Karim Massimov

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Karim Kajymqanuly Massimov (Kazakh: Мәсімов, Кәрім Қажымқанұлы) an ethnic Uighur, born in 1965 in Tselinograd, Kazakh SSR now Astana, Kazakhstan)^[1] has served as Prime Minister in the Government of Kazakhstan since 10 January 2007.^[2]

Massimov is fluent in Kazakh, Russian, Chinese, English,and Arabic.^[3] He studied in China and worked in Hong Kong where he headed Kazakhstan's trading operations. At the same time, he is thought to be well connected within the Kremlin.^[4] He previously served as the Deputy Prime Minister from 19 January 2006 to 9 January 2007^[5] and as Minister of Economy and Budget Planning, Minister of Transport and Communications in 2001.^[6] According to Pravda, the public perceives Massimov as "one of the most influential figures in the president's inner circle."^[7]

President Nazarbayev nominated Massimov to succeed Daniyal Akhmetov as Prime Minister on 9 January 2007.^[1] The Nur-Otan party endorsed Massimov's candidacy and Parliament confirmed the nomination on 10 January.

[edit] China

China has become an important strategic partner for Kazakhstan in recent years and the two countries are working closely together to develop Kazakhstan's energy resources. Massimov visited Beijing, China with then-Finance Minister Natalya Korzhova, Transport and Communications Minister Serik Akhmetov, and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Baktykozha Izmukhambetov from 16-17 November 2006. Massimov cochaired the third meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi. Several accords between agencies of the two governments were signed.^[8] Massimov later met with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.^[9] Meanwhile Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Liu Qi, secretary of the Beijing Party Committee, in Astana, Kazakhstan. Secretary Liu said was "very nice for me to visit your beautiful country at Otan's invitation. The goal of the visit is to deepen cooperation and mutual understanding between our countries."^[10]

[edit] Iran

On 28 March, 2002 in an article in Izvestia, Massimov announced that the Government of Kazakhstan planned to increase wheat exports to Iran from 100,000 to two million tons.^[11]

[edit] Israel

Massimov and Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres announced from Jerusalem on 29 October, 2006 that the state-owned National Innovation Fund of Kazakhstan would begin investing in the Peace Valley project and other projects in the Middle East. Massimov said, "I came to Israel with a clear message to the nation in Zion from the president, that Kazakhstan is a moderate Muslim state which is interested in being involved in the Middle East. Kazakhstan intends to found political and economic ties with Israel and its neighbors." Massimov mentioned the Dead Sea canal and expressed desire to create a free trade zone. Vice Premier Peres and Massimov agreed to establish an agriculture-school in each country. The NIF has given USD $10 million to Israeli VC fund Vertex.^[12]

Massimov also met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who praised Kazakhstan for showing a "beautiful face of Islam. Contemporary, ever-developing Kazakhstan is a perfect example of both economic development and interethnic accord that should be followed by more Muslim states."^[13]

The Middle East Times reported on 7 November 2006 that earlier that week Massimov noted interest in the infrastructure corridor project between Turkey and Israel and buying the oil refinery in Haifa, Israel which the Israeli Government plans to privatize in 2007.^[14]

[edit] Property registration

The Senate voted on 2 November 2006 to change the deadline for registering real estate and property, originally set at 30 December, to the new date of 1 April 2007, after President Nazarbayev and Massimov called for an extension. The bill, if signed by Nazarbayev, is expected to generate an additional $30 million in annual taxes.^[15]

[edit] Nomination for Prime Minister

Main article: Kazakhstan political shakeup of 2007

President Nazarbayev nominated Massimov to succeed Daniyal Akhmetov as Prime Minister on 9 January 2007.^[1] 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.^[1][16] The Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the nomination on 10 January with 37 out of 39 Senators and 66 of 77 Assemblymen from the Majilis voting for Massimov. Akhmetov became the Defense Minister, replacing Mukhtar Altynbayev.^[3]

[edit] See also

• Government of Kazakhstan

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Personal site
• PM Karim K. Massimov
• Kazakh President accepts Prime Minister's resignation (Update3)
• Analysis: Why the world cares about Kazakhstan

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