Kazakhstan is one of the bestendowed countries in the world for natural resources. As well as abundant reserves of oil and gas, the country is a major producer of uranium, copper, chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, coal, iron ore and gold, and is said to host 95 per cent of the periodic table of elements.

The commodities boom of the past five years has boosted the country's profile among mining executives and investors, as foreign companies have entered the country looking for ways to take advantage of its mineral wealth and Kazakh companies have come to the international markets for funding.