DISCUSSION by Kairat Kelimbetov and Ruben Vardanyan
“Central Asia as the driver of Eurasian economic growth”

Kairat Kelimbetov

Governor of Astana International Financial Centre

Was born in 1969 in Almaty.

Has graduated from Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, High Academy of Governance under the President of Kazakhstan and Georgetown University (USA).

Till 2002 worked as the member of Supreme Economic Council under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, served as Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning, First Vice-Minister of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

From 2002 to 2006 served as Minister of Economy and Budget Planning of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2006 served as CEO of Kazyna Sustainable Development Fund (the state institutions of development).

In January 2008 appointed as Head of Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Since 2008 to 2011 - CEO of Sovereign Wealth Fund “Samruk-Kazyna” JSC (The Fund, which consolidated all the state companies). In April 2011 served as Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In January 2012 was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where governed the issues of macroeconomics, budget policy, governing of state companies and finance sector, tax and custom regulations and etc. Kelimbetov also served as the Chairman of the Council of Eurasian Economic Comission, where he represented the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On October 1, 2013 by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan was appointed as the Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan.

On December 24, 2015 by the order of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan was appointed as the Governor of Astana International Financial Centre.

Ruben Vardanyan

Impact investor and social entrepreneur, founding partner of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO

Ruben Vardanyan is an Armenian-Russian social entrepreneur, impact investor and venture philanthropist. A recognized expert on the global economy, entrepreneurship and education, he provides strategic consulting through his membership of boards of directors, advisory boards and trusteeships of commercial companies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and public and professional bodies. Among them are Aznavour Foundation, business schools in Russia and Brazil, a major Armenian bank (Ameriabank) and Russia’s auto major (KAMAZ). A prominent financier, Ruben is known both for his commercial projects (investment companies Troika Dialog and Vardanyan, Broitman and Partners) as well as his deep reaching philanthropic programs, such as the first UWC college in Eastern Europe (Dilijan, Armenia) and the Tatev Revival Project, part of which includes the construction of the world’s longest cableway leading to an ancient monastery. Together with their partners, Ruben and his family have invested about $600M in projects in Armenia, developing a commercial approach that relies on involving blended financing to find solutions to social problems. They have also raised over $600M to finance the first private business school in Russia – a pioneering institution both in terms of scale and in its collaborative nature. In 2015, Ruben co-founded another global project, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors. He spends a significant amount of his time on projects related to the development and professionalization of charity infrastructure in Russia (Philanthropy Infrastructure – PHILIN) and the questions of wealth and legacy curation (Phoenix Advisors). With support from Ruben, Troika Dialog, SKOLKOVO business school and several charitable foundations, classics of world business literature were published in Russia. Since 2016 he has chaired the judging panel of the PwC “Business Book of the Year in Russia” Award.

Andrei Sharonov

President of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO

Andrei Sharonov joined the SKOLKOVO Business School team in September 2013. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Mayor in the Moscow Government for economic policy. In 2013 was appointed Dean of SKOLKOVO Business School and in September 2016 he was elected President of the Business School.

Mr. Sharonov was born in Ufa in 1964. He graduated from Ufa State Aviation Technical University and the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation; holds a Ph.D. in sociological science.

From 1989-1991 Mr. Sharonov was People’s Deputy of the USSR, and until 1996 was Chairman of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Youth Affairs. Between 1996 and 2007 he served in the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation as department head, deputy minister and state secretary. From 2007 through 2010 Mr. Sharonov was managing director and chairman of the Board of Directors of Troika Dialog Investment Company, and headed the investment banking business.

Andrei is a Chairman of the Board of NefteTransService LLC, member of the Management Board of such companies as PJSC Sovcomflot, PJSC PhosAgro, JSC Medicina and EN+ GROUP PLC.

By directive of the Moscow Mayor dated 22 December 2010, Mr. Sharonov was appointed Deputy Mayor in the Moscow Government for Economic Policy, Chairman of Regional Energy Commission. Mr. Sharonov headed the Executive Committees of Moscow Urban Forum and Open Innovations Forum.

Mr. Sharonov was awarded the Aristos prize for “Independent Director” in 2009, the national award “Director of the Year – 2009” for “Independent Director” and the international award “Person of the Year – 2012” for “Business Reputation”. He also received special award for personal contribution to the development of corporate management in 2016 from the Independent Directors Association and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. Mr. Sharonov was awarded the Order of Honour and is an Honoured Economist of the Russian Federation. He also received President's Letters of Gratitude in 2003, 2008 and 2018.