Speakers and participants

He was born in 1980 in Almaty.

He graduated from the Kazakh State Law Academy.

He began his career in 2002 as a chief specialist of the department in the Department of Justice of Almaty.

From 2005 to 2006, he was an expert, chief expert of the Legal Department of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From 2006 to 2009, he worked in the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From 2009 to 2012, he was Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Registration Service and Legal Assistance of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From 2012 to 2014, he served as Head of Department in the central office of the Republic of Kazakhstan Agency for Combating Economic and Corruption Crime (Financial Police).

In 2015-2016, he was the Chief of Staff of the Akim of Astana, Head of the Secretariat of the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2016-2017, he was the Head of the Department of the National Bureau for Combating Corruption (anti-corruption service) for the city of Astana.

From 2017 to 2018, he was Deputy Akim of Akmola region.

From 2018 to 2019, he was Deputy Chairman of the Republic of Kazakhstan Agency for Public Service and Anti-Corruption.

From 2019 to 2022, he was the First Deputy Chairman of the Republic of Kazakhstan Anti-Corruption Agency.

From February 2022 to April 2023, he was the Chairman of the Republic of Kazakhstan Anti-Corruption Agency.

On April 3, 2023, by Decree of the Head of State, he was appointed Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On February 6, 2024 by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan he was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

He was awarded the orders of "Aibyn" ІІ degree (2014), "Danek" ІІ degree (2021).

Date and place of birth: 16.09.1967, Genova, Italy

Education: Matteo holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MS degree cum laude in Mechanical Engineering from Genoa University.

Work experience:
Matteo Patrone, Vice President, Banking. In his role, Mr Patrone has an overall responsibility for the effective delivery of the Bank’s investment and advisory activities in the EBRD’s countries of operations, as well as contributing to the delivery of policy engagement activities.
Prior to this, Matteo held the post of Managing Director, Eastern Europe and Caucasus. In this role, he has been responsible for the Bank’s operations and policy engagement initiatives in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and for spearheading the crisis response to the war on Ukraine.
Mr. Patrone has a career spanning 30 years that includes senior management and leadership positions in merchant banking, private equity, management consulting and engineering. He joined the EBRD in 2008 as a senior banker within the Corporate Equity team. In 2012, he became Director for Serbia, based in Belgrade and in 2015, he moved to Bucharest as the Director, Regional Head for Romania and Bulgaria. In 2018, Matteo Patrone was appointed Managing Director, EEC.
Prior to working at the EBRD, Matteo was Managing Director of the private equity arm of Finanziaria Internazionale, an Italian merchant bank, where he spent 10 years investing in a broad range of sectors.
Before that he was Senior Manager at Accenture Strategic Services in Milan, Italy and held various positions in the Leonardo (formerly known as Finmeccanica) and ENI groups in the UK and Italy.

Born on 14 November 1983 in Atyrau.

In 2006, he graduated from Tomsk State University with degrees in Finance and Credit, and in Linguistics and Intercultural Communication. In 2010, he obtained a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of Michigan under the Bolashak International Scholarship Programme.

He began his career in 2005 as a Lead Specialist at the Department of Internal Administration and the Department of International Relations of the Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From 2006 to 2010, he worked as an Expert and Senior Expert in the Department of Investment Policy and Planning of the Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

Starting in 2010, he held positions as Head of the Strategic Development Division at the Department of Strategic Planning and Analysis of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and as Deputy Director of the Department of Budget Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In February 2013, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Geology and Subsoil Use of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From June 2013 to April 2019, he served as Deputy Head of the Center for Strategic Development and Analysis and Deputy Head of the Department for Socio-Economic Monitoring at the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From April 2019 to February 2021, he held the position of Deputy Head of the Analytical Department of the Office of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In February 2021, he was appointed Vice Minister of National Economy, and from January 2022 to February 2024 served as Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Other positions held:
– Member of the Board of Directors, Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund JSC (11.01.2022 – 06.02.2024);
– Member of the Board of Directors, Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC (04.02.2022 – 06.02.2024);
– Member of the Management Council, Astana International Financial Centre (11.01.2022 – 06.02.2024);
– Member of the Board of Directors, Kazakh Invest National Company JSC (11.01.2022 – 06.02.2024);
– Chairman of the Board of Directors, Economic Research Institute (ERI) (11.01.2022 – 06.02.2024).

Before his appointment as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in April 2024, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the KAZENERGY Association.

Fluent in English, Spanish, and German.

