Born: 13 November 1957 in the city of Guryev

Married with two children

1981 -- completes studies at Alma-Ata Institute of National Economics

1981-82 -- teacher at Alma-Ata Institute of National Economics

1982-83 -- senior inspector at Alma-Ata city commerce

1983-85 -- deputy director, director of Yubileiny food market

1985-86 -- director, Auezov regional food producer

1986-90 -- deputy chairman, Auezov

1990-92 -- Head of State Committee on Foreign Economic Ties at the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations

1992-93 -- general director of Kazakh trade house in Austria

1993-94 -- deputy minister of foreign economic relations

June 1994-November 1995 -- first deputy minister of industry and trade

1995-96 -- Presidential Envoy on Special Issues

February 1996-February 1999 -- ambassador to Switzerland, Kazakh representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva

February 1999-present -- presidential adviser on foreign policy and foreign trade