Älihan Smaiylov reached the office of Prime Minister of Kazakhstan in January 2022, appointed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a period of intense civil unrest. His confirmation by the Mäjilis was unanimous, as 89 deputies voted to support his leadership. He held this position until February 2024, navigating the country through significant economic and administrative transitions.
Early Career and Administrative Roles
Born in 1972 in Almaty, Smaiylov graduated from the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with a degree in applied mathematics. His early professional path began in 1993 at the A-Invest Investment and Privatization Fund. Throughout the late 1990s, he transitioned through various state roles, including the National Statistical Agency and the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan. By 1999, he assumed the chairmanship of the Agency of Kazakhstan on Statistics, marking his move into senior government oversight.
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Smaiylov held multiple financial and oversight portfolios throughout his career. He served as the Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2020 and concurrently acted as First Deputy Prime Minister from 2019 to 2022. His broader administrative experience includes working as an assistant to President Nursultan Nazarbayev and representing Kazakhstan in the Eurasian Economic Commission. In 2023, he assumed the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Samruk-Kazyna national welfare fund.
Government Stabilization Policies
As Prime Minister, Smaiylov implemented a 51-measure plan to stabilize the socio-economic environment following the 2022 instability. These actions focused on infrastructure reconstruction, price control mechanisms, and debt relief for affected businesses. During the 2023 wildfires, he mandated the installation of early detection systems across all national parks and directed the allocation of 918 million tenge for specialized firefighting equipment for forestry workers.
Current Status
Following the resignation of his cabinet on 5 February 2024, Smaiylov concluded his term as Prime Minister. He subsequently moved into his current role as the Chairman of the Supreme Audit Chamber of Kazakhstan in April 2024. His professional history includes numerous state honors, such as the Order of Parasat and various commemorative medals marking decades of independence, the constitution, and the founding of Astana.
Fast facts
- Born: 1972, Almaty
- Education: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
- Prime Minister of Kazakhstan: 2022–2024
- Minister of Finance: 2018–2020
- First Deputy Prime Minister: 2019–2022
- Current Position: Chairman of the Supreme Audit Chamber
- Notable Award: Order of Parasat
Questions readers ask
When did Smaiylov serve as Prime Minister?
He served as Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from January 2022 to February 2024.
What is his current professional role?
Since April 2024, he has served as the Chairman of the Supreme Audit Chamber of Kazakhstan.
Achievements
- Minister of Finance (2018–2020)
- First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (2019–2022)
- Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (2022–2024)
- Medal of Labor
- Medal "10 Years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
- medal "10 years of the Constitution of Kazakhstan"
- Medal "10 years of Astana"
- Educated at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