Ali Aslan is an internationally renowned TV presenter, moderator and journalist with a global career spanning over 20 years, including at CNN in Washington DC, ABC News in New York and Deutsche Welle TV in Berlin.

Recognized globally as one of the world's foremost moderators for high-level international events, Aslan regularly hosts global conferences, among others, for the United Nations, G20, EU, NATO and World Bank.

Aslan has interviewed numerous world leaders, including former US President Bill Clinton, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Aslan holds master's degrees in International Affairs and Journalism from Columbia University as well as a bachelor's degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

David Manzini was educated at the Military Academy of Aix-en-Provence and graduated from the ISG Business School (Institut Supérieur de Gestion). He is fluent in English, French, and Russian.

Since December 2020, he has been serving as President of PepsiCo in Russia, Belarus, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

From 2013 to 2020, he headed Mars in the United Kingdom, China, and the CIS countries, and from 2011 to 2013, he led Danone in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Between 2004 and 2011, he held senior marketing positions at Unilever. He began his career in 1995 at Mars as a Territory Sales Manager and subsequently advanced to the position of Customer Development Director.

Mr. Renat Bekturov assumed the role of the Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in January 2023. Previously, he held senior positions at the Astana International Exchange (AIX), the National Investment Corporation of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan.

He has over 16 years of experience in the financial services industry and was involved in several landmark debt capital market transactions, including the first Sukuk issuance in the CIS region.

Renat holds an MSc degree in Banking and Finance with Distinction from the University of Leicester and is a CFA Charterholder.

He graduated from the Kazakh State Law University in 2002, the Kazakhstan-Russia University in 2007, and the University of Birmingham.

He began his career in 1999 as a legal assistant at Eurasia Consulting LLP. From 2002 to 2010, he held various positions in the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and in the Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Parliament. From 2010 to 2019, he served as Deputy Akim (Mayor) of the city of Ekibastuz and the West Kazakhstan region, as well as holding leadership positions in the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2019, he was the secretary of the “NurOtan” party. From 2019 to 2020, he worked as Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and from 2021 to 2024, he held positions as State Inspector, Deputy Head, and Head of the Department of State Control and Organizational-Territorial Work in the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From 2023 to 2024, he served as the First Deputy Head of the Government Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Before being appointed Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he served as Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Alexander Luft is an experienced executive with a solid background in managing international industrial and investment projects. Since 2016, he has been serving as Chief Executive Officer of Stadler CIS AG (Switzerland), overseeing the company’s operations and business development across the CIS region. Since 2022, he has also been a Member of the Supervisory Board of Stadler Kazakhstan, actively contributing to projects aimed at localizing the production of railway rolling stock in Kazakhstan.

In addition, Alexander Luft holds the position of President of Medeo Investment AG (Switzerland). Earlier in his career, he served as CEO of Netwise Solutions Holding AG, where he led the company’s growth in the field of innovative IT and investment solutions.

His professional journey began in Germany, where he worked as a Sales Manager at Kolwe und Knoff GmbH and JRS GmbH, later continuing his career in Switzerland as an Investment Manager at Helveticorp GmbH.

Alexander Luft holds a Diploma in Management from Moscow State University and the University of Applied Sciences for Technology, Business and Culture (HTWK Leipzig, Germany).

Date of Birth: May 1955.

Education: Bachelor’s degree;

• Major in Industrial Fermentation, Qilu Polytechnic University (1982).

Work Experience:

1982 – 1984 - Technical specialist at the wine factory in Ji’nan County;

1984 – 1985 - Deputy Director of the wine factory in Ji’nan County;

1985 – 1996 - Director of the wine factory in Ji’nan County;

1996 – 1999 - General Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shandong Furui Group;

Education: Master of Engineering Sciences with specialization in Chemical Engineering and Technologies, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Imperial College of London, the UK; a certificate of secondary education of A Level, MPW College, Cambridge, the UK.

His career began at the Atyrau oil refinery. In parallel with his studies he worked as an analyst at North Caspian Petroleum Ltd. Then he was admitted to Tengizchevroil LLP for the position of engineer-technologist of the third category. He has considerable experience in the petrochemical industry, acquired during his work in such companies as Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries Inc. LLP, United Chemical Company LLP, and UCC Engineering LLP. In May 2014 he was appointed to the post of General Director of DARYN Partners LLP. From February 2019 until now he was appointed to the post of General Director of SEMURG INVEST LLP. From 2021 to 2022, he worked in Romania at Rompetrol (KMG International) as an Advisor to the Production Director and Managing Manager of Rominserv. Since 2015, he has been developing the “Sarzha Multifunctional Marine” Terminal project in the Kuryk port, and since 2019 he has been appointed to the position of the General Director of SEMURG INVEST LLP. He has extensive experience in logistics, as well as in the establishment and management of investment projects.

