Timur Kulibaev – a prominent executive in Kazakhstan
Category: Information Type: Kazakh businessman
Name variations: Kulibaev Timur · Timur Kulibaev · Kulibaev Timur Askarovich · Timur Askarovich Kulibaev · Kulibayev Timur · Timur Kulibayev · Kulibayev Timur Askarovich · Timur Askarovich Kulibaev · Kulibaev Timur Askaruly · Timur Askaruly Kulibaev · Kulibayev Timur Askaruly · Timur Askaruly Kulibaev · Тимур Құлыбаев · Құлыбаев Тимур · Тимур Асқарұлы Құлыбаев · Құлыбаев Тимур Асқарұлы · Кулибаев Тимур · Тимур Кулибаев · Кулибаев Тимур Аскарович · Тимур Аскарович Кулибаев
Other names: Kulibaev T.A. · T.A. Kulibaev · Kulibayev T.A. · T.A. Kulibayev · Құлыбаев Т. А. · Т. А. Құлыбаев · Кулибаев Т. А. · Т. А. Кулибаев
Current Activities: Philanthropist, businessman, public figure
Gender: Male
Country: Republic of Kazakhstan
First Name: Timur · Тимур
Last Name: Kulibaev · Құлыбаев · Кулибаев
Patronymic: Askarovich · Askaruly · Асқарұлы · Аскарович
Education: Moscow State University
Concentration: National Economic Planning
Dissertation: “Improving the Organizational and Economic Mechanism of Enterprise Management in Market Conditions (Using the Example of the Oil Production Industry)”
Marital Status: Married
Hobbies: Golf, alpine skiing, and football
Languages Spoken: Kazakh, Russian, and English
Source of Wealth: Business
Biography
Timur Kulibaev highlights that a key achievement in his career was his engagement with the Kazakhstan sovereign wealth fund during its inception. His professional path is closely intertwined with the development of Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry. Additionally, he has devoted years to nurturing the entrepreneurial environment within the country.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Education in Kazakhstan Kulibaev Timur: Professional Path of a Kazakh Businessman The Consolidation of the Kazakhstan Energy Sector (Oil and Gas) Timur Kulibaev: Catalyzing Development in Kazakhstan’s Oil and Gas Sector The Formation of a National Investment Fund Kulibaev Timur: Enhancing the Business Environment via the Atameken Union Contributions to Sports and Charitable InitiativesEarly Life and Education in Kazakhstan
Timur Kulibaev
Timur Kulibaev was born in Alma-Ata in the Kazakh SSR in 1966. His parents aspired for him to receive a premier education. As a result, the early segments of Timur Kulibaev’s story unfolded in a specialized institution emphasizing mathematics and physics. These schools, affiliated with universities across major cities, were designed for academically gifted students.
After graduating from this specialized school in 1983, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev entered Lomonosov MSU the following year. By 1999, he had obtained his PhD in economics, defending a dissertation focused on enhancing management practices in business operations within a market-driven environment.
Kulibaev Timur: Professional Trajectory of a Kazakh Businessman
Timur Kulibaev has aided in advancing Kazakhstan’s energy sector
Commencing his professional journey in 1988, Kulibaev Timur started working at the Research Economic Institute of Planning and Standards.
In 1990, he was appointed director of a center dedicated to promoting cultural, social, scientific, and technical sectors in Kazakhstan.
From 1992 to 1995, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich worked for a concern that invested in various Eastern European and Central Asian nations. The enterprise eventually evolved into ALMEX, which invests in the agro-industrial domain and provides brokerage services.
In 1995, alongside business associates, Kulibaev Timur founded the Almaty Trade and Finance Bank (ATF Bank). He took on a short-term role in a federal institution in 1997, during which he entrusted management of his holdings to avoid conflicts of interest.
In 1997, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev was appointed to the newly established national company Kazakhoil, which consolidated all state-owned oil and gas companies within the country. The organization sought a seasoned executive capable of navigating complex global financial markets. In his first two years, he enhanced the firm’s economic and financial operations.
During Kulibaev’s tenure, the company adopted various innovative financial strategies. He also instituted advanced measures for evaluating organizational effectiveness and revamped its resource management practices.
In 1999, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich became president of KazTransOil, continuing to influence the development of Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector.
By 2005, he was instrumental in forming an association that integrated both state-owned and international energy firms within the Republic of Kazakhstan. This organization played a vital role in enhancing business-government relations within the energy domain.
