Post by : Maya Rahman

On December 9th in Abu Dhabi, the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), in collaboration with the Kazakhstan Embassy in the UAE and the UAE Embassy in Kazakhstan, conducted the "AIFC Connect: Abu Dhabi 2025" event. The objective was to enhance investment collaboration and to present lucrative projects in Kazakhstan while showcasing the opportunities available in Kazakhstan’s financial market for international entities.

The UAE ranks as one of the leading ten investors in Kazakhstan, with an impressive investment portfolio exceeding US$4.3 billion. Approximately 462 UAE firms operate in Kazakhstan, including notable names like Masdar, Presight, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. The event was brought to fruition in partnership with GWM Capital Ltd. and ITS, aligning with the timeline of Abu Dhabi Finance Week.

Around 150 attendees from investment banks, technology, consulting, stock exchanges, regulators, and asset management sectors were present. Key topics of discussion included investment prospects, infrastructure development, fintech trends, innovation, and digital assets, alongside the AIFC’s pivotal role in linking Gulf and Central Asian capital markets.

Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rauan Zhumabek, described the two nations as “bridge countries” facilitating regional connections and business ventures. He mentioned that UAE investments in Kazakhstan surpassed US$1 billion this year, indicating robust investor confidence. AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov brought attention to the AIFC as a strategic platform for structuring international transactions, fostering infrastructure initiatives, and market integration.

The business programming included discussions on investments by sovereign and institutional funds across sectors such as energy, transportation, aviation, logistics, and mining, featuring speakers from Masdar, Baiterek National Investment Holding, KazMunayGas, and Siguler Guff. Experts emphasized Kazakhstan’s geographic advantage at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, alongside the expanding prospects for foreign investment.

The session also spotlighted fintech and digital assets, with conversations surrounding tokenized securities, regulatory sandboxes, and custodial offerings. The AIFC is leading in digital asset regulation by having adopted international IOSCO standards. Participants comprised AFSA, Binance, and industry professionals advocating for secure and interconnected digital financial ecosystems.

This event highlighted the successful partnerships between the UAE and Kazakhstan, such as Caspian Integrated Maritime Solutions and dirham-denominated bonds through AIX and Nasdaq Dubai. Since its inception in 2018, the AIFC has attracted US$19.3 billion in investments, with over 4,800 companies from more than 90 nations registered in its jurisdiction.

#Global News #Business News