Central Asia is becoming a center of attraction for global investment flows and a driver of economic growth. Experts at the China Conference: Central Asia 2026 in Astana today discussed the region’s new opportunities and prospects arising from expanded trade and growing cargo volumes along the transport and logistics routes that run through the region. The conference brought together representatives of government agencies, financial institutions, and major businesses from China, Central Asian countries, and ASEAN. The discussions focused on investment, mineral extraction, infrastructure development, and regional companies’ access to international markets. Trade between China and the five Central Asian countries has already exceeded $100 billion, and there is room for further growth. Business representatives from Hong Kong and mainland China therefore view Kazakhstan as an important partner for expanding cooperation and gaining access to Central Asian markets. According to conference participants, the financial sector offers particularly promising opportunities, with the sides able to exchange expertise, jointly attract investment, and create new opportunities for business.
«We have the capacity, we have the people and knowledge to share with Kazakhstan. And I see that Hong Kong considers Kazakhstan has huge potential in terms of financial development. You have the AIFC developed and expanding. So I understand that there are more and more cooperation between Hong Kong and AIFC in terms of financial regulation, also the financing arrangement, which would be beneficial to the companies and financial institution register in both places,» noted Simon Chan, Director-General, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
One of the practical outcomes of this cooperation was the listing of a major mining company on the stock exchanges in Astana and Hong Kong. According to AIFC Governor Renat Bekturov, the deal opened up a new channel for attracting international capital to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.
«Last year, Jiaxin International Resources completed a
simultaneous IPO on the Astana International Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange. It was the first dual listing of a Hong Kong company in the history
of Kazakhstan's capital market, the first Belt and Road IPO on AIX, and the
first IPO in Central Asia denominated in Chinese yuan. Demand exceeded supply
more than 200 times and reached over 34 billion U.S. dollars,» said AIFC Governor
Renat Bekturov.
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