Bakhytzhan Sagintayev

Bakhytzhan Abdiruly Sagintayev (Kazakh: Бақытжан Әбдірұлы Сағынтаев, Baqytjan Ábdiruly Saǵyntaev; born 13 October 1963) is a Kazakh politician who was a Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, having taken office on 8 September 2016.[1] He was replaced by Askar Mamin on 21 February 2019 when the government resigned.[2] He has since 28 June 2019 served as the Mayor of the city of Almaty.

Bakhytzhan Sagintayev
Sagintayev in 2018
State Secretary of Kazakhstan
In office 1 March 2019 – 24 March 2019
President	Nursultan Nazarbayev Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Preceded by	Gulshara Abdykhalikova
Succeeded by	Marat Tazhin
Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan
In office 24 March 2019 – 28 June 2019
President	Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
First Deputy	Darhan Kaletaev
Preceded by	Asset Issekeshev
Succeeded by	Krymbek Kusherbayev
9th Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office 9 September 2016 – 21 February 2019 Acting: 8 September 2016 – 9 September 2016
President	Nursultan Nazarbayev
First Deputy	Askar Mamin
Preceded by	Karim Massimov
Succeeded by	Askar Mamin
First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office 16 January 2013 – 8 September 2016
Prime Minister	Karim Massimov (2013–2014, 2014–2016) Serik Akhmetov (2014)
Preceded by	Krymbek Kusherbayev
Succeeded by	Askar Mamin
Head of the Prime Minister's Office
In office 11 December 2007 – 30 September 2008
Prime Minister	Karim Massimov
Preceded by	Yerbol Orynbayev
Succeeded by	Yerbol Orynbayev Gabidulla Abdrakhimov
Minister of Regional Development
In office 16 January 2013 – 6 November 2013
President	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Prime Minister	Serik Akhmetov
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Bolat Zhamishev
Minister of Economic Development and Trade
In office 20 January 2012 – 24 September 2012
President	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Prime Minister	Karim Massimov
Preceded by	Kairat Kelimbetov
Succeeded by	Erbolat Dosaev
Akim of Pavlodar Region
In office 30 September 2008 – 20 January 2012
Preceded by	Kairat Nurpeisov
Succeeded by	Erlan Aryn
7th Mayor of Almaty
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 June 2019
Preceded by	Bauyrjan Baibek
First Deputy Chairman of Nur Otan
In office 24 September 2012 – 16 January 2013
Chairman	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Preceded by	Nurlan Nigmatulin
Succeeded by	Bauyrjan Baibek
Personal details
Born	(1963-10-13) 13 October 1963 Usharal, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Kazakhstan)
Political party	Nur Otan
Children	2
Alma mater	Kazakh National University

Early life and education

Sagintayev was born in the village of Usharal. His father, Abdyr Sagintayev (1921-1986), was a World War II veteran who worked as the director of the Talas Sheep Breeding Plant.

In 1985, Sagintayev graduated from the Kazakh State University with a degree in economics. That same year, he became a lecturer at the Department of Political Economy of the Alma-Ata Institute of National Economy. From 1988 to 1992, he worked at the Kazakh State University, where he went from an assistant to an assistant professor of sociology. From 1992 to 1998, Sagintayev was engaged in entrepreneurial activity.

Early political career

In 1998, he was appointed as deputy akim of the Jambyl Region. From 1999 to 2002, Sagintayev served as Deputy Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Small Business Support, Deputy Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation of Natural Monopolies, Protection of Competition and Support for Small Business. From 2002 to 2004 he served as the First Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Regulation of Natural Monopolies and Competition Protection. From 2004 to 2007, he chaired the Agency for Regulation of Natural Monopolies of Kazakhstan. On 11 December 2007, Sagintayev was appointed as the Head of the Prime Minister's Office. On 30 September 2008, he became akim of Pavlodar Region.

