Eurasian Development Bank Advances Islamic Finance Training in Central Asia

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) brought together experts and financial sector representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to discuss Islamic finance in Central Asia. The two-day practical seminar took place on 24 October in Almaty, with officials from ministries, central and commercial banks, regulators and international organisations taking part.

Partners included the IsDB Institute, AAOIFI and the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB). Participants reviewed international standards, Sharia governance, and regulation and supervision of Islamic financial institutions. A practical session analysed two scenarios: structuring a sukuk issue and financing equipment for a solar power plant.

Deputy Chairman of the EDB Board Ruslan Dalenov said Islamic finance could become an additional source of long-term capital for infrastructure and investment projects. The EDB Academy organised the event to strengthen market participants' skills. As of end-June 2026, the bank's investment portfolio included 348 projects worth $22.1 billion.