of Azerbaijan’s leading private banks, has issued the country’s inaugural green bonds, valued at 20 million AZN (USD 11.8 million), aligning with the Green Bond Principles of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). This groundbreaking issuance precedes COP29, where Azerbaijan will host global leaders in climate action discussions. The green bonds were evaluated and approved by the AIFC Green Finance Centre, an accredited verifier under the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) and ICMA. The Centre’s Second Party Opinion awarded Unibank an “excellent” rating, certifying the bonds’ green credentials and recognizing Unibank’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible finance. Manas Gizhduaniyev, CEO of the AIFC Green Finance Centre, stated: 💬 “This issuance marks a significant step forward not only for Unibank but for the entire regional green finance ecosystem. Launching green bonds ahead of COP29 signals Azerbaijan’s dedication to sustainable development and the country’s commitment to global climate goals. We are proud to have supported Unibank in this pioneering endeavor and eagerly anticipate its positive environmental impact.” 🎉The funds raised through these green bonds will be directed toward finance projects that contribute to environmental sustainability, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean production initiatives. These projects will support Azerbaijan in reaching its climate goals and emphasise the critical role of the private sector in the country’s decarbonisation efforts.

📣 Mr. Yaseen Anwar, Chairman of the Green Investment Principles, shared his feedback on #AFD2024 🔔 Don’t miss the full interview for more insights: https://lnkd.in/dtTY5cC2

Dear friends, congratulations on the Republic Day of Kazakhstan! 🎉Today, we celebrate the strength, unity, and remarkable progress of our nation. Kazakhstan’s journey of independence reflects the resilience and aspirations of its people, and today, we continue to build a future grounded in innovation, openness, and global collaboration. Each step forward brings us closer to greater achievements on the world stage. The AIFC team extends our best wishes for health, prosperity, and continued success to all. Together, we look forward to a future of shared growth and opportunity.

🎉Republic Day Celebration at AIFC We were honored to celebrate Republic Day of Kazakhstan with a special Recognition and Awards Ceremony at the AIFC. This event was a true testament to the dedication and commitment of our colleagues, whose tireless efforts have contributed to the growth and success of our organization. 🏅 First and foremost, we are proud to announce that for significant contribution to the development and prosperity of the country by Decree of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre, Renat Bekturov, CFA, has been awarded the Order of "Kurmet." This honor recognizes his outstanding achievements and continued efforts to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position on the global financial stage. The ceremony, opened by the esteemed Governor Renat Bekturov, celebrated the contributions of our team members, recognizing their outstanding service to the AIFC and Kazakhstan. 🔺 Renat Bekturov, CFA, AIFC Governor: 💬 "Republic Day is a symbol of true independence, unity, and solidarity of our people, a vision long dreamed of by our ancestors. The achievements of the Astana International Financial Centre are the result of the high level of expertise and hard work of each one of you. Today, our centre has attracted over $13 billion in investments, registered more than 3,200 companies from 80 countries, created new jobs, and increased contributions to the state treasury." ⚜ Medal "Eren enbegi ushin": We proudly invited several of our dedicated colleagues to the stage to receive this prestigious award, acknowledging their hard work and dedication to our mission. 🎊 Our warmest congratulations goes to the following AIFC team members: Bakhtiyar T. Yelena Pak, DipCIPR Sayagul Sharimanova Madina Tukulova Anuar Kaliyev Gulnaz Tukhtamova Almat Igenbayev Almas Zholamanov, MPA, PMP, CIPR The AIFC recognized the efforts of its employees by awarding certificates of distinction and dedication to those who worked tirelessly to achieve outstanding results. ✨ We congratulate all the recipients and thank them for their continued efforts. Your achievements are an integral part of AIFC's history and our shared success!

🌐 AIFC MASTERS: World of Investing We’ve just wrapped up another incredible session of the AIFC Masters Workshop series, and what an inspiring event it was! Our distinguished speakers shared invaluable insights into their personal journeys in the world of investing and financial education. ⚡ Key Highlights: Yelena Pak, DipCIPR, Chief of Communications (AIFCA), spoke passionately about how anyone can get started in investing, even without a finance background. Zharas Mussabekov, CFO at AIX, dived deep into the infrastructure of capital markets and how it shapes today's investment landscape. Samal M., Head of Retail Investors at AIX, brought us practical, actionable tools to help everyday investors succeed, under her theme: *Eat, Sleep, Invest, Repeat.* Our speakers touched on the business side of investing, the essential tools, and strategies that drive success in this dynamic field. Let's continue learning and growing together!

🔥 Astana International Exchange (“AIX”, “Exchange”) is proud to announce that the trading volume on AIX has reached $1bn since the start of 2024, bringing the total trading volume to over $2bn since the Exchange's launch in 2018. This milestone was achieved through the active participation of the domestic clients, a substantial rise in foreign retail and institutional investors, as well as the increase in the number of listed securities overall. In 2024 alone AIX registered 100 new listings bringing the total number of listed securities to 230. 🔊Assel Mukazhanova, CEO of the AIX, noted: “It took us five years to reach the first $1bn milestone, but less than ten months to achieve the second. This remarkable acceleration is testament to the robust infrastructure we’ve built, driving our growth today. With this solid foundation in place, we are more committed than ever to maintain and even surpass this momentum as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible for the overall benefit of the development of the Kazakhstani capital market.”

🚀 Exciting insights from AFD 2024! 🚀 We had the pleasure of sitting down with Juan Carlos Reyes, President of the National Commission of Digital Assets in El Salvador, to discuss the future of tokenization and digital assets. 🌐💡The discussion also covers El Salvador's recent partnership with the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA), including the motivations behind this collaboration and its implications for cross-border financial regulation. 🎧 Tune in to our full podcast episode with Juan Carlos Reyes for more in-depth insights: https://lnkd.in/dTYzFmcD