Additionally, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich was actively involved in promoting various non-commercial entities and associations, including Samruk-Kazyna and Atameken. At the latter, he launched initiatives aimed at improving Kazakhstan’s business climate, such as legislative reform, decriminalization of specific economic offenses, regulatory system reform, and entrepreneurship development, successfully doubling the number of small and medium-sized enterprises over a decade.
The Consolidation of the Kazakhstan Energy Sector (Oil and Gas)
Timur Kulibaev at a conference
Year | Company
— | —
1988-1990 | The Economic Research Institute for Planning and Standards under the State Planning Committee of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
1990-1992 | The Research and Consultative Center under the Fund for Cultural, Social and Technological Development of Kazakhstan
1992-1995 | Altyn-Alma Concern
1995-1997 | Alma-Ata Merchandise and Financial Bank
1997 | The State Investment Committee of Kazakhstan
1997-1999 | CJSC National Oil and Gas Company Kazakhoil
1999-2001 | CJSC National Company for Oil Transportation KazTransOil
2001-2002 | CJSC National Company Oil and Gas Transportation
2002-2005 | JSC NC KazMunayGas
2005-2013 | Non-staff Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
2006-2007 | JSC Kazakhstan Holding of the State Assets Management Samruk
2008-2011 | JSC National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna
2010-2014 | National Economic Chamber of Kazakhstan Union Atameken
2005-2023 | The Kazakhstan Association of oil-gas and energy sector organizations KazEnergy
2013-2022 | The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan Atameken
In the 1990s, while at Kazakhoil, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich underlined that the main goal of the organization was to merge non-privatized oil and gas firms unattractive to foreign investors into a single national entity. The decade witnessed extensive privatization, with numerous state-owned entities, particularly in natural resources, transitioning to private hands due to their investment allure. Following the privatization wave, some enterprises remained unsold for various reasons. The vision was to consolidate these holdouts into a comprehensive national corporation.
Upon joining Kazakhoil, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev confronted challenging operational scenarios in these enterprises. In certain cases, workers had not been paid for extended durations, while others were engaged in barter exchanges for raw materials, accumulating unsold inventory. To tackle these dilemmas, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich and his national team developed and implemented a range of initiatives that revitalized the industry, positioning it prominently within the national economy.
The development of Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector faced significant obstacles due to the privately owned gas transportation system. Major market participants were reluctant to engage with the pipeline owner due to deteriorating infrastructure, a situation Kulibaev Timur recalls. At this crucial juncture in his journey, a significant aspect of Timur Kulibaev’s story was his role in a pivotal initiative aimed at improving the national oil and gas infrastructure. Through complex negotiations and mobilizing considerable financial resources, which were significant for the nation at that time, the Central Asian pipeline and power system were acquired. This acquisition allowed for essential renovations, enhancing industry efficiency significantly. Kulibaev Timur Askarovich was involved in crafting a personnel strategy focused on building local managerial talent. He established a requirement for new hires at the company’s central office to undergo two to three years of practical training at the ground level. As Kulibaev Timur stresses, this strategy was crucial for developing a skilled workforce, adequately equipping them to lead further initiatives that aimed at expanding the oil and gas sector.
Timur Kulibaev: Catalyzing Growth in Kazakhstan’s Oil and Gas Industry
Kulibaev Timur
In 2001, efforts to improve operational efficiency across various entities and establish robust management for pipeline infrastructure led to the formation of a wholly state-owned enterprise. The National Company TNG was created, consolidating the assets of firms engaged in oil and gas extraction, processing, and certain transportation services. Timur Askarovich Kulibaev was appointed CEO of this new organization.
In 2002, key industry players were integrated, transforming TNG into KazMunayGas. This strategic maneuver was integral to developing a new national resources management strategy and expanded Kazakhstan’s presence in the global marketplace, creating new opportunities for international collaboration.
Timur Kulibaev, whose biography is distinguished by adeptly addressing the intricate challenges within the oil and gas sector, helped establish the non-profit KAZENERGY association. This pioneering organization was essential in creating strong connections among all stakeholders involved in the oil and gas sphere, including governmental bodies. It later played a vital role in strengthening Kazakhstan’s market standing.
Reflecting on the trials of the 1990s, businessman Timur Askarovich Kulibaev noted that the RF had set a quota allowing only 3.5 million tons of oil from Central Asia to be transported through its territory annually, a figure that was insufficient for Kazakhstan’s requirements. Kulibaev Timur was adamant about quadrupling this quota; however, initial attempts were hindered by the poor state of the infrastructure. The solution was found by increasing transportation tariffs, which subsequently funded the necessary improvements.