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s degree in Business Administration

Work Experience:
September 2024 – Present – Managing Director for Western and Central Asia, Alstom Kazakhstan
2023 – September 2024 – Director, Upsilink, France
2017 – 2022 – Chief Executive Officer, TMH AFRICA
2015 – 2017 – Business Development Director, General Electric, South Africa
2011 – 2015 – Country President, Alstom South Africa
2009 – 2011 – Country President, Alstom Libya
2007 – 2008 – Chief Executive Officer, Alcatel Tunisia
1997 – 2006 – Global Contracts Manager, Alcatel in Algeria, Iran, Qatar, and France

Biography:
Jérôme Boyer, Managing Director of Alstom for Western and Central Asia, possesses extensive experience in infrastructure and industrial projects. Jérôme is focused on enhancing collaboration, strengthening client relations, and ensuring the sustainable growth of the cluster. His leadership contributes to positioning Alstom as a leader in sustainable mobility and innovation, ensuring continued success in the years ahead.

Before joining Alstom, Jérôme successfully established, developed, and structured initiatives in the telecommunications, energy, and railway technology sectors. He effectively expanded businesses both within and outside companies — often through strategic partnerships — to enhance the efficiency of public clients and key industrial enterprises in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has held senior leadership positions in renowned organizations such as General Electric (GE), Alstom, and TMH.

Throughout his career, Jérôme has led critical project phases, including risk assessment, client engagement, tendering and contract management, as well as implementation and operational monitoring. His expertise enables him to navigate complex technological and cultural environments, ensuring financial value even under volatile conditions.

Obtained higher education, he graduated from South Kazakhstan University named after M. Auezov with a degree in “International Relations” and Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsouz with a degree in “Economics”.

Graduated of the Bolashak program. He graduated from King's College London (2014) and the English Business School (2019), receiving a master's degree in public policy and service management, business administration. 

Career

He started his career in 2003 as a chief specialist of labor and social protection department of the city of Shymkent.
From 2003 to 2004 - director of branch of economic administration of South Kazakhstan Akim’s Apparatus.
From 2004 to 2006 - chief specialist of the department of External relations and Investment of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.
From 2006 to 2007 - third secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Uzbekistan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
From 2007 to 2010 - second secretary of the State Protocol Service of the Minister’s office of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
From 2010 to 2016 - chief expert, head of the sector of the department of external relations and protocol of the Office of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.
From 2016 to 2017 - director of the international relations department of “Samruk-Kazyna Invest” LLP.
From 2017 to 2018 - head of the secretariat of the Chairman of the Board of JSC «Samurik-Kazyna».
From 2018 to 2019 - chairman of the bureau of the UNECE Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and International Lakes.
From 2019 to 2020 - head of the department for support and implementation of investment projects of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
From 2020 to 2021 - deputy chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Since September 2021 he served as chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a member of the Council of Foreign Investors under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
On February 19, 2024, he was appointed deputy Akim of the Kyzylorda region.

Education:

• 1998 – University of Karlsruhe
• 1999 – Grenoble Institute of Technology

Professional Experience:

• Since September 2024 – Vice President of Air Liquide Group, responsible for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Kazakhstan (Saudi Arabia)
• 2023–2024 – Vice President for Sales and Technology, E&C Americas (USA)
• 2022–2023 – President, E&C Americas, and Chief Executive Officer, Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions US, Inc. (USA)
• 2019–2022 – General Director, LLP “Er Likid Munai Tek Gazy” (Kazakhstan)
• 2015–2019 – Commercial Director for Large Industries, Air Liquide Russia (Russian Federation)
• 2011–2015 – International Director for Design and Construction, Marketing, and Competitive Intelligence, Air Liquide (France)
• 2009–2011 – International Manager for Strategic Clients BASF/BAYER, Air Liquide (France)
• 2006–2009 – Manager for Operational Control of Group Activities, Air Liquide (France)
• 2004–2005 – Manager responsible for Asset Acquisition and Implementation, Air Liquide (France)
• 2003–2004 – Project Manager for Asset Acquisition and Implementation / Business Controller for Large Industries, Air Liquide GmbH (Germany)
• 2001–2003 – Internal Auditor, Air Liquide GmbH (Germany)
• 2000–2001 – Logistics Manager, Air Liquide GmbH (Germany)

Selman Alimoglu is a Turkish entrepreneur and pharmaceutical expert with more than twenty years of experience in healthcare and pharmaceutical production.

