Born: 12 March 1964 in the city of Turkestan, Shymkent Province

Married with three children

1986 -- completes studies at Moscow Economic-Statistics Institute

1986-88 -- junior research assistant in Gosplan

1988-91 -- graduate student at Moscow Economics-Statistics Institute

1991-92 -- senior academic worker at the Scientific-Research Institute

1992-93 -- consultant to Economic Council in presidential administration

1993 -- deputy chief of finance and labor department in presidential administration

1993-95 -- deputy head of South Kazakhstan Province's gubernatorial (akim) administration

November 1995-March 1997 -- economy minister, Republic of Kazakhstan

March 1997-October 1997 -- economy and trade minister, Republic of Kazakhstan

June1997-October 1997 -- deputy prime minister in charge of macroeconomy, industrial operations, trade, transport, energy, science, and CIS relations

October 1997-April 1998 -- head of Turan-Alem Bank

April 1998-August 1998 -- assistant director of presidential administration

August 1998-March 2004 -- governor (akim) of Kostanai Province

March 2004-present -- mayor (akim) of Astana