OREANDA-NEWS. February 02, 2009. Growing financial performance, coupled with the merger with KyrgyzPromStroyBank, the oldest commercial institution in the Kyrgyz Republic, and its widespread retail branch network offering new banking products and services, forms a positive trend in the overall operations of AsiaUniversalBank, all in all enabling AsiaUniversalBank to leverage its public sphere activity in the field of corporate social responsibility, reported the press-centre of AsiaUniversalBank.

In 2008 AsiaUniversalBank provided funds of more than 21 million soms for different social and artistic projects.

In 2008 AUB kept its focus on supporting the arts, higher education, national sports and targeted assistance to war veterans, old age pensioners, children and disabled people. AUB is involved in both financing of long-term projects (such as “Kyrgyzstan’s Golden Fund”) and short-term charitable projects such as targeted aid to people of Nur village hit by a devastating earthquake.

The key aspect of AUB’s philanthropic activity is the preservation and support of the country’s cultural heritage as an integral part of the world’s cultural diversity. It is vitally important to maintain a continuous international cultural dialogue to demonstrate to the world community that Kyrgyzstan is a country of high cultural that is welcomed by international artists who are ready to share in its achievements in the arts. In pursuit of this goal, AUB has been initiating unprecedented exhibitions of artists from both Kyrgyzstan and abroad, supporting concerts of classical music and international festivals of local and foreign performers. 

A concert of “piano genius” A. Volodos, the international ballet festival featuring N. Tsiskaridze and I. Liyepa, the photo exhibition “A world from afar” by the world renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and “Russian Vanguard” art exhibition will long remain in the memory of the Kyrgyz people, as these events, in line with other AUB-sponsored ones, have given thousands of Kyrgyz a chance to get involved in modern world culture and the arts.

In 2008 the Bank once again continued its support for higher education in the country. Training professional staff is of equal concern to both AUB and society as a whole, since staff quality is one of the key features of a successful enterprise. Ten years ago, realizing the importance of a good education, AUB initiated ”AUB’s nominal scholarships” for the best students from Kyrgyz educational institutions and universities. Today many graduates include in their resumes that they were awarded with the Bank’s scholarship. Some of them have joined the Bank following graduation so that they could put their knowledge into practice.

Regularly AUB donates funds to universities’ libraries for the purchase of new books. Bank employees often deliver guest lectures to various universities, and this kind of personal involvement of AsiaUniversalBank’s staff has become a tradition in its social activity, as well as being part of the Bank’s corporate culture. Moreover, all AUB’s charitable projects involve not only corporate financial support, but also the personal efforts of individual staff. The employees regularly organize central collections food, money and other vital commodities for needy people, and for the children, clothes and toys. A most important factor here is that the staff personally travel to meet and help pensioners, children, war veterans and disabled, those people commonly referred to as the socially disadvantaged class.

Positioning Kyrgyzstan as an investment potential country and a strategic partner in the world financial markets is also one of AUB’s priorities. In 2008 AUB took part in the XIII Central and Eastern European Investment Forum in Vienna, Austria, as a “Country Sponsor”. The Vienna Forum traditionally marks the beginning of the new financial year, with more than 1,000 delegates from all over the world. AUB’s financial support and organizational efforts ensured that the Kyrgyz panel became one of the highlights of the Vienna Forum’s agenda.

The jubilee V Bishkek International Banking Conference (BIBC) of 2008, now the Central Asian Dialogue, will certainly be the largest and most famous project featuring AUB as the general sponsor. This banking and investment forum, which is a regular annual event, enables an increasing number of countries to learn more about the opportunities in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as Central Asian as a whole.

In 2009 AsiaUniversalBank will continue its financial support to the most outstanding cultural events, talented students, promising sportsmen and to all those rightfully referred to as the pride and showcase success of the Kyrgyz Republic.