EDB Presents Central Asia's Investment Potential to Gulf Investors at EDB Investor Day in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, 10 November 2026. — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) hosted EDB Investor Day in Abu Dhabi, bringing together over 80 investors, government officials, international financial institutions, and business leaders from GCC countries and Central Asia. The event presented Central Asia's economic potential, a pipeline of investment projects, and the financial instruments the EDB offers to mobilise international capital.

The EDB Investor Day marked a step towards implementing the Bank's new Strategy for 2027–2031, a key priority of which is to create an "investment highway" between Central Asia and the Gulf — connecting international investors with projects in transport and logistics, energy, high-value-added industries and other strategic sectors.

Office launch.

As part of the event, the EDB marked the launch of its office at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). It was led by H.E. Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Finance, and Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, underscoring the commitment of both sides to strengthening financial and investment cooperation between the Gulf and Central Asia.

H.E. Younis Haji Al Khoori, said:

“The UAE continues to strengthen its position as a leading global financial and investment hub, guided by a strategic vision that places international cooperation, economic diversification and sustainable development at the forefront of its priorities. Our approach focuses on building strong partnerships with regional and international financial institutions, facilitating cross-border investment flows and creating new opportunities for long-term economic growth.

The opening of the Eurasian Development Bank’s office in Abu Dhabi represents an important step towards deepening financial and investment ties between the Gulf and Central Asia. It also reflects the growing role of the UAE in connecting international capital with promising markets and strategic development projects. We look forward to strengthening this cooperation in ways that support economic integration, enhance regional connectivity and contribute to shared prosperity.”

The EDB office in ADGM will serve as an operational hub for the Bank's fund ecosystem, which is being developed to attract international capital to Eurasia. The ecosystem will include three funds: the Central Asia and Caucasus Private Equity Fund (CACPEF), the Central Asia Development Investment Fund (CADIF) and the Altaira Private Equity Fund. The office will also support the Bank's expansion in Gulf capital markets: in 2025 the EDB raised AED 385 million through two dirham-denominated placements and plans a public dirham bond issue on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

New agreements.

A key outcome of EDB Investor Day was the signing of four memoranda of understanding in the presence of Nikolay Podguzov and H.E. Younis Haji AlKhoori.

The EDB signed agreements with Eurasian Bank JSC, Bank CenterCredit JSC and ForteBank JSC to expand joint financing of investment projects in Kazakhstan.

• The agreement with Eurasian Bank JSC focuses on syndicated lending and energy projects.
• The memorandum with Bank CenterCredit aims to develop syndicated financing in priority economic sectors, including projects implemented through EDB investment funds. The EDB also participates together with Bank CenterCredit in a Bank of America-arranged club financing facility supporting the further development of Almaty International Airport.
• The agreement with ForteBank will strengthen interbank cooperation and joint investment financing.

The EDB also signed a memorandum with ACM LIMITED, a UAE-based company, to develop cooperation in capital markets, structured finance and asset management. The partnership will explore debt instruments, including credit-linked notes, and investment vehicles to attract international capital into Central Asian projects.

Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, said:

"Central Asia is emerging as an important centre of economic growth and international trade. Our goal is to turn this potential into tangible investment projects by bringing together capital, expertise and international partners. Under our new Strategy, the EDB is moving beyond traditional lending to become an architect of investment, connecting markets, resources and projects between Central Asia and the Gulf.

The figures support this: Gulf investment in Central Asia has grown 3.4-fold since 2020, and the power sector alone now accounts for a third of that portfolio. Our research points to a further $4.9 billion in trade potential by 2030 — and this is exactly what the investment highway is designed to unlock.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to H.E. Younis Haji AlKhoori, Ministry of Finance of the UAE and ADGM for making this event possible. Today's agreements demonstrate how this vision is already becoming a reality."