Asqar Mamin | |
|---|---|
Асқар Мамин | |
.jpg) Official portrait, 2020 | |
| 10thPrime Minister of Kazakhstan | |
| In office 21 February 2019 – 5 January 2022 | |
| President | Nursultan Nazarbayev Kassym-Jomart Tokayev |
| First Deputy | Alihan Smaiylov |
| Preceded by | Bakhytzhan Sagintayev |
| Succeeded by | Älihan Smaiylov |
| First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan | |
| In office 8 September 2016 – 21 February 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Bakhytzhan Sagintayev |
| Preceded by | Bakhytzhan Sagintayev |
| Succeeded by | Alihan Smaiylov |
| Chairman ofKazakhstan Engineering | |
| In office 17 July 2017 – 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Erlan Idrissov |
| Succeeded by | Sarsembaev Adlbek[1] |
| President ofKazakhstan Temir Zholy | |
| In office 17 April 2008 – 9 September 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Zhaksybek Kulekeyev |
| Succeeded by | Kanat Alpysbayev |
| 5thÄkim of Astana | |
| In office 21 September 2006 – 4 April 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Umirzak Shukeyev |
| Succeeded by | Imangali Tasmagambetov |
| Minister of Transport and Communications | |
| In office 25 August 2005 – 21 September 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Daniyal Akhmetov |
| Preceded by | Kazhmurat Nagmanov |
| Succeeded by | Serik Akhmetov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1965-10-23)23 October 1965 (age 60) |
| Political party | Amanat |
| Spouse | Altynai Mamina |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Tselinograd Civil Engineering Institute Plekhanov Russian University of Economics |
| Profession | Economist |
Asqar Ūzaqbaiūly Mamin[a] (born 23 October 1965) is a Kazakh politician and economist who served as thePrime Minister of Kazakhstan from 2019 to 2022, resigning due to pressure from the2022 Kazakh unrest.[2][3][4][5] He served asFirst Deputy Prime Minister from 9 September 2016 to 21 February 2019. Previously, he was the president of theKazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway company ofKazakhstan.[6] He also serves as the president of theKazakhstan Ice Hockey Federation, a position he assumed in 2008.[7]
A member of the ruling Kazakhstan's political partyNur Otan, Mamin previously served asäkim of Astana from 2006 to 2008, and as Minister of Transport and Communication inDaniyal Akhmetov Cabinet from 2005 to 2006, and asFirst Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2016 to 2019 andPrime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2019 to 2022.[8]
Mamin was born inTselinograd (now Astana). He graduated from the Tselinograd Civil Engineering Institute and thePlekhanov Russian University of Economics withcivil engineering andeconomics specialties.[9]
He began his career as an erector of Tselintyazhstroy trust. He served as deputy director general of Innovative Enterprises Union of Kazakhstan. From 1996 to 2008, he served as the first deputy äkim ofAstana, Vice Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan, First Vice Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On 21 September 2006, Mamin was appointed as theäkim of Astana.[10] He served that position until he became the president ofKazakhstan Temir Zholy on 17 April 2008.[11]
On 9 September 2016, he was appointed as theFirst Deputy Prime Minister inSagintayev Cabinet.[12] On 8 January 2018, Mamin joined the board of directors of the national company Kazakh Tourism.[13]
_02.jpg)
On 21 February 2019, Prime MinisterBakhytzhan Sagintayev was dismissed by PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev. As a result, Mamin became the Acting PM and was confirmed by theParliament unanimously to be the new PM on 25 February.[14][15] The following day on 26 February, Mamin at the meeting with the cabinet telling that the government should aim at "concrete results" that would improve of the quality of life of the population.[16]
On 10 January 2021, PresidentKassym-Jomart Tokayev called for the resignation of the government in accordance with the legislation on the day of the2021 legislative elections which were held in Kazakhstan.[17][18] Speculations arose regarding Mamin's fate, in which it was widely expected that he would retain it while among other likely contenders to possibly replace Mamin's prime ministerial post were seen asBauyrjan Baibek,Nurlan Nigmatulin,Aset Isekeşev,Qanat Bozumbaev,Erbolat Dosaev orBaqyt Sultanov.[19][20] Former president andNur Otan chairmanNursultan Nazarbayev endorsed for Mamin's re-appointment,[21] stating that the government has done its job contrary in other countries.[22] On 15 January, Tokayev re-nominated Mamin to the post of the PM at the opening session of the7th Parliament of Kazakhstan with 78 out of 99 deputies support while the rest abstained, marking it the first time since 2007, that the PM had not received unanimous support.[23] From there, Mamin was criticised by theparliamentary opposition over his handling of theCOVID-19 pandemic. At the session, Mamin thanked the deputies for support, outlining that effective measures would be taken in improving quality of life, increasing income and welfare, attracting investment, introducing new technologies, and creating workers' months.[24]
On 24 June 2019, a fire broke out in an ammo storage near the town ofArys inTurkistan Region, resulting in a huge explosion where three people died and 89 of them were injured.[25] Mamin, on the behalf of Tokayev, visited the town on 29 June and from there, he ordered all repairs from the damage to be completed by 1 August 2019.[26] For the restoration, 56.1 billion tenge was allocated, of which 27.5 billion were from the government's reserve.[27] On 2 August, Mamin re-visited the town where he expressed gratitude to everyone who was involved in the repairs, calling it "a tremendous work" as 90% of restoration by then was completed.[28]
By 2019, the GDP growth rate in Kazakhstan accounted 4.5%, a higher than expected figure thanks to a driven growth generated by the construction, transport, trade and communications industry, contrary to as theKazakh Government andWorld Bank expected the range to be 3.5 to 3.8% rate.[29] On 24 January 2020, at the government meeting, Mamin outlined key goals in ensuring the economic growth of 4.7 to 5% for 2020 with a given task in creating 430,000 new jobs and increasing real incomes for the population.[30] A strategic objective was unveiled which aimed at increasing the volume of fixed investments by an average of 15% annually and to bring its level to 30% of GDP by 2025.[30]
Amid theunrest in January 2022, he resigned his post.[2][3][4][5]
With theoutbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, Mamin, at the meeting with officials on 26 January 2020 instructed several preventive measures to be implemented in order to prevent spread of the virus such as strengthening sanitary, epidemiological and migration control at the borders, travel restrictions to China, suspension of the 72 hour visa-free stay for persons arriving from China.[31] In addition, he called for the creation of the Inter-Agency Commission on Coronavirus Non-Proliferation, chaired by Deputy PMBerdibek Saparbayev.[32]
After the reported first case of COVID-19 in the country in March 2020, a state of emergency was declared as well as the formation of the State Commission for the State Emergency Regime in which Mamin became the head of.[citation needed] At the first meeting of the commission, Mamin instructed the government to strengthen measures by carrying out sanitary and anti-epidemic measures in all organizations and facilities and to provide pharmacy networks with medicines andpersonal protective equipment, while noting that äkims would take personal control of implementing measures.[33]
On 17 April 2020, Mamin issued a governmental decree "On certain issues of entry (exit) in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the stay of immigrants in the Republic of Kazakhstan", which suspended certain laws that granted a 30-day visa-free stay for citizens from 57 countries.[34]
On 21 April 2020, Mamin announced that the nationwide lockdowns would soften only with strict adherence to sanitary and epidemiological safety.[35] As the coronavirus restrictions were lifted on 11 May 2020, an estimated of 4.2 million Kazakhstanis had lost their jobs.[36] To combat the issue, Mamin instructed theMinistry of Labour,National Economy andAgriculture, as well as with the akimats, to take measures in increasing employment in all state programs and ensure the implementation of all planned indicators with the Labour Ministry monitoring the work with the äkims.[36]
On 19 June 2020, after an increase of cases shortly after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, Mamin addressed the difficulties of the epidemiological situation with the enforcement of new lockdowns by Tokayev.[37] From there, Mamin directed the cabinet ministers and regional administrations to prepare a set of new effective methods to counter the resurgence of coronavirus cases. He also ordered to boost the domestic production of personal protective equipment.[37]
At the government conference on 18 July 2020, it was declared that the situation in the country had been stabilized. Mamin ordered the cabinet officials to form in the Stabilization Fund the necessary stocks of medicines and medical products in each region to which he cited examples inAlmaty,Nur-Sultan (now Astana) andAqtöbe Region.[38]
On 4 August 2020, with a decrease in COVID-19 cases, Mamin warned the government that the country must take steps to prevent the possible new wave of coronavirus infections that could occur in fall as he stated the increase of cases in 126 countries.[39] He called for the continuation of intensive work in treating sick citizens and reduce the spread of the virus, as well as an awareness campaign on the need for citizens to comply with sanitary standards and quarantine requirements.[39] At the State Commission meeting chaired by Mamin, it was decided on 13 August 2020 to phase out the lockdowns–imposed from 5 July 2020–starting from 17 August towards business but with limited capacity and 80% of employees were encouraged to maintain remote work format while the ban on mass events, entertainment facilities remained and the activities of cultural objects, museums, conferences, exhibitions and forums were prohibited.[40] In September 2020, Mamin extended quarantine measures in fears of 2nd wave of infections by instructing the äkims to keep the epidemiological situation on the ground under special control, strictly comply with all sanitary standards, and respond promptly and accurately to changes in the rate of reproduction of the virus and morbidity with measures to prepare the infrastructure and ensure safety for workers.[41] TheHealthcare andDigital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry ministries were ordered to step up public awareness.[41]
In an official visit toKyrgyzstan andTajikistan on 11–12 July 2019, Mamin met with Kyrgyz PresidentSooronbay Jeenbekov where they both discussed issues on bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation.[42] At the VIII Meeting of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz Intergovernmental Council held inBishkek, Mamin along with Kyrgyz PMMukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev outlined joint plans that were aimed at deepening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. As a result, a number of agreements were signed.[42] InDushanbe, Mamin with Tajik PMKokhir Rasulzoda signed seven new cooperation agreements and discussed the commitment to the course of strategic partnership which would benefit both countries.[43]
At the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council held on 17 July 2020 inMinsk, Mamin met with Russian PMMikhail Mishustin where he thanked the Russian government for its assistance in a fight againstCOVID-19, telling that "we have received the competence of Russian doctors who have come, worked and work in different regions of Kazakhstan."[44] He also expressed interest for Kazakhstan to be among the first countries in purchasing theSputnik V vaccine.[44]
On 6 November 2020, at the video conference between the heads of governments ofCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Mamin proposed to create the National Commodity Conducting System in Kazakhstan as well as the formation trade-supply system within the CIS to ensure the smooth flow of agricultural products between the countries. A decision was adopted on the cross-border transportation of radioactive materials, information cooperation of CIS member states in the field of digital development of society, as well as decisions to strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, agriculture, transport sector, engineering and other spheres.[45]
Askar Mamin is married to Altynai Mamina. The couple has a son and daughter: Daniyar (born 1986) and Dinara (born 1991).
On 30 October 2020, theInternet Elite published a financial analysis on Mamin's brother, Marat, which showed him owning properties worth millions inFlorida and Mamin's nephew, Yernar, operating businesses abroad in Western and Central Europe, as well as renting apartments inLondon.[46]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Kazakhstan 2019–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Astana 2006–2008 | Succeeded by |
.svg)
%3b_Flag_of_Kazakhstan_(1991%25E2%2580%25931992).svg)
