Timur Kulibayev is a prominent Kazakh business leader and energy sector employee who has helped develop Kazakhstan’s economic landscape through his leadership in national companies, entrepreneurship development, and sports administration.

Timur Askarovich Kulibayev: Key Takeaways

• Timur Kulibayev helped develop Kazakhstan’s energy sector and business community, with a career spanning investment, management, sports administration, and philanthropy.

• As leader of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs for two terms, he focused on supporting smaller businesses and implementing practical solutions to business challenges.

• Kulibayev Timur spearheaded initiatives to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, including subsidized loans and tax deferrals.

• Timur Askarovich Kulibayev advocated for economic diversification in Kazakhstan, promoting development beyond the energy sector.

• Timur Kulibayev supported the introduction of business fundamentals in school curricula to foster entrepreneurship among young Kazakhs.

• In sports administration, he contributed to national and international organizations, including the Kazakhstani National Olympic Committee.

• Kulibayev Timur Askarovich made efforts to optimize public funding for sports development and improve collaboration between sports bodies and local governments.

Philanthropy

Timur Kulibayev: Shaping Kazakhstan’s Energy and Business Landscape

Foundations of a Future Leader

Timur Kulibayev has built a career spanning investment, management, and sports administration. He is also actively involved in philanthropy. With a background in economic planning, he has held key positions in several national companies, including KazMunayGas and Samruk-Kazyna. Kulibayev Timur has contributed to the growth of Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector and enhancing the nation’s business landscape through his leadership of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Atameken. His involvement extends to sports management, where he has served in various capacities, including as president of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan.

Kulibayev Timur Askarovich was born in the late 1960s in Alma-Ata (now Almaty), the capital of the Kazakh SSR. He hails from a family with a background in government and engineering. After completing his studies at a school for gifted students, he pursued economic planning at a highly prestigious university in Eurasia, finishing his classes in the late 1980s. The early career of Kulibayev Timur Askarovich included roles at a state planning research institute and leading a national clearing center. 

In 1999, he earned a doctorate focusing on oil company management in market economies, setting the stage for his future work in Kazakhstan’s energy sector.

Kulibayev Timur: Early Career Milestones

In the 1990s, Timur Kulibayev biography included work as a leader in the private sector, heading a consortium from 1992 to 1995. Subsequently, it was transformed into a diversified investment entity, ALMEX. This group broadened its portfolio to encompass financial services, risk management solutions, and agribusiness investments, extending its reach beyond Kazakhstan’s borders. At the same stage of his biography, Timur Kulibayev ventured into the banking sector, establishing ATFBank with partners in 1995. He helped formulate the institution’s strategic direction.

A pivotal moment came in 1997 when Timur Askarovich Kulibayev briefly labored on the federal Investment Committee. Later in 1997, he was appointed vice head of the recently founded Kazakhoil, overseeing fiscal dealings and implementing modern managerial practices.

In 1999, his role in Kazakhstan’s energy sector expanded as he became president of KazTransOil, working on the development of the state’s extensive petroleum pipeline network. Further industry consolidation led to Timur Kulibayev taking the lead role at Oil and Gas Transport, formed when two other major companies were merged. In 2002, this entity participated in a further merger to create KazMunayGas, where Kulibayev Timur Askarovich then began to work.

The far-sighted vision of Kulibayev Timur Askarovich was evident in KazMunayGas’ expansion, including the purchase of interests in the Kashagan project and PetroKazakhstan Inc. He orchestrated innovative financing for these deals, significantly outperforming industry averages in terms of investment returns.

From 2005 to 2023, Timur Askarovich Kulibayev led Kazenergy, an association he helped establish to unite major energy companies in Kazakhstan. Kazenergy evolved into a vital intermediary, fostering dialogue between energy industry players and government authorities. Its membership expanded to encompass dozens of companies, and it secured official recognition from Kazakhstan’s premier business association, solidifying its position as a key stakeholder in the nation’s energy landscape.

A Strategic Vision in Energy

Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s period of his biography, Timur Kulibayev held positions in a number of enterprises. He served as deputy head of Samruk, a public portfolio administration company, and later assumed leadership roles in KazMunayGas and KEGOC, overseeing significant growth in the hydrocarbon and power industries. His appointment as chairman of Kazakhstan’s committee in the World Petroleum Council in 2008 further demonstrated his commitment to the growth of the sector.

At Samruk-Kazyna, Kulibayev Timur was a member of management for multiple national companies, including Kazatomprom and Kazakhstan Railways. Тhese entities were tasked with becoming competitive on the international stage and implementing innovative projects. Timur Askarovich Kulibayev also participated in negotiations for Kazakhstan’s stake in the Karachaganak oil and gas field, securing a 10% share for the country.

During his tenure, Timur Askarovich Kulibayev launched audits of national companies’ innovation programs, overseeing investments in various sectors, such as oil and gas, railways, and telecommunications. He helped shape Kazakhstan’s economic landscape before he transitioned away from these roles.

