For the second year running, the REMIT PRIME Central Asia programme brought remittances to the center stage of the region’s biggest finance conversation, the Bishkek International Finance Forum (BIFF 2026) on May 29 under the theme “Finance in the Era of Digital Transformation: Security, Innovation, and Trust.”
The forum, opened by the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic and addressed by the Chairman of the National Bank, the EU Ambassador, and the World Bank Country Manager, drew over 350 participants from banks, fintech companies, and international partners — and this year, it also became a platform to mark the International Day of Family Remittances.
Implemented by IFAD and co-financed by the European Union, REMIT PRIME Central Asia used the spotlight to hand over updated financial literacy materials to the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, developed jointly with the Union of Banks of Kyrgyzstan to help strengthen financial resilience across the country. The programme’s voice was also heard throughout BIFF’s packed agenda on AI, cybersecurity, and digital finance: Regional Coordinator Pavel Shust moderated a high-profile panel on balancing innovation with security and trust, while National Coordinator Nurgul Torobaeva presented on AI in financial literacy and urged participants to rally behind the International Day of Family Remittances, observed each year on June 16.
With remittances remaining a lifeline for migrants, families, and returnees across Central Asia, BIFF 2026 underscored how safe, accessible, and efficient money transfers are becoming central to the region’s digital finance future.
