- OVERVIEW
- AGENDA
- PRESENTATIONS
The countries of Central Asia—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—share a similar disaster risk profile with intense seismic risk and climatic hazards. A 2023 World Bank risk assessment estimates that, on average, earthquakes across the region cause $2 billion in losses per year, while floods result in losses ranging from $1.5 billion to $2.2 billion annually. On average, earthquakes alone affect four million people each year.
Financial resilience in Central Asian countries is insufficient, as available funding does not fully cover post-disaster costs. World Bank analysis highlights a funding gap across the region. For example, in Tajikistan, the gap can exceed $400 million annually and reach up to $1.5 billion for large disasters. In Uzbekistan, this gap may exceed $1 billion each year and rise to $15 billion for major events. With underdeveloped or nearly non-existent insurance markets in Central Asia, such gaps will have to be covered through budget reallocation, borrowing, donor aid, or may remain unfunded.
Objectives
The regional conference hosted in Astana on November 12-13 aims to bring together key stakeholders, policymakers, and the private sector to discuss solutions that Central Asian countries can adopt to improve financial preparedness for rising disaster risks.
This conference will serve as a platform for participants to share experiences, best practices, and innovative approaches in disaster risk financing, exploring strategies that could help the region address escalating disaster costs, accelerate recovery times, and support better rebuilding after disasters.
Participants
Proposed conference participants include:
- Government bodies: Ministries of Finance and Debt Management Offices, Ministries of Disaster Management and Planning.
- Financial regulators: central banks, insurance regulators.
- Private sector: local insurance companies, regional and global reinsurance companies, credit institutions.
- Academia: researchers, universities, and experts in disaster risk financing and related fields.
- International organizations focused on disaster risk finance in the region.
The conference is organized by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) and the World Bank with support from the Risk Finance Umbrella Program via contributions from United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
WHEN: November 12-13, 2024
WHERE: Astana International Financial Centre, AIX Trading Hall, Mangilik El Avenue, 55/19, block C 3.4
Agenda
Day 1
8:30 – 9:00 Registration and Welcome Coffee
9:00 – 9:30
Opening and welcome remarks
Ms. Renat Bekturov, Governor, Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)
Mr. M. Salman Bal, Swiss Ambassador in Kazakhstan
Ms. Indu John-Abraham, Manager, Operations, World Bank (WB)
9:30 – 11:00
State of disaster risk finance and insurance (DRFI) in Central Asia
Challenges in advancing financial preparedness in Central Asia: high-level panel
The session will present key messages from the upcoming WB report on DRFI in Central Asia, followed by a debate on the challenges of financial preparedness in CA. The high-level panel will comprise of Ministries of Finance and Financial market regulators and a regional platform for disaster risk management in Central Asia, CESDRR.
Mr. Martin Melecky, Lead Economist, WB
Panel:
Mr. Ernst Kaldybaev, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance, Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. Shamsullo Khairullozoda, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance, Tajikistan
Ms. Mariya Khajiyeva, Vice Chairperson, Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of Financial Market
Mr. Vyacheslav Pak, First Deputy Director, National Agency of Prospective Projects, Uzbekistan
Moderated by Cecile Thioro Niang, Practice Manager, Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation (FCI), World Bank
11:00 – 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 – 12:00
Keynote: Private capital mobilization for disasters
Mr. Ivo Menzinger, Head EMEA, Public Sector Solutions, SwissRe, member of the Insurance Development Forum
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00
Lighting talks: Global insights from successful approaches in DRFI
Innovations and technology:
Mr. Erdem Karabostan, T-Rupt Technology Company CEO, Türkiye
Mr. Rashmin Gunasekera, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, WB
Ms. Naomi Cooney, Senior Financial Officer, WB Treasury
Public financial management of disasters:
Ms. Tatiana Skalon, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, WB
Ms. Stephanie Allan, Senior Public Financial Management Consultant, WB
Mr. Daniel McGree, Senior Actuary, WB
Best practices for building domestic insurance programs for disaster resilience:
Mr. Charles Stutley, Lead Agricultural Insurance Expert, WB
Mr. Sid Miller, Lead Catastrophe Insurance Expert, WB, formerly Natural Hazards Commission of New Zealand
Ms. Emine Feray Sezgin, Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool, Türkiye
Moderated by Martin Melecky, Lead Economist, WB
14:00 – 14:30 Coffee break
14:30 – 16:00
Institutionalizing DRFI in Central Asia: high-level panel
High-level policy panel will discuss existing and planned solutions to enhance financial preparedness in the region.