Overall, Kulibayev Timur helped develop a number of energy-industry companies, including:

• Kazakhoil
• KazTransOil
• Oil and Gas Transport
• KazMunayGas
• Kazenergy
• KEGOC
• Kazatomprom

Timur Kulibayev: Fostering SMEs

Kazakhstan’s strategy to bolster its business landscape culminated in the establishment of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. This comprehensive body, evolving from its predecessor, represents a diverse array of commercial enterprises across multiple industries. At the helm of this transformative initiative was Timur Kulibayev, who served two consecutive terms as the Chamber’s chief executive. His tenure was marked by his unwavering commitment and hands-on approach to steering the organization towards its goals.

Despite his background in managing large enterprises, Kulibayev Timur demonstrated a keen interest in addressing the challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses. He steered the Chamber towards practical problem-solving rather than merely highlighting issues to government officials. Under his guidance, the organization sought inspiration from global best practices, particularly in agriculture, where Timur Askarovich Kulibayev advocated for consolidating small farms to enhance their competitiveness and financial stability.

Kulibayev Timur also spearheaded programs to support businesses affected by the recent pandemic. He orchestrated dialogues with entrepreneurs across Kazakhstan, resulting in targeted government assistance programs. These included subsidized loans for payroll, tax deferrals, and other financial relief measures. Timur Kulibayev ensured that support was continually refined, phasing out ineffective tools in favor of more impactful solutions.

Education was another focus area for Kulibayev Timur Askarovich. He backed the introduction of business fundamentals as a subject in schools and colleges, which eventually became part of the core curriculum. This initiative aimed to nurture entrepreneurial spirit among young Kazakhs, with continued support offered through their university years.

Concluding in 2022, the tenure of Timur Askarovich Kulibayev with this organization included considerable achievements. The chamber handled numerous business inquiries, successfully resolving many for the good of business owners. Notable progress was made in decriminalizing economic offenses, substantially reducing related criminal cases.

Throughout his biography, Timur Kulibayev demonstrated a commitment to fostering a robust business field in Kazakhstan, balancing the needs of established industries with the growth potential of emerging sectors and young entrepreneurs.

In Sports Management

Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Kulibayev Timur has also participated in sports administration at both national and international levels. His involvement in athletics spans multiple disciplines and organizations. For a decade, he spearheaded Kazakhstan’s boxing community and continues to contribute to the sport globally through his role in its international governing body.

Timur Kulibayev’s contributions extended to the broader Olympic movement, where he was a member of Kazakhstan’s national committee until 2024. His tenure has also included contributions to the growth of swimming and golf within Kazakhstan.

A hallmark of the approach of Timur Askarovich Kulibayev has been his drive to maximize the impact of public funding for athletics development. His strategies for collaboration between sports organizations and local governments have yielded notable improvements in resource allocation and program implementation.

Over the course of his work biography, Timur Kulibayev has labored in a number of industries:

• Economic planning 
• Investment
• Banking and financial services 
• Oil and gas 
• Energy (including electricity and nuclear) 
• Transportation (railways) 
• Business development and entrepreneurship 
• Sports administration 
• Philanthropy

Timur Kulibayev: FAQs

1. When and where was Timur Kulibayev born? 

Timur Kulibayev was born on September 10, 1966, in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR.

2. What line of work is Kulibayev Timur known for? 

Kulibayev Timur is best known for his work in the energy sector, particularly in Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry.

3. What level of education has Timur Askarovich Kulibayev completed?

Timur Askarovich Kulibayev holds a Ph.D. in economics. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in National Economic Planning from Lomonosov MSU. 

4. What companies is Kulibayev Timur Askarovich known for working with? 

Kulibayev Timur Askarovich is especially known for his work with several companies in the Kazakhstani oil and gas industry, including Kazakhoil, KazMunayGas, Kazenergy, and Samruk-Kazyna. 

5. What connection does Kulibayev Timur have to the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Atameken?

Kulibayev Timur served as chairman of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Atameken from September 2013 to February 2022. He also served as chairman of the Presidium of its predecessor organization, the National Economic Chamber of Kazakhstan Union Atameken from 2010 to 2014.

6. Was Timur Kulibayev involved in the foundation of any of the companies he has worked for?

One notable example is Kazenergy, which was established on his initiative. Timur Kulibayev led the oil, gas, and energy association from November 2005 to December 2023. 

7. What is the marital/familial status of Timur Askarovich Kulibayev? 

Timur Askarovich Kulibayev is married with three children.

8. What work is Kulibayev Timur Askarovich known for outside of energy-related industries?

Kulibayev Timur Askarovich is also a sports enthusiast and has held positions in several national and international associations, including the Boxing Federation of Kazakhstan, the International Boxing Association, the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and more. 

9. Is Timur Kulibayev involved in any charitable work? 

Timur Kulibayev has been involved in numerous charitable projects across various sectors, including education, culture, and sports. He has also helped fund the construction of houses for the less fortunate and the reconstruction of social infrastructure facilities. 

10. What was the first position that Kulibayev Timur held?

Kulibayev Timur first entered the working world after graduating from Lomonosov MSU with a position at the Scientific Research Economic Institute of Planning and Standards under the State Planning Committee of the Kazakh SSR, where he worked from 1980 to 1990.

By Chris Bates