Astana will host the Berne Union Spring Meeting for the first time
From May 11 to 14, 2026, the Spring Meeting of the Berne Union — the world’s largest international association of export credit and investment insurers — will take place in the capital of Kazakhstan. This will be the first event of such scale ever held in the CIS region.
The forum will bring together around 200 delegates from more than 70 countries. Astana will host executives of leading export credit agencies, export-import banks, international financial institutions, and global insurance corporations. Participants will include such prominent organizations as Bpifrance, Credendo, Euler Hermes, SACE, SINOSURE, US EXIM, and other key players in the global market. The combined volume of insurance coverage provided annually by the Union’s members amounts to approximately USD 3.3 trillion, supporting around 10% of global cross-border trade. This makes the upcoming meeting in Astana an event of truly global economic significance.
The central theme of the meeting, “Crossroads,” reflects the transformation of the global export credit system amid today’s evolving challenges.
The business agenda will focus on the following priority areas:
• digitalization of the financial sector and the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies;
• adaptation of development institutions to geopolitical changes;
• enhancement of risk assessment and insurance underwriting mechanisms;
• creation of enabling conditions for long-term export financing.
The program will include official sessions of the Berne Union, meetings of профильных committees, and the Prague Club. In addition, Astana will host a meeting of the Executive Committee of Aman Union — a professional association promoting trade development among countries of the Islamic world. The committee meeting is expected to be attended by the heads of ICIEC, DHAMAN, Turk Eximbank, and other representatives of regional financial institutions.
Hosting such a significant international forum in Astana highlights Kazakhstan’s growing role as a key regional financial hub and an active contributor to shaping new standards in international trade. The event is organized by the Export Credit Agency of Kazakhstan, a subsidiary of the Baiterek National Managing Holding. For Kazakhstan’s economy, the forum creates additional opportunities to expand export markets and attract high-quality foreign investment.
