OSCE helps develop anti-money laundering certification program for Kazakhstan’s financial sector

The first meeting of the OSCE-supported Working Group on developing an Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) certification programme for the financial sector was held on 10 March 2015 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The group consists of representatives of the Financial Monitoring Committee of the Finance Ministry, National Bank, Financial Institutions’ Association, four second-tier banks and an OSCE-supported international expert from Ukraine. It was set up to assess the training needs and evaluate suitable methodologies for the programme.

The certification programme aims to help Kazakhstan’s financial sector comply with international standards, meet national needs and build the capacity of the financial sector in detecting and preventing money laundering and terrorism financing. It will also contribute to the improved national performance of the second-tier banks on AML/CFT issues. The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists will cover the international component of the programme with the support of the US Embassy in Astana.

This event builds on the efforts of the Office’s multi-year activities in the field of good governance, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.