Aссelerate Prosperity and FCDO Launch the Green and Inclusive Growth Fund - AP Astana to Expand Financing Across Central Asia

Almaty, Kazakhstan |  4–5 May 2026 |  GITEX AI Central Asia

Aссelerate Prosperity and FCDO Launch the Green and Inclusive Growth Fund - AP Astana to Expand Financing Across Central Asia

Accelerate Prosperity, in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), announces the launch of the investment fund under program Green and Inclusive Growth Fund  — a new regional investment facility targeting startups and small and growing businesses (SGBs) across Central Asia that have demonstrated early traction but lack access to the financing they need to scale.

The announcement was made at the GITEX AI regional conference in Almaty, which brought together investors, founders, development partners, and key players from the Central Asian entrepreneurship ecosystem to discuss the future of venture capital and innovation in the region.

"We invest trust, capital, and time into ideas that are just taking shape and businesses that are just beginning to come alive. AP Astana is opening the next chapter of entrepreneurship in Central Asia."

— Imran Shams, Global Executive Director, Accelerate Prosperity

AP Astana is designed for those who have historically been overlooked by conventional financial instruments: women-led businesses, youth entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, and companies contributing to the region's green economy. Priority goes to businesses demonstrating real growth potential, particularly at the pre-seed and seed stages.

The Fund bridges the financing gap by combining flexible capital with comprehensive investment-readiness support — meeting entrepreneurs at the moment they need it most. By 2030, the GIG Fund aims to finance approximately 110 businesses, deploy up to USD 20 million in investment capital, and mobilise an additional USD 30 million in co-financing.

AP and FCDO are establishing and capitalising a regional investment facility for Central Asia, providing diversified financing to technology-driven startups and SGBs. The Fund offers flexible instruments suited to commercially viable yet underserved businesses, while building a strong pipeline designed to attract additional private and institutional capital to the region.

Over time, the AP Astana will strengthen Central Asia's investment appeal — improving market confidence in regional entrepreneurs and demonstrating portfolio performance to international investors.

"We see entrepreneurs across the region with the courage and ideas to build something meaningful. Through the Fund, the United Kingdom is giving them what they need most: investment capital and the support to take the next step. By backing businesses at an early stage, we are helping to create the companies that will drive long-term growth, innovation, and job creation across Central Asia."

— Charlie Morris, Economic Development Adviser, FCDO Central Asia

This publication has been made possible with the support of the UK Inclusive Green Development Program in Central Asia, co-financed by the UK Government and the Aga Khan Foundation

Full programme details and investment application guidelines will be published in the coming weeks at: www.kz.accelerateprosperity.org