Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA)

Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA)

Financial Services

AFSA is an independent regulator of the AIFC established under the Constitutional Statute to regulate financial services

About us

AFSA was established as a result of the initiative of the former President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and operates as per the Constitutional Statute relating to the Astana International Financial Centre, dated December 2015. The AIFC aims to attract inward investment to the Kazakh economy through the establishment of an attractive and business-friendly environment for financial services and capital markets, including securities, insurance, banking and Islamic finance. The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) is the independent regulator of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) established under the Constitutional Statute to regulate financial services and related activities in the AIFC. AFSA’s purpose is to facilitate business by maintaining the safety and robustness of the AIFC financial system and to ensure that financial markets in the AIFC are fair, efficient and transparent. The AIFC Regulations and Rules provide for the authorisation, registration, recognition and supervision of financial firms and market institutions. AFSA mission is to create and maintain a regulatory environment for fair and transparent financial markets.

Website
https://afsa.aifc.kz/
Industry
Financial Services
Company size
51-200 employees
Headquarters
Astana
Type
Government Agency
Founded
2018

Locations

Employees at Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA)

Updates

  • Join AFSA’s Human Resources Division in a pivotal role where you will shape talent strategies, drive learning and development initiatives, and ensure compliance with labor laws while supporting our mission to regulate and innovate within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Key Responsibilities: Lead recruitment and talent acquisition efforts. Manage training & development programs. Organize team-building events and corporate surveys. Support reward management and vendor relations. Prepare detailed HR reports and ensure compliance with labor laws. Qualifications: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Law, or related fields. At least 3 years of HR experience, with expertise in recruitment, training, and compliance. HR certifications and experience in international financial centers are a plus. Why Join AFSA? AFSA is an independent regulator at the heart of the AIFC, offering a dynamic, internationally connected work environment in Astana, Kazakhstan. Our HR Division is central to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation. Location: Astana, Kazakhstan If you are passionate about making an impact in a fast-evolving financial hub, we’d love to hear from you! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eCwVN7Dg #AFSAHiring #AFSA #HRJob #HumanResources #Recruitment #LearningAndDevelopment #HRManager #JoinAFSA

  • Bivexo Group Astana Limited is a private company registered at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) on 22 October 2024 with a BIN Number 241040900810. The firm is engaged in the activities of “manufacture of batteries and accumulators” and “manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment for vehicles.”   While Bivexo Group Astana Limited is registered within the AIFC, the firm is neither licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) to provide Financial Services nor to make Financial Promotions within or from the AIFC.   Bivexo Group Limited, which promotes itself as a Hong Kong-based organisation via the bivexo.com website, is not and has never been registered in the AIFC or authorised by the AFSA to carry out Financial Services within or from the AIFC.   It came to AFSA’s attention that financial promotions on various social media platforms are taking place, urging members of the public to use financial services offered on bivexo.com. AFSA urges the public to exercise utmost caution and consult the Public Register, which lists business information not only for legal entities registered at the AIFC but also licensed by AFSA. This is a crucial step to ensure a legal entity is duly licensed before using any of its financial services or products. Press release is on our website: https://lnkd.in/dvJmhuKq

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • The amendments simplify certain corporate processes and overall ease of doing business by the AIFC Participants, including the following improvements (below is not a comprehensive list of amendments, please read our press release and further materials for more https://lnkd.in/dcUY4GeE): ▶️ Transfer and registration of Shares and Debt Securities: requirement on having a written instrument of transfer has been cancelled for Public Companies in respect of their Shares and Debt Securities, where such securities are admitted to trading on investment exchanges recognized by the AFSA and settled pursuant to the rules of such exchange; ▶️ Non-cash consideration for Shares in Public Companies: allotment of new Shares paid in-kind (non-cash consideration) is now exempt from the requirement to obtain an independent valuation, if the number of the allotted Shares does not exceed 5% of the total share capital; ▶️ Public debt offering regime for Private Companies: AIFC-incorporated Private Companies are released from obligation to obtain the Registrar of Companies’ approval in respect of public offering of their Debt Securities, if the Debt Securities are placed via the investment exchanges licensed by AFSA.

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • The amendments have been made to enhance clarity, alignment, and functionality of insolvency proceedings for entities registered in the AIFC. Key changes include: ▶️ Registrar of Companies’ role has changed. The power to petition for winding-up on grounds of the AIFC interests has been shifted from the AIFC Authority (AIFCA) to the Registrar of Companies. ▶️ Notifications and approvals regime is expanded to include Ancillary Service Providers. Provisions requiring notifications to and approvals from AFSA were extended to include Ancillary Service Providers in various scenarios, such as meetings of creditors and contributories, insolvency proceedings, and winding-up orders. ▶️ Consistency across various AIFC Acts. For the purposes of insolvency procedures, Ancillary Service Providers are now treated the same as Authorised Persons.   To get familiarised with further materials please read our press release: https://lnkd.in/dGsHQAXU

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • AFSA has introduced comprehensive amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing, and Sanctions Framework within the AIFC. The amendments are effective from January 1, 2025. Some of the key amendments are related to definitions such as “sanctions violation”, “watchlists”, “geographic area (state or territory) considered to be an area of high risk”. We have further clarified the definitions of “Relevant Person”, “Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO)”, and “Know Your Employee.” The revisions also bring a detailed description regarding the application of the Risk-Based Approach, enhancing the processes surrounding Customer Risk Assessment and Customer Due Diligence. These are only some of the comprehensive changes in the respective Framework. To find out more about it please read our press release, which contains all the relevant links to further materials: https://lnkd.in/dbHe9z8E  

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • We have further enhanced the legislative framework governing investment funds or collective investment schemes in the AIFC and activities of the asset and fund managers operating in or from the AIFC. The amendments include, among others, an expanded list of Specialist Funds, including: ▶️ Credit Funds ▶️ Digital Asset Funds ▶️ Exchange Traded Funds ▶️ Money Market Funds ▶️ Investment Token Funds and, ▶️ Qualified Investment Token Funds. The new amendments also allow Venture Capital Funds to operate as Foreign Funds for Professional Clients; expand investment options beyond equity to include securities and units of early-stage unlisted companies; and enabling funds to adopt a Master-Feeder structure for greater diversification and efficiency. For more information please find our press release here: https://lnkd.in/djeda-TE

    • No alternative text description for this image
  • Following international practices and the analysis of feedback received from the market, enhancements consider transitioning of Credit Rating Agencies to the Regulated Activities regime. This transition significantly changes the regulatory landscape for Credit Rating Agencies in the AIFC by intensified regulatory oversight in line with international standards and practices and stricter requirements imposed on them. More on this is in our press release via the link: https://lnkd.in/deeS5z8c

    • No alternative text description for this image

Similar pages