PRESS RELEASE

The AIFC Expat Centre and IOM – The UN Migration Agency have held the special joint panel session on role of migration in sustainable business development in the fields of Astana Finance Days 2022.

June 28, 2022 – the special joint panel session of the AIFC Expat Centre and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has been held within the Astana Finance Days 2022.

The fifth edition of the Astana Finance Days conference is convent to discuss Sustainability, Social Responsibility, and Growth.

The joint panel session has been held under the topic of the Role of migration in sustainable business development.

The AIFC Expat Centre is trying to take an active role in raising awareness on the issues related to migration and by being an integral part of the business infrastructure of Nur-Sultan city, acts as a platform for discussing relevant trends and issues. Amidst contemporary realities, the topic of migration is closely intertwined with the tasks set for Kazakhstan. Especially so, in terms of increasing investment attractiveness of the country and human capital competitive ability.

The panel session gathered on one platform the government bodies represented by Akmadi Sarbasov, First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Askar Aldungarov - Head of the External Migration Department of the Committee of the Migration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sergey Korenev - Managing Director of the Employment Department of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Atameken, and specialists of International Organisation for Migration - Michael Newson and Killian Clifford. The AIFC has been presented by Nurlan Toimbek, Managing Director of the AIFC Authority and Ainur Zhumatova, Head of AIFC Expat Centre.

The session led the discussion on current projects implemented in Kazakhstan by government counterparts, business and international organisations.

At the event IOM specialists shared insights into migrants’ valuable contributions to national economies, the entrepreneurial potential of migrants in the countries of origin and destination, as well how migration can be viewed as a tool for sustainable business environment. 

The speakers of the session from related government bodies presented information on the national migration and labour policies, which helps to implement tools to increase investment attractiveness and create the most favourable conditions for the development of the Kazakhstan economy, which in turn will give the direction for the formation of effective local and foreign human capital.

The topic of challenges and needs of Kazakhstan business was also raised in terms of creating favourable conditions for attracting foreign human capital, which contributes by transferring valuable experience, technologies and investments for the further development of Kazakhstan business. As well as the attraction of foreign labour force raises the issue of increasing the competence of local specialists. In this regard AIFC Expat Centre shared the outlook of International financial centres experience and contribution into development of favourable conditions for foreign investors and experts. As well as the tools successfully implemented by the AIFC in this regard.

Addressing the topic of migration and its challenge requires partnership – collaboration among government, business and international organisations. The platform of the conference had a positive effect on the start of building the constructive dialogue between the interested parties.

This year, the AIFC Expat Centre celebrates 5 years of successful operation to create favourable entry and stay conditions for foreign experts and investors. Ainur Zhumatova, Head of the AIFC Expat Centre stated “We are always open to discuss and contribute into development of favourable entry and stay conditions by sharing AIFC’s successful competences and experience. We hope that the cooperation between the AIFC and the International Organisation for Migration will bring tangible results for the business and investment infrastructure of the Nur-Sultan city and the country.”

Mr. Zeynal Hajiyev, Sub-Regional Coordinator for Central Asia, Chief of IOM Mission in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan stated “Joint IOM-AIFC initiative will serve as an opportunity to improve migrants' financial inclusion and development policies in Central Asia by ensuring fair and equal access to financial services and resources for everyone. In the context of continuously growing numbers of international migrants and its impact on national economies, it is crucial to diversify and strengthen partnerships among all stakeholders.”

In the field of Astana Finance Days, IOM and Astana International Financial Centre Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding, thereby marking the beginning of joint initiatives on migration and development to address current trends and issues.