Early Life and Education
Timur Askaruly Kulibayev was born on September 10, 1966, in Almaty, Kazakh SSR, USSR. He attended a specialized physics and mathematics school and graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1988 with a degree in National Economy Planning. Kulibayev later earned a PhD in economics in 1999, focusing on enterprise management within the oil industry. His father was a Communist Party boss.
Rise to Success
Kulibayev's career trajectory has been closely tied to Kazakhstan's economic development, particularly in the oil and gas sector and banking. He held key positions in state-owned enterprises managing Kazakhstan's natural resources and has been involved in the creation of various public organizations, including those related to sports. From 2001 to 2002, he headed CJSC National Oil and Gas Transport Company. Kulibayev has also served as the former head of Samruk-Kazyna, Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund. Furthermore, he was on the Board of Directors of Gazprom, Russia's largest energy company, from 2011 to 2022.
Key Business Strategies
Kulibayev's business strategies include securing strategic partnerships and investments. He played a role in transforming KazMunayGas into a significant transnational energy player. He has also been involved in various companies, including Almex LLP, which controls a significant percentage of Halyk Bank. Kulibayev's involvement in key state-owned enterprises allowed him to influence the country's hydrocarbon industry.
Philanthropy
Kulibayev is known for his philanthropic efforts through the Halyk Charitable Fund, focusing on healthcare, education, and community projects. His charitable initiatives include providing assistance to the residents of Arys, contributing to the COVID-19 relief, and constructing residential areas in Almaty for low-income families. In 2020, he allocated 1 billion tenge (approximately $2.1 million) to combat the effects of COVID-19.
