When a team of young managers started Kazkommertsbank in 1990 it was one of the smallest banks with $1m worth of assets dwarfed by the state-controlled savings bank. During the past decade it has grown into the biggest bank in Kazakhstan with $4bn of assets and capitalisation of $400m.

Its shares are listed in London and Frankfurt, it has investment grade rating and it issues international bonds. Furthermore, it has recently acquired a small bank in Moscow to facilitate Kazakh business in Russia.