My work with Southeast Asia began in 2012, when I was appointed Secretary General of the Kazakhstan–Indonesia Business Council. Forums, delegations and introductions between Astana and Jakarta taught me how differently the two business cultures move: Indonesia through relationships and patience, Kazakhstan through decisions and speed.
This shirt was given to me by Ibrahim Risjad, one of the founders of Salim Group, Indonesia's largest conglomerate. It is hand-made batik, and he presented it to me at his home in Jakarta. We discussed a large oil and gas project in Mangystau region, by our estimates around USD 1.2 billion. Ibrahim Risjad passed away in 2012 and the project was never realised. I wear the shirt when I speak to Indonesian and Malaysian partners.
Malaysia is a long friendship too. Kuala Lumpur builds landmarks as statements of ambition, from the Petronas Towers to Merdeka 118, and its companies now look at Kazakhstan as a base for Central Asia. In November 2026 around forty of them came to Almaty.
Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur, November 2024