#Kazakhstan #Astana #Sustainable Investment #Central Asia #CASI Academy

CASI Academy Launches First Local-Language Course in Central Asia

In a significant move for sustainable finance in Central Asia, the Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI) has announced the launch of 28 online Level 1 courses in Russian during the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) held in Astana. This initiative, supported by the Astana International Financial Centre's Green Finance Centre, aims to build expertise in sustainable financing and promote sustainable investments throughout the region.

The Regional Ecological Summit brought together representatives from local financial institutions, regulatory bodies, international organizations, and academia to discuss practical strategies for enhancing the capacity for sustainable financing. Keynote speaker Yaseen Anwar, former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and now head of the regional Green Investment Principles (GIP) initiative, emphasized the critical need for coordinated efforts among regulators, financial institutions, and educational platforms like CASI to support the transition to sustainable finance in the region.

CASI Academy’s educational approach is both innovative and interactive, capitalizing on modular video content that allows participants to learn at their own pace. This comprehensive program includes a series of certification courses focusing on sustainable finance topics such as taxonomy, climate risk assessment, green financing tools, transition financing, carbon markets, and sustainability disclosures.

Dr. Ma Jun, Chairman of CASI and former co-chair of the G20 Working Group on Sustainable Finance, highlighted the importance of developing competencies to ensure sustainable financial development. He stated, “The transition to sustainable finance in Central Asia requires coordinated capacity-building among regulators, financial institutions, and project developers. CASI was created to address this need by offering structured learning and practical knowledge. The launch of CASI Academy in the region, coupled with courses in the Russian language, will enhance accessibility to education and strengthen local implementation capacities.”

Furthermore, Professor Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, General Coordinator of the OIC-COMSTECH Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, stressed the necessity of building capacity within government agencies and institutions, noting the role of international collaboration in expanding sustainable finance efforts.

Manas Gijduaniev, CEO of the Green Finance Centre at the Astana International Financial Centre, also pointed out the significance of regional cooperation in developing sustainable financial ecosystems.

Early adopters of CASI Academy in the region include institutions like the Eurasian Development Bank, Development Bank of Kazakhstan, and the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business, all of whom welcomed this new platform and its Russian-language online modules as pivotal for enhancing the skill sets of practitioners and students alike.

CASI is committed to collaborating with regional partners to expand training programs, deepen engagement, and improve educational content by integrating more local case studies and additional language offerings.

To explore the innovative programs offered by CASI Academy, visit CASI Academy or for more information, check out CASI Events.