THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN & MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

 Kanat Bekmurzayevich Saudabayev

Kanat Saudabayev was born in 1946 in the Almaty region. He graduated from the Leningrad State Institute of Culture named after Nadezhda Krupskaia and the Academy of Social Sciences in Moscow.

Kanat Saudabayev started his career as a director at the Kazakh Academic Theater named after Mukhtar Auezov. Then Mister Saudabayev worked in the area of culture at different top positions including posts of head of department of the Ministerial Council of the Kazakh SSR, Vice Minister of Culture, Chairman of the State Committee for cinematography, Chairman of the State Committee for Culture – Minister.

In 1991, Kanat Saudabayev transferred to diplomatic service and became the first Plenipotentiary Representative of the Kazakh SSR to the USSR.

In 1992, Kanat Saudabayev was first appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Turkey.

In 1994, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1994-1996, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Turkey.

From 1996 to 1999, Kanat Saudabayev served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with concurrent accreditation to Norway, Sweden and Ireland.

In 1999-2000, he worked as Head of Prime Minister’s Chancellery – member of the Government.

From 2000 to 2007, Kanat Saudabayev served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States of America.

In May 2007, Kanat Saudabayev was appointed Secretary of State of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On 4 September 2009, Kanat Saudabayev was appointed Secretary of State of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

He has diplomatic rank - Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador.

Foreign languages - English, German and Turkish. He holds the degree of candidate of philosophical sciences from the Kazakh State University (1981) and degree of doctor of political sciences from the Moscow State University. Kanat Saudabayev was decorated with the Orders of Otan and Kurmet.

He is married, has three children and four grandchildren.