Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (October 5) congratulated Bakai Bank on obtaining a Hong Kong banking license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, making it the first bank from Central Asia to have a presence in the Asia-Pacific region. As a leading commercial bank in the Kyrgyz Republic, the institution will establish a Restricted Licence Bank branch in the city under Bakai Bank Open Joint-Stock Company (Hong Kong Branch) (Bakai Bank Hong Kong) to capture growing trade, investment and capital demand along the Central Asia-Asia-Pacific region economic corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative.

     The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, said, "We warmly welcome Bakai Bank to Hong Kong, celebrating another milestone arising from the Chief Executive's business delegation visit to Central Asia in June this year. Under the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030), consolidating our status as an international financial centre is integral to the city's 'four centres and one hub' vision to drive high-quality economic development and global competitiveness. The arrival of Bakai Bank injects fresh momentum into our financial ecosystem, unlocking potential opportunities in global offshore Renminbi (RMB) business, international asset and wealth management, gold trading, and beyond.

     "As more leading banks along the Belt and Road establish or grow their presence in Hong Kong, they serve as a beacon for Mainland enterprises expanding overseas and offshore investors exploring opportunities on the Chinese Mainland. InvestHK is committed to facilitating two-way investment along the Belt and Road corridors, leveraging Hong Kong's strengths in international financial and professional services, risk management, and our legal system," Ms Lau added.

     The Chief Executive of Bakai Bank Hong Kong, Mr Andreas Meletiou, said, "Hong Kong is Asia's pre-eminent 'super-connector' - uniquely positioned to connect East and West, and to facilitate the cross-border financial activities that define our franchise. For a bank focused on the Central Asia-Asia-Pacific region corridor, there is no more fitting home.

     "The Central Asia-Asia-Pacific region corridor is expanding rapidly, yet cross-border banking needs remain underserved. Bakai Bank Hong Kong is positioned to help address this gap by supporting corporates and financial institutions with trade, payments and treasury solutions," Mr Meletiou continued.

     InvestHK secured Bakai Bank's interest in expanding to Hong Kong during its visit to Central Asia covering the Kyrgyz Republic. Since then, the department has facilitated its setup by providing ongoing regulatory alignment, licensing advisory services, stakeholder connections, and local ecosystem induction. InvestHK will continue to collaborate with the institution to explore sustainable development funding and RMB-denominated financing in Hong Kong, connecting overseas and Mainland markets while promoting financial innovation.

Ends/Monday, October 5, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:35

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