The Eurasian Development Bank is marking its 20th anniversary. Over the past two decades, it has grown from its first $60 million project into one of the key development institutions in the Eurasian region, with a cumulative investment portfolio of $19.6 billion, DKNews.kz reports.
When the Eurasian Development Bank was established in 2006, it began as an important but relatively regional initiative. Two countries, a common idea, the first projects and cautious steps forward. Twenty years later, the EDB has become a multilateral development bank working with major infrastructure, industry, energy, transport, analytics and projects that directly influence the economies of its member states.
Today, the EDB brings together seven countries and stands among the most influential financial institutions in the region. Over the years, the Bank has financed 326 projects, while its cumulative portfolio has reached $19.6 billion. For comparison, the EDB’s first project amounted to $60 million. Today, it is about systematic involvement in the development of entire sectors.
Twenty years measured in real results
Over the past 20 years, the Bank has invested in projects that may not always be visible in everyday life at first glance, but they form the foundation of the economy - energy, transport, industry and logistics.
With the EDB’s participation, 35 power plants with a total capacity of 2.7 GW have been built. Thirty-three industrial enterprises have been launched or developed. Some 1,700 kilometers of transport and pipeline infrastructure have been modernized, and 4,000 units of railway rolling stock have been renewed.
A separate area is aviation infrastructure. With the Bank’s participation, three airports have been reconstructed, with a combined capacity of 32 million passengers per year. For a region where logistics and connectivity between countries are becoming increasingly important, such projects matter not only for business, but also for millions of people.
Including co-financing from other sources, more than $64 billion has been directed into the economies of the member states. This is no longer just banking statistics. It is a contribution to jobs, new capacities, transport, exports, investment activity and urban development.
A bank focused on the real sector
Today, the EDB is regarded as a leader in non-sovereign financing in the Eurasian region. Over the past four years, the Bank’s investments amounted to $9.2 billion - 39 percent of all investments made by multilateral development banks in Eurasia.
There is an important point behind this figure: the Bank works not only with government projects, but also with initiatives that require long-term capital, professional expertise and the ability to bring several participants together around one project. Such instruments are especially important for infrastructure, industry and large logistics projects, which cannot be implemented quickly or single-handedly.
In recent years, the EDB has also strengthened its international presence. In 2025, the Bank opened a representative office in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. This step shows that the institution is looking beyond its traditional region and aims to scale up further.
Green projects, Islamic finance and analytics
A modern development bank is not only about financing construction and modernization. It is also about standards, expertise, sustainability and the ability to see long-term trends.
The EDB has been consistently introducing ESG principles, supporting green projects and developing Islamic finance. This is especially relevant for Eurasian countries: the region needs investment in energy, transport and industry, while sustainability, environmental requirements and new formats for attracting capital are becoming increasingly important.
The Bank has also become an important center of analytics. Every year, the EDB publishes macroeconomic forecasts, its unique Monitoring of Mutual Investments and dozens of other studies. For businesses, government agencies and the expert community, such materials are no less important than credit lines: high-quality analytics helps understand where the regional economy is heading and where new points of growth are emerging.
International recognition
EDB projects have repeatedly received international awards. Among them are the PFI Awards for the Big Almaty Ring Road, the IJGlobal Awards for the modernization of Almaty Airport, and the ADFIAP CEO of the Year award, which was presented in 2025 to EDB Chairman of the Management Board Nikolai Podguzov.
For Kazakhstan, these projects are particularly close. The Big Almaty Ring Road and Almaty Airport are infrastructure projects that are known not only from reports, but through their real impact on transport, business activity and the quality of the urban environment.
“Twenty years is only the beginning”
EDB Chairman of the Management Board Nikolai Podguzov noted that the anniversary is not a final point for the Bank, but the beginning of a new stage of development.
“Twenty years is only the beginning. We see how Eurasia is changing and understand that even greater opportunities lie ahead. We will continue to support projects that bring countries together, create jobs and give momentum to the development of entire industries. Thank you to everyone who has been with us all this time - our shareholders, partners and team.”
Today, the EDB remains a reliable partner for member states, development institutions and private investors. Its role is especially visible in areas where conventional financing is not enough: major infrastructure projects, industry, energy, transport and regional cooperation.
Over 20 years, the Bank has grown from a bilateral initiative into an institution that helps connect markets, cities, industries and countries. Judging by the pace of recent years, the EDB’s next stage may prove even more dynamic.
