Almaty in Kazakhstan was a home and working base for four years. Working under the Presidential Administration – and later led a major energy project developing financial cooperation with the Asian Development Bank and Samryk Kazyna, the state sovereign wealth fund. He has also led other oil sector investment projects in the region, and created training programmes for Elf Neftegaz, Kazakhoil and Philips. Enabled the formation a network of contacts, and a deep understanding of the strategic sensitivity of the region, sitting between China and Russia.