AIFC Launches Investment Platform for Kazakhstan’s Creative Industries

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has initiated Creative Pitch Day 2026, a pilot program designed to foster investment in Kazakhstan's burgeoning creative industries. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between creative entrepreneurs and potential investors, transforming intellectual property into tangible, investable assets.

The program is open to companies operating in diverse creative fields, including movie production, music, game development, and digital content creation. To be eligible, applicants must possess registered intellectual property rights and present a compelling project pitch deck. A panel of investors, including representatives from Tolqyn Film Fund and JAS Ventures Capital, will evaluate projects based on originality, market potential, and investment readiness.

Selected participants will have the opportunity to present their ventures at the Astana Finance Days 2026 forum in September. This platform will facilitate direct engagement with venture capital funds, business angels, and institutional investors, aiming to secure funding and accelerate growth. The AIFC emphasizes its support framework, built on international best practices, to ensure legal certainty and robust investor protection.

This launch aligns with Kazakhstan's broader economic strategy to expand the creative sector's contribution to the national GDP. Currently at approximately 1%, the sector lags behind the global average of around 5%, indicating substantial room for expansion. Government targets project employment in the creative economy to reach 180,000 people by 2029. A recent study identified over 40,000 creative businesses in Kazakhstan, employing more than 140,000 individuals, with a significant concentration in Astana and Almaty.