Hong Kong, 5 October 2026 - Bakai Bank OJSC, one of the leading commercial banks in the Kyrgyz Republic, is pleased to announce that it has received the regulatory authorisation to establish a Restricted Licence Bank branch in the Hong Kong SAR. This marks a landmark moment for Central Asia’s broader financial service landscape and its connectivity to the Asia Pacific region.

With this authorisation, Bakai Bank becomes the first bank from Central Asia to establish a presence in the Asia Pacific region. Operating as Bakai Bank Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) (Hong Kong Branch) (Bakai Bank Hong Kong), this new branch represents our deliberate and strategic commitment to building a high-quality financial services bridge between two of the world's most dynamic economic regions.

Bakai Bank Hong Kong is purpose-built to enable and deepen capital and trade flows between Central Asia and Asia Pacific. Riding on the momentum of the Belt and Road Initiative, Bakai Bank Hong Kong is dedicated to meeting the trade, investment and capital needs along this vital corridor.

Andreas Meletiou, Chief Executive of Bakai Bank Hong Kong, highlighted: “Hong Kong is Asia's preeminent 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 - APAC corridor, there is no more fitting home.”

“The Central Asia–APAC 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.” Andreas continued.

Significant groundwork has already been completed in preparation for the commencement of commercial operations. We have established our premises at Quarry Bay, a major commercial hub in Hong Kong. Our team comprises experienced banking practitioners who bring deep knowledge of both Central Asia and Asia Pacific financial landscapes have been assembled with the specific mandate of driving corridor growth.

Furthermore, we have put in place a robust technology infrastructure to deliver a modern, efficient and seamless client experience, and established a governance and control framework in alignment with the highest regulatory standards and international banking best practices. We will share further updates in due course as we approach the official commencement of commercial operations, including details of our product and service offerings.

Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker