Nurlan Smagulov

Nurlan Smagulov is the founder of Astana Group that traces its history back to 1992 when Astana Motors was established. Nurlan Smagulov is a famous Kazakh entrepreneur, a patron, Chairman of the Board of Regents of Boarding Remedial School No. 2.

Biography

• He was born on June 2, 1965, in the city of Alma-Ata. In 1990, he graduated from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with a degree in Chemistry and Biology.
• In 1984–1986, he did military service.
• In 1992, he established Astana Motors Kazakh Motor Company. The core business of the motor company was manufacture and distribution of vehicles and provision of maintenance services.
• In 1996–2002, he worked at ZAO Prodkorporatsia.
• In 1996–2000, he held the position of a Councilor of the RK Prime Minister.
• In 2003, he established Mega Center Management.
• In 2019–2023, he was president of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation.
• In 2020, he established the Nurlan Smagulov Foundation.
• In 2020, he established the group of companies MYCAR.
• In 2021, he launched the construction of the museum of contemporary art Almaty Museum of Arts.

Awards and honors

• In 2007, he was awarded the Order of Kurmet for merit to the Republic.
• In 2008, he was awarded the 10th Anniversary of Astana medal.
• In 2009, he won the National Stage of Entrepreneur of the Year International Award held by Ernst&Young international audit company.
• Since 2011, he has been on the Top 10 list of most influential businessmen in Kazakhstan.
• Since 2014, he has been the leading rentier in Kazakhstan (No. 1 in the Forbes Kazakhstan rating).
• Based on the results of 2015, he was recognized as the Businessman of the Year by Forbes Kazakhstan.
• In 2018, he was awarded the Order of the Leopard (Order «Barys») II degree in recognition of his production achievements and contribution to social and economic development of the country.