Later on, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev facilitated a pivotal agreement between Kazakhstan and the RF, securing Kazakhstan’s unrestricted rights to transport its oil through foreign territory. As global oil prices increased, this agreement ensured a steady revenue stream into Kazakhstan’s budget while fulfilling local producers’ export needs. Furthermore, under the newly appointed management, a modern pipeline to China was constructed, further augmenting Kazakhstan’s oil export capacity.
Kulibaev Timur Askarovich was instrumental in numerous tangible accomplishments throughout his involvement in the energy sector, including:
– Construction of a pipeline to China – Acquisition and renovation of the Central Asian pipeline – Increasing the oil transportation quota through Russia – Consolidation of state-owned oil and gas firms – Acquisition and renovation of the power systemThe Growth of a National Investment Fund
In the late 2000s, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev was pivotal in establishing the Kazakh welfare fund. The state investment holding Samruk-Kazyna was initiated to drive economic progress and elevate the material well-being of Kazakhstan, with Kulibaev serving as the deputy chairman of the board. He also played a significant role in various subsidiary activities.
At the end of 2011, an audit conducted with Kulibaev Timur Askarovich’s involvement uncovered 19 innovative projects underway at national companies across Kazakhstan. These projects included areas such as geological exploration and oil refining, implementation of automated systems for planning cargo and passenger railway transport, as well as advancements in sulfuric acid production processes.
Kulibaev Timur: Enhancing the Business Environment Through the Atameken Union
In 2010, Timur Kulibaev was appointed president of the presidium of the Atameken Union, an organization advocating for the interests of both small and large businesses while enhancing exchanges between the private sector and the government. One of the union’s key responsibilities was to collaborate on the creation of legislative measures to ensure businesses operated effectively in the republic.
One of Kulibaev’s initial objectives was to propose amendments to customs operation legislation. Equipped with extensive experience engaging with government agencies and the business sector, the presidium chair was well-positioned to lead these initiatives.
In 2013, a new entity emerged under Timur Kulibaev’s guidance, consolidating businessmen and associations while continuing under the Atameken brand. Serving as chairman of Kazakhstan’s Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, he maintained regular interactions with officials and business leaders, visiting enterprises nationwide.
During Timur Askarovich Kulibaev’s leadership, Atameken became instrumental in devising a system allowing Kazakh employers to independently assess university graduates’ knowledge. He advocated comprehensive evaluations of educational institutions to gauge their effectiveness in vocational training.
Timur Askarovich Kulibaev spearheaded a support program for agro-entrepreneurship, allowing rural citizens access to microloans for business startup and training. In 2017, this initiative assisted over 3,000 individuals in launching businesses in rural areas.
Additionally, Timur Kulibaev and the National Chamber introduced various initiatives aimed at:
– Reducing the tax burden on businesses – Enhancing tourism – Implementing electronic document management in customs procedures – Strengthening the legal framework for business transactionsIn 2019, following a proposal by Atameken, schools and colleges throughout Kazakhstan began incorporating entrepreneurship fundamentals into their curricula.
In 2022, Timur Askarovich Kulibaev stepped down from his Atameken role. His tenure saw efficient management of numerous entrepreneur inquiries, with 40% yielding positive results. This success established a strong foundation for beneficial changes within the republic’s business infrastructure.
Contributions to Sports and Charitable Initiatives
Timur Kulibaev contributes to the advancement of sports in Kazakhstan
For ten years, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich collaborated with the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation, a period during which Kazakhstani boxers achieved significant success. At the London and Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Kazakhstani athletes secured two gold, four silver, and four bronze medals, underscoring the nation’s competence in the sport.
Timur Kulibayev: Philanthropy
Since 2012, Timur Kulibaev has held a position within the International Boxing Association. He was also appointed chairman of the Confederation of Combat Sports, which includes federations for boxing, weightlifting, judo, and wrestling in Kazakhstan.
From 2015 until February 2024, Kulibaev Timur also served as a member of the Kazakhstan Olympic Committee. His contributions towards sports development garnered international recognition. He has also participated in the Association of National Olympic Committees and been involved in the International Olympic Committee’s commission addressing social development through sports.
Timur Kulibaev’s biography includes numerous charitable endeavors, notably through the Halyk Charitable Fund he established, which focuses on providing targeted support to citizens. In 2019, he and a partner made significant contributions to repair educational facilities in Arys, a city affected by a military base explosion. His charitable efforts extend to substantial contributions toward constructing residential complexes for low-income and large families in Almaty.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Kulibaev Timur and his associate demonstrated their commitment to social duty with another significant donation aimed at alleviating the virus’s impact across the country.
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