Born June 15, 1965, in Tselinograd, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.

1985: Graduated from the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University.

1991: Graduated from Beijing University and the Wuhan Language Institute, PRC.

1995: Graduated from the Kazakh State Academy of Management with a degree in international law and economics. Doctor of Economics (Thesis: Problems in Organising Kazakhstan's Industry and Ways of Solving Them (Theory and Practice), 1999).

1991: Legal Adviser, USSR Trade Mission.

1992: Deputy Director, Kazakhprigrantorg.

1992 – 1993: Senior Expert, Urumchi (PRC) Office, Kazakhintorg.

1994 – 1995: Executive Director, Kazakh Trading House, Hong Kong.

1995 – 1997: Chairman of the Board, Alma Ata Bank for Trade and Industry.

1997 – 2000: Chairman of the Board, People's Savings Bank of Kazakhstan.

August 2000: Appointed Minister of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan.

2001-2003: Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

July 2003: Appointed Aide to the President of Kazakhstan.

2000 – 2001: Chairman of the Board of Directors of KazPost.

2003 – 2004: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kazakhstan Investment Fund, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Railways) and Kazakhtelecom.

Since November 2005: member of the Board of Directors of the Bank for the Development of Kazakhstan.

January 18, 2006 – January 10, 2007: Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

January 10, 2007: Appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Following the April 3, 2011 presidential elections, reappointed as Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.

1998 – present: President, Thai Boxing Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Vice President, World Thai Boxing Federation; Honorary President, Tae Kwon Do Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2004: Awarded the Kazakhstan Order of Kurmet.

Speaks English, Chinese and Arabic

Married, with three children.