Marking the International Day of Family Remittances at BIFF 2026

The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR), observed annually on 16 June, highlights the vital contribution of migrants who support their families and communities through the money they send home.

In 2026, the global IDFR campaign is held under the theme “Beyond Transfers: Turning Remittances into Rural Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Employment”, emphasizing the broader development role of remittances in fostering inclusion, resilience and sustainable economic opportunities.

In Kyrgyzstan, this theme is especially relevant given the critical role that remittances play in supporting household welfare and financial stability. Against this backdrop, IFAD marked the occasion of IDFR 2026 through active participation in the Bishkek International Finance Forum (BIFF) 2026, held on 29 May at the Hyatt Regency Bishkek.

While BIFF 2026 is an independent regional platform covering a wide range of financial trends, it provides a valuable opportunity to highlight the developmental impact of remittances and to promote dialogue on how these flows can contribute to long-term economic growth.

As part of the forum’s agenda, IFAD was prominently represented in key discussions:

• Pavel Shust, Regional Coordinator of the REMIT PRIME Central Asia Programme, moderated the opening plenary session, “Finance in the Era of Digital Transformation: Security, Innovation and Trust.”
• Nurgul Torobaeva, Consultant at the REMIT PRIME Central Asia Programme (IFAD), participated as a featured speaker in Panel Session B (“ESG and Sustainable Development”). Her presentation, “How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Game,” showcased the project’s practical experience in using AI to automate the processing of financial literacy questionnaires. This innovative approach significantly optimizes the evaluation of training programs designed to empower remittance recipients and migrants’ families.

Through these sessions, IFAD aimed to draw attention to the importance of family remittances and reinforced long-term collaboration between commercial banks, financial regulators, and development organizations to strengthen the financial ecosystem in the region.