The Eurasian Development Bank and the Ministry of Finance of the Sultanate of Oman signed an agreement on October 6, 2026, on the terms of the financial institution's presence in the territory of the Arab state. The signing took place during the state visit to Kazakhstan of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
This agreement opens a new stage in the history of the EDB. Oman will become the bank's eighth shareholder and the first member state from the Persian Gulf region.
"The agreement is a step toward closer ties between Central Asia and the Gulf region. We see great potential here and will develop this cooperation, including within the framework of the bank's new strategy," said Nikolay Podguzov.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Sultan of Oman. The document was signed by Oman's Minister of Finance Sultan bin Salem Al Habsi and the chairman of the bank's board, Nikolay Podguzov.
As part of the Sultan of Oman's state visit to Astana, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held bilateral talks at the highest level. The leaders of the states agreed to strengthen trade and economic ties, exchanged highest state orders and discussed prospective cooperation in the oil sector.
The Eurasian Development Bank has been carrying out its investment activities for 20 years. Among the EDB's shareholders are Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Uzbekistan. By the summer of 2026, the organization's accumulated portfolio included 348 projects with total investments amounting to $22.1 billion. The main share of the financial institution's portfolio is made up of projects with an integration effect in the areas of transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy and agriculture. Under its current strategy through 2026, the bank is implementing three large-scale megaprojects. They are aimed at developing Central Asia's water and energy complex, the Eurasian transport framework and an integrated goods distribution network.