As part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's official visit to the United States, the delegation of the National Bank of Kazakhstan participated in the second "Central Asia - United States" Summit held in the "C5+1" format. The event brought together the presidents of Central Asian countries, senior U.S. officials, and business leaders, reflecting Washington's growing strategic and economic interest in the region, DKNews.kz reports.
What Is the "C5+1" Format and Why It Matters
The "C5+1" platform unites five Central Asian nations - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan - along with the United States.
In simple terms, it's a dialogue mechanism that allows the region and Washington to coordinate on issues such as trade, investment, energy, climate action, and security.
For the U.S., it's a chance to build a long-term presence and partnership in a region with rising geopolitical and economic importance. For countries like Kazakhstan, it offers access to capital, new technologies, and international best practices.
Expanding Financial Cooperation and Investment
During the summit, Deputy Governor of the National Bank, Mr. Aliyar Baimagambetov, joined a special session of the "C5+1" Business Conference focused on investment cooperation between the United States and Central Asian economies.
The main theme was the development of capital markets - encouraging growth not only through banking systems but also via investment flows, financial instruments, and private equity.
On the sidelines of the event, the National Bank and its subsidiary, the National Investment Corporation (NIC), signed a series of strategic partnership agreements with leading U.S. investment firms: Cerberus Capital Management, Brookfield Asset Management, and Ashmore Investment Advisors.
These names are well-known in global finance - managing hundreds of billions of dollars in assets worldwide.
For Kazakhstan, these agreements mark a new level of trust from Western investors. The partnerships show that the country is being viewed not merely as a commodity exporter, but as a stable and growing investment hub.
Under the agreements, U.S. partners and NIC will leverage their institutional expertise to expand Kazakhstan's investment opportunities, strengthen its capital markets, and potentially scale these initiatives across the broader Central Asia and Caucasus region.
Innovation in Payments and Financial Technology
Another important outcome of the summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the National Bank and Visa, one of the world's leading payment systems.
The memorandum aims to foster innovation in Kazakhstan's financial ecosystem. A Center of Excellence will be established under the National Payment Corporation, where new payment solutions will be tested - including card services powered by digital assets.
Another focus area of the agreement will be enhancing the Anti-Fraud Center of the National Bank, which plays a crucial role in protecting consumers and ensuring the security of digital transactions.
With the rapid growth of cashless payments and online banking, this step will strengthen trust in Kazakhstan's payment infrastructure and support the country's broader digital transformation agenda.
Why This Matters for Kazakhstan's Economy
The National Bank's participation in the "C5+1" summit and the agreements signed in Washington are more than diplomatic gestures - they are strategic steps toward deeper integration into the global financial system.
Partnerships with established American investors bring not just capital, but also advanced financial management practices, risk assessment tools, and a culture of transparency that can elevate Kazakhstan's market standards.
Meanwhile, cooperation with Visa reflects the country's steady progress toward financial digitalization - making transactions faster, safer, and more innovative.
Together, these developments position Kazakhstan as a regional leader in modern finance and an increasingly attractive destination for international investment.
