Daniyal Akhmetov

Daniyal Kenzhetayuly Akhmetov (Kazakh: Даниал Кенжетайұлы Ахметов, Danıal Kenjetaıuly Ahmetov) (born 15 June 1954) is a Kazakh politician who was the 6th Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 13 June 2003 to 9 January 2007.[1]

Daniyal Akhmetov
Даниал Ахметов
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office
13 June 2003 – 8 January 2007
Acting: 11 June 2003 – 13 June 2003
PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev
First DeputyAlexander Pavlov
(2002–2004)
Grigori Marchenko
(2004)
Preceded byImangali Tasmagambetov
Succeeded byKarim Massimov
First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office
21 December 2000 – 21 November 2001
Prime MinisterKassym-Jomart Tokayev
Preceded byAleksandr Pavlov
Succeeded byAleksandr Pavlov (2002)
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office
12 October 1999 – 21 December 2000
Prime MinisterKassym-Jomart Tokayev
Minister of Defense
In office
10 January 2007 – 17 June 2009
PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev
Prime MinisterKarim Massimov
Preceded byMukhtar Altynbayev
Succeeded byAdilbek Zhaksybekov
Akim of East Kazakhstan Region
Assumed office
11 November 2014
Preceded byBerdibek Saparbayev
Akim of Pavlodar Region
In office
21 November 2001 – 11 June 2003
Preceded byGalymzhan Zhakiyanov
Succeeded byQairat Nurpeisov
In office
6 October 1995 – 19 December 1997
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byGalymzhan Zhakiyanov
Akim of North Kazakhstan Region
In office
19 December 1997 – 12 October 1999
Preceded byVladimir Gartman
Succeeded byQajymurat Nagymanov
Personal details
Born (1954-06-15) 15 June 1954
Pavlodar, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityKazakh
Political partyNur Otan

Critics refer to him as "The Terminator", a nickname he gained as the akim of Pavlodar Region for his actions in suppressing supporters of Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, the previous akim.[2] On 8 January 2007, he resigned as Prime Minister. He did not say why, but President Nursultan Nazarbayev had criticized him in 2006 for overspending and other administrative errors.[3] President Nazarbayev accepted his resignation, and immediately appointed him Acting Prime Minister.[4]

Akhmetov was included as Minister of Defense in the government that took office on 10 January 2007. He was dismissed from that post in June 2009. On 11 November 2014, he was appointed as the akim of the East Kazakhstan Region.

Background

Akhmetov was born in 1954 at Pavlodar in the Kazakh SSR. He is an ethnic Kazakh. He has degrees in construction engineering and economics. Prior to his appointment as Prime Minister, he served as Deputy Prime Minister for Industry, Energy, Transport, and Communications from 2001 to 2003.[1]

Appointment

President Nursultan Nazarbayev nominated Akhmetov as Prime Minister at a joint session of parliament on 13 June 2003. Nazarbayev gave a speech saying the prime minister needed to have experience in provincial government because the nation needed to speed up the pace of social and economic development. Akmetov was approved by 36 of 39 senators and 73 of 77 members of the Mazhilis.[1]

Akhmetov told the parliament he wanted continuity in policy despite the change in government, and said that Kazakhstan is "building a state governed by the rule of law where everyone has the right to freedom of conscience and expression, but that everyone should work within the law." He said there should not be dissidence, only constructive dialogue and mutual understanding, and called for everyone to engage in presidential economic programs.[1]

Petroleum law changes

Akhmetov worked to change Kazakhstan's petroleum laws despite strong opposition from foreign companies. In May 2004, he received a letter from 47 foreign oil companies, including ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, Shell, the BG Group, and ENI, complaining that the proposed changes would negatively affect future investment. The companies specifically took issue with local content requirements, which were described as "unnecessarily burdensome" and that a requirement for KMG to own at least 50% of any development "may not be advisable in all circumstances."[5]

Kazakhstan-South Korea relations

Akhmetov met with South Korean Prime Minister Han Myeong Sook on 23 September 2006 in Astana and signed several bilateral agreements enhancing economic ties. The Government of South Korea agreed to invest an additional $2 billion in joint projects in the energy, uranium-extraction, construction, transportation, and banking sectors. Akhmetov offered South Korea the option of participating in developing a new type of nuclear reactor. South Korean investors have stakes in more than 300 Kazakhstan-based companies. Han invited President Nazarbayev to visit South Korea in 2007. Han was in Kazakhstan until 24 September. She then traveled to Uzbekistan.[6]

Kazakhstan-Tatarstan relations

Akhmetov met with Rustam Minnikhanov, the Prime Minister of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, in Astana on 13 October 2006. They discussed creating a joint venture that would build helicopters, Kazakh government investment in petrochemical businesses in Tatarstan, and constructing a highway to western China that would connect St. Petersburg to Moscow, Kazan, Orenburg, Qizilorda, Shymkent, and Korgas in Xinjiang, China. Akhmetov called the proposed highway "the shortest road link between Europe and China." Iskender Muflikhanov, aide to Prime Minister Minnikhanov, said the Tatar government had "great hopes with regard to the shipping, or the assembling [in Kazakhstan] of KamAZ trucks. Work in under way on this West-South highway project in Kazakhstan and, as a rule, our KamAZ trucks are irreplaceable for projects of that magnitude."[7]

2007 political shakeup

President Nazarbayev nominated Karim Massimov, who at the time served as Deputy Prime Minister, to succeed Daniyal Akhmetov as Prime Minister on 9 January 2007. 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.[8][9] The Parliament confirmed the nomination on 10 January. Massimov appointed Akhmetov as Defense Minister, replacing Mukhtar Altynbayev, and appointed Aslan Musin, formerly the Minister of Economy and Budget, as Deputy Prime Minister.[10]

References
  1. New Kazakh Prime Minister chosen Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine Templeton Thorp
  2. New Kazakh Government Formed, Sets Out Priorities. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
  3. Oil-rich Kazakhstan's prime minister resigns Associated Press
  4. Kazakhstan Premier Danial Ahmedov resigns Archived 2007-01-11 at the Wayback Machine Hindustan Times
  5. KAZAKHSTAN - Decision Makers - Daniyal Akhmetov. All Business
  6. Kazakhstan, South Korea Vow To Boost Ties Archived 2006-09-28 at the Wayback Machine BakuTODAY
  7. Kazakhstan, Tatarstan Discuss Joint Economic Projects RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
  8. Kazakhstan moves to name new PM United Press International
  9. Oil-rich Kazakhstan's prime minister resigns USA Today
  10. "Kazakhstan appoints new PM". Television New Zealand. 10 January 2007. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
Political offices
Preceded by
Berdibek Saparbayev		 Akim of East Kazakhstan Region
2014–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Imangali Tasmagambetov		 Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
2003-2007		 Succeeded by
Karim Massimov
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