On February 6, 2024, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Olzhas Bektenov as the new prime minister of the country, zakon.kz reports.
Bektenov replaced Alihan Smailov, who has headed the government since January 2022. Smailov and his cabinet resigned after the presidential decree on his resignation on February 5.
Before being appointed prime minister, 43-year-old Bektenov led the presidential administration from April 2023. His track record also includes positions as head of the anti-corruption department, work in the Ministry of Justice, financial police and the capital's mayor's office.
Supporting business will be the main priority of the new government, Bektenov said.
Stimulating domestic production, increasing the share of products produced in Kazakhstan, and launching a system of offtake contracts are key measures that, according to Bektenov, will give impetus to the country's economy.