Welcome to AIFC
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is a unique hub of the financial world that allows businesses and financial institutions to tap into the markets of EAEU and Central Asia
AIFC in Numbers
Types of Regulated Activities
Leading Financial Centre (GFCI 24)
Companies Incorporated
Countries Represented
Why AIFC?
Financial Ecosystem:
The development of an asset management market is integral to any successful financial centre, and the AIFC will leverage its geographic position to provide international investors with access to markets in Central Asia. Furthermore, AIFC opens up opportunities for global as well as local private equity, hedge fund and real estate fund managers to add diversity to their portfolios. Thus, localising leading international asset management companies through efficient use of Sovereign Funds along with strengthening internal expertise in the field can establish Nur-Sultan as the main regional centre for asset management and will help boost the competiveness of the Kazakhstani economy in the global market outlook.
Through its legislative and regulatory regime, AIFC has created a favourable atmosphere in order to support domestic and international investors who are in need of local based specialists that are able to assess the emerging pools of wealth in Central Asia. The centre offers fund management services that acknowledge intricate issues required for the successful management and distribution of funds.
AIFC welcomes new entities, as well as existing bank representatives, from all around the globe including the regions of Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East and the Americas, to take advantage of the positive economic change in Central Asia. The market growth and globalisation of economic development demand a full range of commercial and wholesale banking services, which in turn create opportunities for expanding wealth, providing trade and export finance, as well as funding for long-term bankable projects.
The AIFC supports the development of the Private banking sector in conjunction with the development of the asset management market and expertise. The AIFC with its dynamic and sound course of actions opens investment opportunities for High Net-Worth Individuals in the region and invites international Private Banking firms and External Asset Managers to set up their offices within the Centre.
As private wealth management is globally experiencing a shift towards Asia, and as emerging economies are drawing more investments and fueling further wealth generation, AIFC aims at positioning Nur-Sultan as an important regional wealth management hub in Central Asia for selected customer base from CIS/EAEU and other parts of Asia by creating a new platform for private banking.
In recognizing the importance of effective regulation and supervision to develop sustainable insurance markets in the AIFC, AFSA has developed world-class regulation on Insurance Business.
AIFC allows foreign institutions to use its financial services and take advantage of the privileges offered within its territory. These incentives are able to attract investors and business development of the region. In order to retain AIFC participants, the Centre provides insurance coverage on different aspects such as: monetary, legal, transport, physical and materialistic..
Also, our goal is to facilitate growth in the reinsurance and captive insurance markets to increase the effectiveness of the transfer of risk.
The Astana Financial Services Authority is accepted as member to the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).
AIFC is the first platform in the region to provide businesses with systemic access to Islamic finance, a rapidly growing and promising investment segment. By various estimates, this segment now totals over $2.5 trillion globally and is expected to reach $3.8 trillion by 2023, which accounts for 1% of the world’s total financial markets assets. Islamic banking represents the largest segment (estimated at $1.7 trillion or 70% of total Islamic finance assets). The Islamic insurance industry (takaful) and capital markets have shown strong growth as well.
Kazakhstan plans to develop Islamic finance industry in order to create alternative sources of financing for state and municipal projects, as well as for private ones. For this purpose, a special regulatory and legal regime has been set up in the AIFC that is consistent with international best practices and standards. AIFC’s Islamic finance industry includes a range of participants, including Islamic banks, asset management companies, investment funds, takaful and retakaful companies and other Islamic financial organizations, as well as leading international Islamic financial institutions.
Our mission is to develop a deep and liquid capital market in Kazakhstan and in the Central Asian region by providing clear and favorable conditions for attracting local and foreign investors as well as creating a platform to finance the growth of private businesses and the economy as a whole.
The Kazakh capital market is of great interest to international investors searching for new opportunities at emerging markets.
AIX offers investors and issuers all of the main instruments of capital market: initial and secondary public offerings, stock trading, sovereign and corporate bonds, sovereign and corporate Eurobonds, depositary receipts, exchange traded funds and notes, as well as Islamic financing instruments and bonds in yuan. A major advantage of the AIFC is its willingness to work with mid level capitalization companies.
Astana International Exchange (AIX) is functioning in the AIFC jurisdiction. Its technological platform was designed jointly with NASDAQ and complies with the high requirements and expectations of global market participants. To implement this technological potential, a regulatory framework, unique for the region, based on English common law, has been created.
The AIFC Tech Hub is a meeting point for global startups, entrepreneurs, investors, industry’s top experts and great talent pool.
Our role is to help develop a more diverse and knowledgeable fintech space in Kazakhstan and the region with a pipeline of opportunities for venture capital funds and financial institutions.
Our modern infrastructure, flexible regulations, easy communication environment and legal transparency are aimed to attract tech companies and become one of the leading fintech hubs.
AIFC and Tech Hub are determined to increase the expansion of domestic technology companies and startups. Growing Globally will help to enhance the number of Kazakhstani companies contracting with international businesses, improve and level up their competencies and increase their income. In the long-term perspective, it may pay off in tight transnational cooperation, magnifying Kazakhstan as a regional hub for techpreneurship.
In order to let financial business be successfully conducted and efficiently realised, it is important for AIFC to support such core business with professional services companies.
AIFC supports the registration of Ancillary Service Providers by granting license through one of its bodies, the Astana Financial Services Authority.
Firms who choose to obtain such license must successfully complete a series of requirements during their application and fit the standard criteria of principles required. Once the process is finished, these firms officially become AIFC participants. In order to obtain the AFSA license, there are 5 types of ancillary services that firms can provide: legal, audit, accountancy, consulting, credit rating.
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News & Events
News & Events

The AIFC is continuing its work on Islamic finance development: the first detailed handbooks were presented
News On November 22 in Astana, with the support of Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the official presentation…

The AIFC is continuing its work on Islamic finance development: the first detailed handbooks were presented
On November 22 in Astana, with the support of Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and the Asian