He graduated from Istanbul University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. His professional career began in 1999–2000 as a pharmacist at a state pharmacy in Elazig. From 2000 to 2004, he continued his work as a pharmacist at a state pharmacy in Istanbul.

In 2004, Selman Alimoglu founded Orzax Group, a company specializing in the production and distribution of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Since its establishment, he has served as the Chairman, leading the company’s successful growth and expanding the Orzax brand to international markets.

In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Selman Alimoglu is actively involved in social initiatives. In 1994, he founded the Alimoğlu Health and Education Foundation, which focuses on supporting medical education and promoting social projects in the field of healthcare.

Matthew J. Sagers is a recognized expert in the fields of energy and transportation, specializing in the oil and gas sector of the post-Soviet region. He has more than thirty years of analytical and research experience, covering issues of energy resource transportation, infrastructure development, and regional economic policy.

He graduated from Weber State University (USA) with a Bachelor of Science degree with honors (magna cum laude) and continued his studies at The Ohio State University, where he earned Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.

Matthew J. Sagers began his professional career as an Economic Advisor to the Federated States of Micronesia, after which he taught geography at Weber State University and the University of Virginia. He later headed the International Research Center of the Soviet Branch of the US Census Bureau, which focused on analyzing economic and demographic data of the region.

In subsequent years, Sagers served as Director of Energy Services at PlanEcon, overseeing research on the Eurasian oil and gas market. Since the 2010s, he has led the Russian and Caspian Energy Advisory Service within S&P Global Commodity Insights, where he is responsible for analytical activities covering Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and other Caspian region countries.

Matthew J. Sagers is a leading expert on energy resource transportation, oil and gas infrastructure, and energy policy across the former Soviet Union. He is the author and co-author of numerous analytical studies, including Eurasian Oil Export Outlook and Eurasian Gas Export Outlook. Under his leadership, National Energy Reports on Kazakhstan (2015, 2017, and 2019) were prepared.

He actively cooperates with international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Energy Agency (IEA), participating in projects focused on the energy sectors of Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asian countries.

Matthew J. Sagers’ scientific and professional interests include the development of Eurasian oil and gas infrastructure, Russia’s LNG strategy, tax and export policy in the oil industry, Kazakhstan’s gas market, as well as the prospects for oil refining and pipeline projects across the region.

Alireza Mohammad Rahimi has over twenty years of experience in industrial production, management, and international sales.

He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Industrial Engineering from Islamic Azad University in 2013. Earlier, he completed his Master’s degree (2006–2007) and Bachelor’s degree (2001–2005) in Industrial Engineering at the same university.

He began his professional career in 2004 at HEPCO (Heavy Equipment Production Co.) in Iran, where he worked as a production planning expert. From 2009 to 2011, he served as Head of the Planning Department at Iran Khodro Diesel in Tehran.

From 2011 to 2013, he held the position of Plant Director at Pishgam in Iran. Later, he joined Solico Group, where he led the company’s branch in Najaf, Iraq. Between 2014 and 2018, he served as Sales Manager and Branch Director of Solico Group in Iraq.

Since 2018, Alireza Mohammad Rahimi has been serving as Export Director and General Director for CIS countries at Solico Group, overseeing export operations and business development across the region.

He graduated from Shenyang Agricultural University.

Since 2025, he has served as the Chairman of Asia Golden Grain Holdings Ltd (AGG).

Since 2011, he has served as the Vice Chairman of Dalian Hesheng Holding Group, mainly in charge of the bulk commodity trading and grain deep processing segments.

He started his career at Taiwan DaChan Great Wall Group in 1992. From 1992 to 2011, he served as Section Chief, Manager, General Manager of Procurement (China Region), General Manager of Dalian DaChan, and General Manager of Liaoning DaChan at DaChan Great Wall Group.

Education: Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Journalism, Bachelor’s degree in Journalism.

Career path at KIA:

• 1997–2004 — KD Production Department;
• 2005–2009 — Sales Department Coordinator at the Middle East & Africa Regional Headquarters (Dubai);
• 2012–2015 — Sales Department Coordinator at the Asia-Pacific Regional Headquarters (Malaysia);
• 2018–2021 — Sales Department Coordinator at the Middle East & Africa Regional Headquarters (Dubai);
• 2022–2023 — Head of the Asia-Pacific Region at the Headquarters;
• 2023 – present — General Director of LLP “KIA Qazaqstan.