This May, Astana will become a focal point of the global export finance agenda. From 11 to 14 May, the capital of Kazakhstan will host the Spring Meeting of the Bern Union, one of the world’s most influential international associations in the field of export credit and investment insurance. Notably, the event will be held in the CIS region for the first time, DKNews.kz reports.
More than 70 countries and 200 global experts
The Bern Union meeting in Astana is expected to bring together over 200 leading financial experts from more than 70 countries. Participants will include representatives of export credit agencies, export–import banks, international financial institutions and major private insurance companies.
The gathering will unite key decision-makers shaping global approaches to export finance, risk management and cross-border trade support.
“Crossroads” as the main theme
The central theme of the upcoming meeting is “Crossroads”, reflecting the profound challenges and transformations currently facing the global export credit system.
The agenda will focus on:
- digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence in export finance
- adaptation of export credit agencies to geopolitical and sectoral shifts
- innovative approaches to risk assessment and insurance product management
- creating favourable conditions for export promotion and sustainable growth
The business programme will include plenary sessions of the Bern Union, working sessions of the Export Credit Agencies Committee, as well as a meeting of the Prague Club.
Focus on emerging and Islamic markets
An important part of the event will be the Executive Committee meeting of Aman Union, a professional organisation specialising in commercial and political risk insurance and supporting trade and investment among Islamic countries and their partners.
Senior executives from a number of export credit and insurance institutions are expected to attend. Kazakh national development institutions will participate as observers, gaining direct access to discussions shaping global export policy.
Strategic importance for Kazakhstan
Hosting the Bern Union Spring Meeting is of strategic significance for Kazakhstan. Participation in such high-level international platforms:
- strengthens the confidence of foreign investors
- increases the visibility of Kazakh companies among global partners
- enhances the country’s overall investment attractiveness
- facilitates the adoption of best international practices in export credit and insurance
In practical terms, it positions Kazakhstan not only as a participant, but as an active contributor to global decision-making in international trade and finance.
A platform for dialogue, not just a meeting
According to the organisers, the Astana meeting is seen not merely as a routine event in the Bern Union calendar, but as a major international platform for strengthening cooperation, advancing innovation and discussing sustainable development and long-term growth.
Active engagement in these discussions helps present Kazakhstan as a reliable, transparent and forward-looking partner in the global trade system.
The scale of the Bern Union
The Bern Union plays a key role in shaping global standards and principles in export credit and investment insurance. Today, its member organisations provide around USD 2.5 trillion annually in insurance coverage against payment risks for banks, exporters and investors.
This volume represents approximately 13 percent of global cross-border trade, highlighting the Union’s significant influence on the world economy.
Kazakhstan on the global export finance map
The decision to hold the Bern Union Spring Meeting in Astana underscores Kazakhstan’s growing role in international finance and export policy. It is not only an important reputational milestone, but also a tangible opportunity to deepen integration into global trade flows.
The May meeting is set to turn Astana into a true crossroads of global export finance, ideas and strategic decisions, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s position within the international economic system.
