Renowned statesman and public figure, Chairman of the Board of Directors of QazBioPharm National Holding, Darkhan Mashbekuly Saparbaye, passed away at the age of 70.

He was born on February 9, 1953, in the village of Besaryk, Zhanakorgan District, Kyzylorda Region.

In 1977, he graduated from the Almaty Institute of National Economy, specializing in Economics and Material-Technical Supply.

Doctor of Economics, Professor.

Career Highlights:

Worker at Zadaryinsky state farm, Kyzylorda region (1969–1971);

Served in the military (1971–1973);

Economist at the Republican State Labor Savings Fund (1977);

Economist, senior economist, lead economist, chief economist, deputy head of department at the Ministry of Finance of KazSSR (1977–1988);

Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1988–1993);

Deputy Head of Department of the Presidential Administration and Cabinet of Ministers (1993);

Deputy and Head of the Finance, Labor, and Social Protection Department of the Cabinet of Ministers (1994–1995);

Head of the Cabinet of Ministers’ Administration (1995);

Akim (Governor) of Kyzylorda Region (1995–1999);

Akim of South Kazakhstan Region (1999–2002);

Chairman of the Customs Control Agency of RK, Vice Minister of Finance — Chairman of the Customs Control Committee (2002–2006);

Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Office — Government Representative in Parliament (2006–2007);

Vice Minister of Economy and Budget Planning (Feb–Aug 2007);

Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population (from Aug 2007);

Akim of East Kazakhstan Region (2009–2014);

Deputy Prime Minister of RK (2014–2015);

Akim of Aktobe Region (2015–2019);

Minister of Labor and Social Protection (Feb–Aug 2019);

Deputy Prime Minister (2019–2020);

Akim of Zhambyl Region (2020–2022).

He was awarded the orders of Құрмет (1999), Парасат (2007), and medals Astana (1998), 10 Years of Independence of Kazakhstan (2001), 10 Years of the Constitution of Kazakhstan (2005).

From 2022 until his passing, Darkhan Saparbaye served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of QazBioPharm National Holding, making an invaluable contribution to the development of biological safety in Kazakhstan.

In his last interview, he spoke extensively about lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose of establishing QazBioPharm, the importance of training specialists in biological safety, funding scientific research, the significance of the OtarBioPharm plant, and measures to attract young professionals to the plant.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, relatives, and friends.