Baurzhan Baibek has been appointed the new Akim (Mayor) of Almaty. He replaced Akhtemzhan Yessimov in the position, who has been appointed the new chairman of the Astana EXPO-2017 national company.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, addressing Baibek, defined key areas for further development of Almaty.
"First of all, it is necessary to attract investment and to create new industries, using scientific and human potential," LS cited the head of state as saying.
In addition, Nazarbayev stressed the need to increase support for small and medium-sized businesses, to improve transport infrastructure, the crime situation in the city and the development of education and science.
In conclusion he emphasized that further progressive development of the country depends on the successful development of Almaty.
The Executive Director of the Political Science Center North-South, Yulia Yakusheva, told Vestnik Kavkaza that Yesimov has held the post for a long time.
"Indeed, Almaty is a strategically important region. And the results of Akhmetzhan Yesimov's rule are quite positive. Many of the issues associated with municipal services and transport, including the construction of metro, were resolved during his rule. Solving defrauded real estate investors' problems was also an achievement of Yesimov," the analyst said.
"Plus, social construction, the construction of social infrastructure – schools, kindergartens – was actively developed during the former akim's time. Another thing is that now, during the economic crisis, there is a need for significant cost savings. And Yesimov also coped with this challenge quite well, but his qualities are now in demand in the strategically important direction of Kazakhstan, EXPO-2017," Yulia Yakusheva said.
The Executive Director of the North-South Political Science Center, commenting on the appointment of Baurzhan Baibek, said that he has diplomatic experience, because he had worked at the embassy in Germany. "Baibek has put forward many initiatives, and it is a great success for him. Because, being in this position, it is very important to decide the economic problems of the city on a continual basis, to keep a finger on the pulse," the expert noted.
"I think the President chooses close people for such key positions. And it is too early to say whether Baibek will live up to expectations. But in general, this appointment shows that Baibek has serious and great prospects in the policy of Kazakhstan," Yulia Yakusheva concluded.
The director of the Alternativa Center for Topical Studies, Andrei Chebotarev, in his turn, said that the appointment of Baurzhan Baibek to the post of Akim of Almaty shows the great confidence in him of the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and a recognition of his administrative abilities.
"In principle, this appointment is primarily important for Baibek. He has worked in key positions in the central government for a long time, and now he got a separate section, which requires maximum responsibility. Time will tell us how he will cope. In any case, now it is necessary for him to deal with the topical issues that he inherited from his predecessor. As a rule, the new mayor is doing it very actively, and only after a year or two are the pros and cons of his work becoming visible," the expert concluded.
