New Governor of East Kazakhstan Oblast appointed

Danial Akhmetov has been appointed Governor of East Kazakhstan Oblast, Tengrinews reports citing Yk-news.kz.

On November 11, Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Karim Massimov introduced the new Governor Danial Akhmetov during an extraordinary session of the XXIII East Kazakhstan Regional Maslikhat (local authority). "Danial Akhmetov is a well-known person. He governed Pavlodar Oblast twice and North Kazakhstan Oblast, too, he used to be Kazakhstan's Prime Minister and Kazakhstan's Defence Minister. Over the past years, he has served as a member of the Eurasian Economic Commission. The president made this decision because the Eurasian Economic Union will start operating on January 1, 2015, and East Kazakhstan Oblast shares a border with Russia, andDanial Kenzhetayevich is familiar with many practical issues," Karim Massimov said.

Danial Akhmetov replaced Berdybek Saparbayev Governor of East Kazakhstan Oblast. Berdybek Saparbayev was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan the same day.

Danial Akhmetov was born in 1954 in Pavlodar city in Kazakhstan's north. He graduated from Pavlodar Industrial Institute (now Pavlodar State University named after Sultanmakhmut Toraigyrov) with a degree in Industrial and Civil Engineering. He holds a Ph.D in Economics.

He used to serve as Governor of Pavlodar Oblast, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Defence, Governor of North Kazakhstan Oblast.

Since February 2012, he was the Member of the Board (a Minister) of Energy and Infrastructure of the Eurasian Economic Commission, where he was responsible for energy policy, natural monopolies policy and transportation, including regulation of access to railway transport services and management of tariffs.

Speaking about his appointment, Danial Akhmetov said he would do his best to meet the President's expectations. "Berdybek Mashbekovich (former Governor of East Kazakhstan Oblast) undoubtedly made a significant contribution into development of Eastern Kazakhstan and left a huge legacy. During this difficult period, I wish you all success in your work. I wish health and success to Karim Kazhymkanovich (Massimov). I hope that in a very short time we will together justify the confidence of the President. The Oblast will remain one of the best regions of the country," he said.

Writing by Assel Satubaldina, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina