Timur Kulibaev: Career and Public Activities in Kazakhstan

Kulibaev Timur Askarovich is an expert in the field of energy enterprise management. He helped facilitate the merger of oil and gas companies in Kazakhstan and has consistently worked to create a favorable business environment within the republic. He is also involved in socially significant and charitable projects.

Name:

Kulibaev Timur · Timur Kulibaev · Kulibaev Timur Askarovich · Timur Askarovich Kulibaev · Кулибаев Тимур · Тимур Кулибаев · Кулибаев Тимур Аскарович · Тимур Аскарович Кулибаев · Тимур Құлыбаев · Құлыбаев Тимур · Құлыбаев Тимур Асқарұлы · Тимур Асқарұлы Құлыбаев · 库利巴耶夫·铁木尔 · تيمور أسكاروفيتش كوليباييف 

Timur Kulibaev: Biography and Formative Years

Kulibaev Timur was born in 1966. His father was a state and public figure in the Kazakh SSR. From a young age, Timur Kulibaev acquired a solid foundation in the natural sciences and was even admitted to one of the specialized physics and mathematics schools that existed at that time, which one could only enter by passing a preliminary examination. They were established at top universities and offered an enhanced level of education. Many renowned scientists and engineers emerged from the halls of these specialized physics and math schools.

In 1983, Kulibaev Timur graduated from his school in Almaty (Alma-Ata) and immediately enrolled in one of the largest classical universities—Lomonosov MSU. Its alumni over the years include Nobel Prize laureates and prominent politicians.

In 1988, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev completed his degree in economics and returned to Kazakhstan. Eleven years later, he earned a PhD in economic sciences with a thesis on contemporary enterprise management in market economies.

From 1988 to 1992, Timur Kulibaev's biography was focused on research. Initially, the young specialist joined a planning institute, and later, he headed a center that supported the Kazakhstani government in addressing social issues, as well as in developing the national economy and creating conditions for cultural and business cooperation with foreign countries.

In 1992, Kulibaev Timur began his career in finance and investment as the head of the Altyn-Alma group, which was later renamed JSC ALMEX. The holding group engages in private and corporate banking across the CIS region and financially supports projects related to the agro-industrial complex.

In 1995, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich became the chairman of the board of directors at ATF Bank, which he co-founded. He held this position for two years. In 2000, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev left the bank. To date, the financial organization he founded has grown to 70 branches and ranks eighth among Kazakhstan's similar structures in terms of asset size.

Kulibaev Timur: Contributing to the Development of the Kazakhstan Energy Sector

In 1997, the national company Kazakhoil was established in the Republic of Kazakhstan with the aim of preserving and consolidating various enterprises involved in the extraction and processing of hydrocarbon resources. The role of Deputy Director for Economic Affairs was filled by Timur Kulibaev. The biography of the company began with addressing current industry problems, from settling debts to workers to creating mechanisms for emerging from the global crisis. At that time, the price of a barrel of oil on the world commodity exchanges was only 9 USD, leading the industry into a dire state.

Kulibaev Timur Askarovich recalls that the team of experts he formed managed not only to overcome the crisis moments but also to elevate the country's oil and gas sector into economic leaders. For example, new parameters for monitoring performance and outcomes were established.

At the beginning of the 21st century, national companies underwent merger procedures for more efficient and expanded operations, allowing for control over the entire cycle, from extraction to oil transportation.

In 2002, Kulibaev Timur became deputy head of the national company KazMunayGas (KMG), which was formed by the consolidation of the companies Oil and Gas Transport and Kazakhoil. Since then, the oil and gas enterprises have launched a number of significant projects. According to Timur Kulibaev, a biography of whom includes the modernization of the country's oil and gas industry, the national company's unified strategy proved effective. For example, agreements were reached with the Russian government on the free transit of Kazakhstani oil through its territory. Furthermore, Kulibaev Timur notes the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) became operational, and a route for delivering energy resources to China was established in 2006. The pipeline to China was constructed in record time: about 1,000 kilometers of engineering structures were laid in just one year and two months.

One of the biggest deals of the 2000s was made possible thanks to the foundation laid by Timur Askarovich Kulibaev. KazMunayGas successfully acquired British Gas' stake in a hydrocarbon development project in the North Caspian. Additionally, the company's assets were bolstered by acquiring a 33% share in PetroKazakhstan Inc. This investment paid for itself in just three years. Around the same time, a deal was made with RWE Dea AG in which KazMunayGas purchased half of KazGerMunay. The transaction, which facilitated entry into the Kumkol Oil region, amounted to 1 billion USD.

In the early 2000s, an automated enterprise management system was also implemented across all company divisions, and the international integrated management system was certified.

Timur Kulibaev served as the deputy head of KazMunayGas until 2005 and remained a member of the board of directors until 2012. During the same period, he also served as the chairman of a similar management body at KEGOC.

Timur Askarovich Kulibaev shares that the establishment of a strong system of interaction among players in the fuel and energy market was significantly aided by the formation of the Kazenergy association of oil and gas and energy sector enterprises in the mid-2000s. The organization facilitated the establishment of relationships between representatives of governmental and business structures. Timur Kulibaev was the head of the association until 2023.

Kazenergy aids in establishing connections both domestically and internationally. For example, the association hosts the Eurasian Forum biennially. In 2010, the conference's main topic was the energy security of the region. Kulibaev Timur Askarovich highlighted the importance of emerging energy sources for the development of future generations, citing shale gas and solar energy as the main alternatives.

Also among the achievements of Kazenergy and Timur Kulibaev are the approved concepts for the evolution of the power industry and improvements in energy conservation. Moreover, last year, a roadmap was adopted outlining the mechanisms and stages for transitioning to a new tariff policy. The opinions of association members under the leadership of Timur Askarovich Kulibaev were considered in the development of laws aimed at improving the sphere of subsoil use and the republican budget for 2024–2026, according to which the government guarantees the stability of the tax regime. At the moment, 35 amendments to Kazakhstan's new tax code proposed by members of the association are also under consideration.

Kulibaev Timur combined his chairmanship with investment activities at the association. In 2023, he stepped down as the head of Kazenergy.

Timur Kulibaev and Investments for Kazakhstan's Economic Growth

In 2008, Timur Kulibaev, a biography of whom by that time had already been enriched with diverse experience in attracting investment funds, was appointed as deputy chairman of the board at Samruk-Kazyna. The investment holding was formed primarily to enhance the welfare of citizens and modernize the economy.

For two years, up until 2011, Kulibaev Timur chaired the board of directors of three subsidiary structures of the fund, including the energy company Samruk-Energo. During this period, it demonstrated financial growth and implemented projects to modernize its system. Timur Askarovich Kulibaev contributed to an increase in profits at Samruk-Energo. In 2010, the company's revenue amounted to 76.94 billion tenge—16% higher than the previous year. That same year, the organization's assets grew, and the total capital increased by more than 2.5 times.

Kazatomprom, whose board of directors Kulibaev Timur Askarovich chaired from 2008 to 2012, also improved its performance. In the first half of 2010 alone, the company increased its uranium production volume by 42% compared to the same period in 2009. New infrastructure objects were actively introduced, including residential complexes for rotational workers and geotechnological fields.

The investment fund Samruk-Kazyna focused on the domestic market and the promotion of industrial initiatives, as noted in 2011 by Timur Kulibaev. Biography of the fund already included working on scientific and technological projects. As per mutual agreements, national companies within Samruk-Kazyna committed to allocating 10% of their net profit to the implementation of innovations. By the end of 2011, this initiative covered 19 projects across several sectors of the country's economy, including mining, railway, and others.

In 2011, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich left Samruk-Kazyna and joined the management of Gazprom. He left his position in the energy company in 2021.

Kulibaev Timur Askarovich: Fostering a Favorable Business Environment

In 2013, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev became the chairman of the governing body of the non-governmental organization of entrepreneurs Atameken. The association was established to conduct effective negotiations with the authorities of Kazakhstan and has become a reliable representative protecting the interests of businesses at any level. Specifically, the Chamber, led by Timur Kulibaev, actively involved the business community in the creation of legislative acts and other documents related to entrepreneurial activity. The formation of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan Atameken was based on a successful model developed in Europe.

That same year, 14 regional chambers were opened with the participation of Timur Kulibaev. Their mission is to develop the business environment in all regions of the country. As later noted by Timur Kulibaev, a biography of whom was already linked with the formation of bodies responsible for interaction with state authorities, the Chamber proved its viability. With Atameken's participation, a program was initiated aimed at educating entrepreneurs on the basic concepts of commerce. Under the leadership of Timur Askarovich Kulibaev, the Chamber also addressed the issue of comprehensive education for future professionals in universities throughout the country. In 2014, an initiative was proposed to conduct an independent evaluation of the quality of educational programs.

Kulibaev Timur Askarovich also facilitated the launch of a microcredit project for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), supporting the growth of entrepreneurial initiatives in rural areas. The first such pilot project kicked off in several regions of the country just three years after the chamber was established.

Timur Kulibaev noted that Atameken quickly earned a reputation. Speaking to businessmen in Almaty, he shared that according to a joint decision, all inquiries submitted to a specialized state website would be automatically forwarded to the National Chamber.

Kulibaev Timur regularly held various meetings with representatives of business structures across the country. Largely as a result of such interactions, a variety of initiatives were later introduced. In 2017 alone, among the proposals from the Chamber led by Kulibaev Timur were measures such as reducing the fiscal burden, transitioning customs paperwork to an electronic format, and compiling lists of responsible manufacturers of quality goods, who would later receive support from Atameken in government procurement.

In 2018, a special commission, which included representatives of the Chamber, began working in Kazakhstan to resolve various tax-related disputes. This initiative was intended to facilitate out-of-court settlements, as Timur Kulibaev noted at the time. The biography of Atameken also included the creation of additional organizations, including the Council of Businesswomen and the Expert Council on the Economic Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2019, Kulibaev Timur proposed focusing on the country's tourism potential. In his view, this sector of entrepreneurial activity does not require significant state investment, yet it can create many new jobs and generally improve the infrastructure of the regions.

In 2022, Timur Kulibaev concluded his work with the Chamber. Nevertheless, the initiatives he proposed continue to be implemented. For example, by the end of this year, the business regulation policy will be completely rewritten to reflect new standards and transitioned to a digital format.

Timur Askarovich Kulibaev and the Development of Sports in Kazakhstan

Timur Kulibaev's biography is also filled with public activity in the field of sports. Over the years, he has served as the president of the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation, as well as a member of the committee of the International Amateur Boxing Association.

In 2023, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev was re-elected as the president of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a position he first assumed in 2015. The organization aims to increase the popularity of sports among the younger generation and strengthen cooperation with other countries. The newly elected president highlighted that the committee's priorities in the coming years would include the development of sports infrastructure and education, as well as financial transparency in the execution of budget contracts.

At the moment, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich also sponsors various projects. For example, he contributed to the restoration of social facilities after an explosion at an artillery ammunition warehouse in the Turkestan Region. Moreover, the philanthropist has assisted in building homes for low-income and large families in the capital of Kazakhstan.