Panel:
Mr. Shamsullo Khairullozoda, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance, Tajikistan
Mr. Ikromi Sirojiddin, Deputy Chairman, National Bank of Tajikistan (TBC)
Ms. Mariya Khajiyeva, Vice Chairperson, Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of Financial Market, Kazakhstan
Mr. Vyacheslav Pak, First Deputy Director, NAPP, Uzbekistan
Mr. Ainura Murzataeva, Deputy Chairman, Gosfinnadzor, Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. Eldiiar Kaldarbekov, Chairman of the Board, State Insurance Organization, Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. Arman Boranbay, Director, "Insurance broker "AON Kazakhstan" LLP
Moderated by Ms. Tatiana Skalon, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, WB
16:00 - 19:00 Cocktail style reception followed by dinner
Day 2
8:30 – 9:00 Welcome coffee
9:00 - 9:30
Disaster Risk Management in Central Asia: World Bank report
Mr. Ahsan Tehsin, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, WB
Discussant: Mr. Chekirbaev Meimanbek, Deputy Director, Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR)
9:30 – 10:30
Tech-Driven Innovations in DRFI: novel applications
A showcase of cutting-edge innovations at the frontier of DRFI
Mr. Daniel McGree, Senior Actuary, WB
Mr. Rashmin Gunasekera, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, WB
Ms. Naomi Cooney, Senior Financial Officer, WB Treasury
Ms. Emine Feray Sezgin, Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool, Türkiye
Mr. Erdem Karabostan, T-Rupt Technology Company CEO, Türkiye
Moderated by Beulah Chelva, Economist, WB
10:30-11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 12:00
Public financial management of disasters
Presentations on how countries can strengthen public financial resilience.
Ms. Tatiana Skalon, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, WB
Mr. Daniel McGree, Senior Actuary, WB
Ms. Stephanie Allan, Senior Public Financial Management Consultant, WB
Moderated by David Stephen Knight, Lead Country Economist, Program Lead for CA, WB
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 13:30
Keynote: The State’s role in insuring disasters: Lessons from New Zealand and beyond
Mr. Sid Miller, Lead Catastrophe Insurance Expert, WB, formerly Natural Hazards Commission of New Zealand
13:30 – 14:30
Best practices for building domestic insurance programs for disaster resilience
Presentations exploring the synergies between the public and private sectors to close the funding gap.
Mr. Charles Stutley, Lead Agricultural Insurance Expert, WB
Mr. Sid Miller, Lead Catastrophe Insurance Expert, WB, formerly Natural Hazards Commission of New Zealand
Ms. Emine Feray Sezgin, Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool, Türkiye
Mr. Erdem Karabostan, T-Rupt Technology Company CEO, Türkiye
Moderated by Martin Melecky, Lead Economist, WB
14:30 – 15:00 Coffee break
15:00 – 15:30
Innovations in World Bank disaster risk finance and insurance solutions
Ms. Naomi Cooney, Senior Financial Officer, WB Treasury
Mr. Hicham Rachdi, Senior Financial Officer, WB Treasury
Mr. Pietro Calice, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, WB
Moderated by Mr. Andrei Mikhnev, Country Manager Kazakhstan, WB
15:30 – 15:45
Closing and next steps
Ms. Cecile Thioro Niang, Practice Manager, FCI, WB
Day 1 presentations: in English | in Russian
Day 2 presentations: in English | in Russian
Date: November 12 - 13, 2024 ET
Location: Astana, Kazakhstan