Karim Massimov
Karim Qajymqanuly Massimov (Kazakh: Kárim Qajymqanuly Másimov, [kæɾɪm qɑʑəmqɑˈnʊlə mæsɪmof]; born 15 June 1965)[1] is a Kazakh politician who served as a Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 10 January 2007[2] to 24 September 2012 and again from 2 April 2014 to 8 September 2016.[3]
Karim Massimov Кәрім Мәсімов | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Acting State Secretary of Kazakhstan | |
In office 21 January 2014 – 2 April 2014 | |
President | Nursultan Nazarbayev |
Preceded by | Marat Tazhin |
Succeeded by | Adilbek Zhaksybekov |
Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan | |
In office 24 September 2012 – 2 April 2014 | |
President | Nursultan Nazarbayev |
Preceded by | Aslan Musin |
Succeeded by | Nurlan Nigmatulin |
13th Chairman of the National Security Committee | |
Assumed office 8 September 2016 | |
President | Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Nursultan Nazarbayev |
Preceded by | Vladimir Zhumakanov |
7th Prime Minister of Kazakhstan | |
In office 2 April 2014 – 8 September 2016 | |
President | Nursultan Nazarbayev |
First Deputy | Bakhytzhan Sagintayev |
Preceded by | Serik Akhmetov |
Succeeded by | Bakhytzhan Sagintayev |
In office 10 January 2007 – 24 September 2012 | |
First Deputy | Umirzak Shukeyev (2009–2011) Serik Akhmetov (2012) Krymbek Kusherbayev (2012–2013) |
Preceded by | Daniyal Akhmetov |
Succeeded by | Serik Akhmetov |
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan | |
In office 18 January 2006 – 10 January 2007 | |
Prime Minister | Daniyal Akhmetov |
In office 27 November 2001 – June 2003 | |
Prime Minister | Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (2001–2002) Imangali Tasmagambetov (2002–2003) |
Minister of Economy and Budget Planning | |
In office 20 April 2006 – 13 October 2006 | |
President | Nursultan Nazarbayev |
Prime Minister | Daniyal Akhmetov |
Preceded by | Kairat Kelimbetov |
Succeeded by | Aslan Musin |
Minister of Transport and Communications | |
In office 7 August 2000 – 27 November 2001 | |
President | Nursultan Nazarbayev |
Prime Minister | Daniyal Akhmetov |
Preceded by | Serik Burkitbaev |
Succeeded by | Abilay Mirzahmetov |
Personal details | |
Born | Tselinograd (now Nur-Sultan), Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union | 15 June 1965
Nationality | Kazakh |
Political party | Nur Otan |
Alma mater | Peoples' Friendship University |
Massimov served as Deputy Prime Minister from 19 January 2006 to 9 January 2007[4] and as Minister of Economy and Budget Planning, Minister of Transport and Communications in 2001.[5] President Nursultan Äbishuly Nazarbayev nominated Massimov to succeed Daniyal Akhmetov as Prime Minister on 9 January 2007.[1] The Nur Otan party endorsed Massimov's candidacy and Parliament confirmed the nomination on 10 January.
On 24 September 2012, Massimov's premiership ended when President Nazarbayev dismissed him as from the position,[6] appointing him chief of staff of the presidential office in order to readjust the power balance between various factions within the government.[7] Since September 2016, he has been the incumbent was the head of Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) of Kazakhstan.
Early life and career
Born in Tselinograd (now Nur-Sultan) in Kazakh SSR to the parents of Eleanor Azhibekova and Kazhimkan Massimov.[1] His father held various managerial positions such as being the director of the Burundai Production Association of Wall Materials, deputy chief of the Glavtopsnab under the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR, director of the Massimov Health Center LLP. In addition, he was president organizations of the National Agro-Industrial Chamber of Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstan Yoga Association.
Education
In 1982, Massimov graduated from the Republican Physics and Mathematics Boarding School in Alma-Ata.
From 1985 to 1988, he studied at the People's Friendship University of Russia where he learned Arabic, then the Alma-Ata Institute of National Economy.
From 1988 to 1989, Massimov studied Chinese at the Beijing Institute of Language, taught at Wuhan University School of Law from 1989 to 1991, and then the Columbia University in New York City. In 1998, he graduated from the graduate school of Kazakh State Academy of Management, and in 1999, Massimov earned a doctoral degree from the Moscow State University of Technologies and Management named after K.G. Razumovskiy. That same year, he defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic "Problems of the formation of industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and ways to solve them (theory and practice)."
Business career
From 1992 to 1995, he worked at Kazakhstan's commercial structures in China and Hong Kong. From 1995 to 1997 he was the chairman of the Board of the Almaty Trade and Financial Bank. In 1996, Massimov became an acting Chairman of the Board of Turanbank From 1997 to 2000, he served as the chairman of the Board of the People's Savings Bank of Kazakhstan.
Political career
In 1991, Massimov became the head of the Department of the Ministry of Labor. On 7 August 2000, Massimov was appointed as the Minister of Transport and Communications. On 27 November 2001, he became the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. In June 2003, he was appointed as an Assistant to the President of Kazakhstan. Massimov once again became the Deputy Prime Minister on 18 January 2006, and was simultaneously as the Minister of Economy from 20 April to 13 October. On 10 January 2007, he was appointed as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. On 24 September 2012, he became the Head of the Presidential Administration and at the same time served as an Acting State Secretary of Kazakhstan from 21 January to 2 April 2014, where that day, he became the Prime Minister. On 8 September 2016, Massimov was appointed as the chairman of the National Security Committee.