On 20 January 2012, Sagintayev was appointed Minister of Economic Development and Trade. On 24 September 2012, he became First Deputy Chairman of Nur Otan. On 16 January 2013, Sagintayev was appointed as the First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Regional Development.

Prime Minister (2016–2019)

On 8 September 2016, Sagintayev was nominated by Nursultan Nazarbayev for the post of Prime Minister. The following day, on 9 September, Sagintayev was confirmed by the Parliament. On 28 September. he was appointed as the Chairman of the board of directors of JSC «Samruk-Kazyna».[3]

Mayor of Almaty (2019–present)

On 28 June 2019, Sagintayev was appointed as the mayor of Almaty.[4] His goal was to make the city a "safe, comfortable, modern metropolis where every Almaty citizen has the opportunity for a decent life." He ordered the police to conduct an analysis of the criminal situation in the city, to intensify the fight against hooliganism and robbery, and to increase the number of surveillance cameras on the streets. In response with dealing in crimes, 32 police posts were installed, with 4 in each city district. The location of the posts were determined based on the incidents of offenses and crimes that occurred in the area.[5]

On 19 August, Sagintayev announced on his Instagram page about returning the previous speed limit on Al-Farabi Avenue from 60 km back to 80 km after many complains by citizens.[6]

On 29 August, he proposed planting at least a million new trees in Almaty and planned to actively work with the Government and Samruk Energy JSC to reduce emissions from stationary sources.[7]

On 27 November, at the Almaty Investment Forum, Sagintayev stated the city should be at the top 100 best cities in the world in terms of quality of life and business opportunities, in which he used San Francisco as an example.[8]

Following the COVID-19 outbreak in Kazakhstan, 27 roadblocks were installed to prevent citizens from traveling in or out of the city.[9] On 4 April 2020, Sagintayev approved the construction of an infectious disease hospital, which was opened on 24 April.[10][11] On 16 April, Sagintayev announced that mass events, including sports, would be cancelled until 30 June.[12]

Recognition

Sagintayev was awarded “Kurmet” order and anniversary medals.

Personal life

He is an author of a number of scientific works, publications on state regulation of the natural monopolies, small and medium business development.

Sagintayev is married and has two children.

References

1. "Kazakhstan: le Premier ministre devient chef des services secrets - L'Orient-Le Jour". lorientlejour.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
2. "Kazakh Government Resigns After Nazarbaev Says They Must Go". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
3. "Samruk-Kazyna JSC Appoints Bakytzhan Sagintayev as Chairman of its Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
4. "Bakytzhan Sagintayev appointed akim of Almaty". www.government.kz. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
5. INFORM.KZ (2019-08-26). "Новые стационарные пункты полиции появились в Алматы". www.inform.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-05-21.
6. INFORM.KZ (2019-08-19). "Принял два решения – Бакытжан Сагинтаев о скорости на аль-Фараби и велодорожках". www.inform.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-05-21.
7. INFORM.KZ (2019-08-29). "Посадить миллион деревьев в Алматы предложил Бакытжан Сагинтаев". www.inform.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-05-21.
8. Серикпаев, Дамир (2019-11-27). "Бакытжан Сагинтаев: Алматы должен равняться на Сан-Франциско". www.forbes.kz. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
9. Маулетбай, Серикжан (2020-03-17). "Бакытжан Сагинтаев сделал заявление в связи с введением карантина в Алматы". informburo.kz. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
10. "В Алматы открыли инфекционную больницу, построенную за 18 дней". Liter.kz (in Russian). 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
11. "Бакытжан Сагинтаев дал старт строительству инфекционного госпиталя в Алматы". kzaif.kz. 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
12. "В Алматы до 30 июня отменены массовые мероприятия, в том числе спортивные". Prosports.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-05-21.

Political offices
Preceded by Karim Massimov	Prime Minister of Kazakhstan 2016–2019	Succeeded by Askar Mamin