EDB Academy Holds Its First Macroeconomic Forecasting Workshop
Almaty, September 2026. — Thirty economists from the ministries of finance, economy and national banks of the EDB member states completed a five-day programme on building macroeconomic models — from data integration to scenario analysis. This was the first such workshop organised by the EDB Academy.
The programme focused on the practical application of macroeconomic modelling and forecasting tools. Over five days, participants covered the full cycle of working with a macroeconomic model — from building it and integrating data to producing forecasts, scenario analysis and adapting the model to country-specific conditions.
The emphasis was on hands-on work. Participants built closed and open economy models, implemented them in Python, analysed impulse responses, worked with macroeconomic data, the Kalman filter and historical filtering, and integrated expert judgement into forecasts. A separate module was devoted to the Kazakh economy model.
The programme concluded with a plenary session on the application of macroeconomic models and forecasts in government institutions across the Eurasian region.
"Seven EDB member states are seven different economies with their own structures and characteristics. A common language of macroeconomic modelling supports professional exchange between countries and helps central banks and ministries better understand each other's approaches and conclusions. This workshop has become a Eurasian platform for exchanging expertise and best practices. Over five days, participants not only gained practical skills but also strengthened professional ties," said Alexey Kuznetsov, Head of the EDB Directorate for Analytical Work.
The workshop's experts also included Artur Sharafutdinov, Head of the EDB Centre for Country Analysis, and Andrey Orlov, an international expert in macroeconomic modelling. As part of the programme, they presented practical approaches to building macroeconomic models, preparing forecasts and scenario analysis.
The Macroeconomic Forecasting Workshop is part of the EDB Academy's ongoing work to develop applied professional competencies and strengthen peer-to-peer exchange between government institutions in the Eurasian region.
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral development bank investing in Eurasia. For 20 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries. By the end of June 2026, the EDB’s cumulative portfolio comprised 348 projects with a total investment of US $22.1 billion. Its portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing and mechanical engineering. The Bank adheres to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles in its operations.
The EDB is implementing three mega-projects as part of its 2022–2026 Strategy: the Eurasian Transport Network, the Eurasian Commodity Distribution Network and the Central Asian Water and Energy Complex.
EDB Academy is an educational initiative of the Eurasian Development Bank. Its mission is to share the expertise accumulated by the Bank over 20 years with specialists from its member countries. The Academy's students include representatives of government bodies, businesses and financial institutions from the EDB member states. Training is delivered in two formats: in-person programmes (seminars, workshops, case sessions) and online courses on the EDB Digital Academy platform. The Academy's events have already covered most countries of the Eurasian region.
The educational programmes cover project finance; key economic sectors in the Eurasian region — energy, water resources, transport and logistics, industry; working with multilateral development banks; and other areas.
The EDB Media Centre:
+7 (727) 244 40 44, ext. 4774, 2160
