BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 3. Kazakhstan's
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has relieved Nurlan Sauranbayev of
his post as Minister of Transport, according to a presidential
decree.
Prior to his ministerial tenure, Sauranbayev held extensive
leadership roles across Kazakhstan's public and corporate sectors,
notably leading national railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy
and serving in key defense and energy positions.
Sauranbayev was born on May 20, 1967. He began his career as
General Director of Enbek (1991-1997), before serving as Executive
Director of the Congress of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan
(1997-1998).
From 1998 to 2000, he headed the Passenger Transportation
Directorate of the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy state enterprise. He then
served as First Vice President of ANPZ OJSC (2000-2002) and
Director of the Engineering and Service Services Department at
KazMunayGas National Company JSC (2002-2004).
In 2004-2007, Sauranbayev was General Director of TenizService
LLP. From July 2007 to June 2010, he held the positions of Managing
Director for Oil Transportation and Managing Director for Service
Projects at KazMunayGas.
On May 18, 2011, he was appointed Vice Minister of Industry and
New Technologies of Kazakhstan, serving until August 25, 2014. From
August 2014 to October 2016, he served as Deputy Minister of
Defense.
In 2017, Sauranbayev headed the organizing committee of the
headquarters responsible for preparations for and the holding of
the EXPO 2017 International Specialized Exhibition. In November
2017, he was appointed mayor of Shymkent, serving until June
2018.
From January 2019 to April 2021, he headed the Department of
State Control and Organizational and Territorial Work at the
Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan.
On April 9, 2021, Sauranbayev became Chairman of the Management
Board of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), a position he held until
June 30, 2025.
On June 30, 2025, he was appointed Minister of Transport of
Kazakhstan and was reappointed to the post on September 3,
2026.