Foreign policy
China
Massimov is considered a China expert.[8] China has become an important strategic partner for Kazakhstan in recent years and the two countries are working closely together to develop Kazakhstan's energy resources. Massimov visited Beijing, China with Finance Minister Natalya Korzhova, Transport and Communications Minister Serik Akhmetov, and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Baktykozha Izmukhambetov from 16–17 November 2006. Massimov co-chaired the third meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi. Several accords between agencies of the two governments were signed.[9] Massimov later met with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.[10] Meanwhile, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Liu Qi, secretary of the Beijing Party Committee, in Astana. Secretary Liu said was "very nice for me to visit your beautiful country at Otan's invitation. The goal of the visit is to deepen cooperation and mutual understanding between our countries."[11]
Iran
On 28 March 2002 in an article in Izvestia, Massimov announced that the Government of Kazakhstan planned to increase wheat exports to Iran from 100,000 to two million tons.[12]
Israel

.jpg)
Massimov and Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres announced from Jerusalem on 29 October 2006 that the state-owned National Innovation Fund of Kazakhstan would begin investing in the Peace Valley project and other projects in the Middle East. Massimov said, "I came to Israel with a clear message to the nation in Zion from the president, that Kazakhstan is a moderate Muslim state which is interested in being involved in the Middle East. Kazakhstan intends to found political and economic ties with Israel and its neighbors." Massimov mentioned the Dead Sea canal and expressed desire to create a free trade zone. Vice Premier Peres and Massimov agreed to establish an agriculture-school in each country. The NIF has given US$10 million to Israeli VC fund Vertex.[13]
Massimov also met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who praised Kazakhstan for showing a "beautiful face of Islam. Contemporary, ever-developing Kazakhstan is a perfect example of both economic development and interethnic accord that should be followed by more Muslim states."[14]
Nomination for Prime Minister
President Nazarbayev nominated Massimov to succeed Daniyal Akhmetov as Prime Minister on 9 January 2007.[1] Akhmetov resigned on 8 January without explanation. Analysts attributed Akhmetov's political downfall to the President's criticism of his administrative oversight of the economy.[1][15] The Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the nomination on 10 January with 37 out of 39 Senators and 66 of 77 Assemblymen from the Majilis voting for Massimov. Akhmetov became the Defense Minister, replacing Mukhtar Altynbayev.[16]
Premiership
He served as the Prime Minister until 24 September 2012, but was reappointed again on 2 April 2014 after Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov was jailed after being accused of corruption. Massimov served as a Prime Minister until he was succeeded by Bakhytzhan Sagintayev.
Personal life
Karim Massimov is ethnically Kazakh and is a born citizen of Kazakhstan.[17] He is fluent in Kazakh, Russian, Chinese, English and Arabic.[16] At the same time, he is thought to be well connected within the Kremlin.[18]
Massimov is married and has three kids. His hobbies are books, Muay Thai, skiing, rock climbing[19] and golf.
Martial arts
Massimov was the President of Federation of Amateur Muaythai of Asia (FAMA) in 2010. The FAMA and the Continental Federation of International Federation of Muaythai Amateurs (IFMA) in Asia is the first Continental Federation since 1991, supporting the work and efforts of the IFMA.[20] He then was nominated and went on to assume the position of Vice President of the IFMA, President of Muaythai federation in Kazakhstan and Vice-President of World Muaythai Council (WMC).[21]
In 2012, Massimov was unanimously re-elected for another four-year term to head the Asian federation, which is recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia.[22] He showed his support for the sport in an interview in which he stated that the sport "brings together athletes from across the world to train and compete with honour and in the spirit of cultural exchange and understanding."
See also
References
- Kazakhstan moves to name new PM United Press International
- "Kazakhstan appoints new PM". Television New Zealand. Reuters. 10 January 2007. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- Diplomat, Catherine Putz, The. "To Tweet or Not to Tweet: How Did Kazakhstan's PM Lose His Job?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- Kazakhstan CIA The World Factbook
- Kazakh delegation in Uzbekistan to discuss transport, telecommunications UzbekWorld
- "Kazakh PM Demoted After Social-Media Blitz". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- Gordeyeva, Mariya. "Kazakh PM Karim Masimov resigns: presidential press service". Reuters. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- "Background on Karim Massimov". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- China-Kazakh Cooperation Committee Meets Kazakhstan Today
- Astana, Beijing Sign Partnership Agreement RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
- China, Kazakhstan strengthen ties Kazinform
- Kazakhstan to increase wheat exports to Iran
- Kazakhstan oil fund to invest millions in Israel Globes
- Kazakhs seek stronger ties with Israel Archived 11 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine Jerusalem Post
- Oil-rich Kazakhstan's prime minister resigns USA Today
- Kazakh Parliament approves new Prime Minister RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
- Who Will Run Post-Nazarbayev Kazakhstan? Diplomat
- Kazakhstan: Massimov May Signal New Reform Priorities
- Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Karim Massimov discovers mountain climbing
- http://www.ifmamuaythai.org/support-for-ifma/personalities/he-karim-massimov/
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://www.ifmamuaythai.org/tag/karim-massimov/
External links
- Cabinet of ministers of Kazakhstan
Media related to Karim Masimov at Wikimedia Commons- Official Site of Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
- PM Karim K. Massimov
- Kazakh President accepts Prime Minister's resignation (Update3)
- Analysis: Why the world cares about Kazakhstan
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Daniyal Akhmetov |
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan 2007–2012 |
Succeeded by Serik Akhmetov |
Preceded by Serik Akhmetov |
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan 2014–2016 |
Succeeded by Bakhytzhan Sagintayev |