My name is Gulbanu Maigarina.
I am an entrepreneur, Chairman of the SME Development Committee of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan Atameken, a Member of its Presidium, and President of the Central Asian Association of Franchising.
To me, business has never been just about restaurants. It is about people, growth, and responsibility. It is about creating opportunities, building strong teams, and developing business models that can be scaled, replicated, and sustained over the long term. I believe that a country's long-term prosperity depends on the strength of its entrepreneurs. Alongside growing my own companies, I work to represent and advance the interests of businesses through Kazakhstan's National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, helping shape initiatives that support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
That commitment naturally led me to franchising. As President of the Central Asian Association of Franchising, I focus on building transparent, sustainable franchise models that enable entrepreneurs to expand faster while reducing risk.
This vision also inspired KazBrand, a national business reality competition created to help entrepreneurs transform promising local businesses into strong, scalable brands. The project provides participants with practical expertise, proven business tools, and access to experienced mentors.
Today, the Lanzhou restaurant network employs more than a thousand people, and our team continues to grow. As we expand into new markets, we are building an ecosystem where brands, franchise partners, and people grow together.
My goal is to bring Kazakhstani brands to the global stage and demonstrate that businesses from Central Asia can compete successfully and earn international recognition.
My mission is to unite people around timeless values—hard work, trust, and genuine passion for what they do. I believe these are the foundations on which enduring brands are built.