AIFC Website
Kanat Akimzhanov
AIFC Spotlight series
Welcome, and thank you for joining us. Please introduce yourself.

Hello, and thank you for the invitation. My name is Kanat Akimzhanov. I am a Senior Manager in the Department of Governmental Relations and International Affairs. I've been working at the Astana International Financial Centre for over four years now. I was born in the Almaty region, in the village of Narynkol, near peak of Khan Tengri.

Could you start by telling us what you were doing before joining the AIFC?

I graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University, where I studied the Chinese language for three years. After that, I pursued a master's degree at Southwest University in Chongqing, China, studying international relations. I completed my master's in 2018. After graduation, I started working at Xinjiang International Logistics KTZ Express Ltd.


I spent a year and a half at the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Kazakhstan Railways) branch in Urumqi, focusing on container freight sales. After that, I was invited to work at the head office, where I spent another 9 or 10 months working in continental freight sales, specifically managing the China-Europe-CIS direction.

[cont.]

Following my time at Kazakhstan Railways, I joined the AIFC. I initially worked in the department responsible for official events under the leadership of Zhanserik Aydinovich Alimzhanov, who previously worked in the protocol office at the Akorda. He later became an advisor in New York. I gained a lot of experience under his guidance and am very grateful for the opportunity to work at the AIFC. I worked under his leadership for about three years. In 2023, I was transferred to the protocol department under the management of Olzhas Bukenov. My role involved ensuring the smooth execution of international and governmental visits for the AIFC Governor, Mr. Renat Bekturov. This included preparing and overseeing events during these visits, often in countries like China, Qatar, or other CIS nations.

Many people may not fully understand what your role involves. Could you explain it?

At the AIFC, we handle various official visits. For example, when a state visit occurs, like when the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, or the President of Albania, or even the President of Singapore, visited us. We also hosted the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan and the President of Azerbaijan, as well as our own President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

What do you enjoy most about your work at the AIFC?

What I enjoy most is the collaboration with government agencies. When foreign guests arrive in Kazakhstan, our task is to ensure that they also visit the AIFC, to familiarize them with what we do. We work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government to make this happen. Our goal is to introduce international guests to the AIFC, helping them understand what we do and how we operate, and to attract investors to Kazakhstan.

Is there anything you don't like about your work?

Honestly, I can't say there's anything I dislike. I enjoy everything about my job.

Can you tell us a bit about your personal life? Any hobbies or interests?

When I have free time, I enjoy reading, mostly at home since work is usually too busy for that. I also like swimming; it helps me relax and clear my mind.

Are you married? Do you have children?

Yes, I'm married. My wife is from Saratov, Russia. We have a daughter who is three years old.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with your colleagues?

I'd like to tell my colleagues to take pride in working at the AIFC. It's a large organization recognized worldwide, especially in Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. We're also slowly expanding our presence in Latin America and Africa. I encourage everyone to love their work, work hard, and be proud to be part of the AIFC. It's a great privilege.