Central Asia is moving beyond its traditional role as a transit corridor and emerging as an investment destination in its own right, according to Renat Bekturov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre. He said investors increasingly value transparent institutions, predictable law and capital protection alongside geography and natural resources.
Bekturov noted that Kazakhstan remains the European Union’s largest partner in Central Asia, accounting for more than 80% of the EU’s trade with the region. In 2025, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the European Union reached $45.1 billion, while cumulative European investment since 2005 exceeded $200 billion.
More than 4,000 companies with European participation operate in the country, including TotalEnergies, Siemens, Airbus and Schneider Electric.
The AIFC chief stressed that an important element of this transformation has been Kazakhstan’s new financial infrastructure. Established in 2018 and operating under the principles of English common law, the AIFC, as of 2026, brings together more than 5,600 companies from 90 countries, including more than 730 from Europe.
According to the AIFC, more than $21.8 billion in investment has been raised through its platform, and its ecosystem has created more than 10,000 jobs.
Bekturov also highlighted the development of the Astana International Exchange, which he said has become a platform for launching new financial instruments, including the region’s first IPO in Chinese yuan, Kazakhstan’s first spot Bitcoin ETF, and what AIX describes as the world’s first spot Solana ETF with staking.
Bekturov also emphasized the AIFC’s role in advancing sustainable finance. Through the AIFC Green Finance Centre, Kazakhstan introduced Central Asia’s first national green taxonomy, while about 70% of the country’s green bonds and loans are verified within the center’s ecosystem.
Beyond the traditional financial sector, the AIFC is also developing initiatives in mining, Islamic finance, aircraft leasing, digital assets and the creative economy.
In Bekturov’s view, Kazakhstan could become a key link between European capital and Central Asia’s growing opportunities in the coming years, particularly in critical minerals, clean energy, logistics and digital infrastructure.
“In a world where uncertainty has become part of every deal, trust is becoming one of the most valuable assets,” Bekturov concluded.
