Astana to Host the Bern Union Spring Meeting for the First Time

From May 11 to 14 this year, Kazakhstan’s capital will host the Spring Meeting of the Berne Union, the world’s largest international association in the field of export credit and investment insurance. This will be the first event of such scale ever held in the CIS region.

Approximately 200 delegates from more than 70 countries are expected to participate in the forum. Heads of leading export credit agencies, eximbanks, international financial institutions, and global insurance corporations will arrive in Astana. Participants will include internationally recognized organizations such as Bpifrance, Credendo, Euler Hermes, SACE, SINOSURE, and Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM).

The total annual volume of insurance coverage provided by Union members amounts to approximately USD 3.3 trillion, supporting around 10 percent of global cross-border trade. In this regard, the meeting in Astana represents an event of major global economic significance.

The main theme of the meeting is “Crossroads,” reflecting the global transformation of the export credit system amid current international challenges.

The business agenda includes discussions on the following priority areas:

• digitalization of the financial sector and the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies;
• adaptation of development institutions to geopolitical changes;
• improvement of risk assessment and insurance underwriting mechanisms;
• creation of favorable conditions for stimulating long-term export financing.

The event program includes plenary sessions of the Berne Union, meetings of профильных committees, and sessions of the Prague Club.

In addition, Astana will host a meeting of the Executive Committee of Aman Union, a professional association that promotes trade and economic cooperation among countries of the Islamic world. Representatives and heads of agencies such as Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), DHAMAN, and Turk Eximbank, as well as other regional financial institutions, are expected to attend.

Hosting such a prestigious international forum in Astana clearly demonstrates Kazakhstan’s strengthening role as a regional financial hub and its active participation in shaping new standards of international trade.

The event is organized by Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of National Managing Holding Baiterek. The forum is expected to create additional opportunities for expanding export markets and attracting high-quality foreign investment into Kazakhstan’s economy.