Askar Myrzakhmetov

Askar Myrzakhmetov (Kazakh: Асқар Исабекұлы Мырзахметов, Asqar İsabekūly Myrzahmetov) is a Kazakh politician who held the positions of Counsellor of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and First Vice Minister of Agriculture^[1] between 1997 and 2006. He was ambassador to Uzbekistan in 2006^[2] and 2007.

Askar Myrzakhmetov
Myrzakhmetov in 2009
Minister of Agriculture
In office 6 May 2016 – 15 December 2017
President	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Prime Minister	Baqıtjan Sagintayev Karim Massimov
Preceded by	Asyljan Mamytbekov
Succeeded by	Umirzak Shukeyev
In office 25 August 2005 – 19 January 2006
Prime Minister	Daniyal Akhmetov
Preceded by	Serik Umbetov
Succeeded by	Ahmedjan Yessimov
Äkim of Jambyl Region
In office 10 January 2018 – 10 February 2020
Preceded by	Karim Kokirekbaev
Succeeded by	Berdibek Saparbayev
Äkim of South Kazakhstan Region
In office 4 March 2009 – 8 August 2015
Preceded by	Nurgali Ashimov
Succeeded by	Beibut Atamkulov
First Deputy Chairman of Nur Otan
In office 8 August 2015 – 6 May 2016
Chairman	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Preceded by	Bauyrjan Baibek
Succeeded by	Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed
Personal details
Born	(1962-10-01) 1 October 1962 (age 62) Chimkent, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Kazakh
Political party	Nur Otan

Early life and education

Askar Myrzakhmetov was born on 1 October 1962. He graduated from the Kazakh National Agrarian University and completed graduate studies at the All-Union Research Institute of Livestock, earning the title of Candidate of Agricultural Sciences.

Career

He began his career as an academic employee within the Eastern Department of the All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences. From 1991 to 1995, he served as Vice President of the joint-stock company "Republican Construction Exchange Kazakhstan" and Chairman of the Board of the Association of Exchange of Central Asia and Kazakhstan, known as "Electronic Store." He then held the position of CEO at the investment firm Tasmo (1995–1996) and at Agro-Leasing (1996–1999). During this time, he also served as a freelance advisor to the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (1997–1999) and was Chairman of the Council of the Forum of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan from March to August 1999.

Myrzakhmetov was appointed Vice Minister of Agriculture in August 1999 and served until June 2002. Concurrently, he chaired and was a member of the Board of Directors of "Prodcorporation." In June 2002, he became the First Vice Minister of Agriculture and, by presidential decree on 25 August 2005, was appointed Minister of Agriculture.

On 26 April 2006, he was appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, serving until 18 September 2007. From then until March 2009, he led the National Company Socio-Entrepreneurship Corporation "Ontustik" in Shymkent, South Kazakhstan Region. On 4 March 2009, he was appointed akim(Governor) of the South Kazakhstan Region,^[3] a position he held until 8 August 2015, when he became First Deputy Chairman of the Nur Otan Party.^[4][5]

On 6 May 2016, Myrzakhmetov returned as Minister of Agriculture^[6] and, on 14 June 2016, was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister, concurrently heading the national commission on land reform.^[7] He was relieved of both posts on 15 December 2017.^[8]

On 10 January 2018, he was appointed Akim of the Jambyl Region,^[9] serving until his release from the position on 10 February 2020.^[10]

Awards

• Order of Parasat (2018);^[11]
• Order of Kurmet (2010);
• Order of Friendship (September 10, 2013, Russia);
• Medal "20 years of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan" (2011);^[12]
• State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of literature and art (2014).^[13]