Qairat Aituğanov

Qairat Qaparūly Aituğanov (; born 12 April 1962) is a Kazakh economist, agronomist, and politician who has served as chairman of the Auyl party since 2026. He previously served as First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan from 2016 to 2018 and held senior positions in the Ministry of Agriculture, KazAgro Holding, and regional government. He was also chairman of the board of Saken Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University from 2020 to 2022.

Biography Early life and education Aituğanov was born on 12 April 1962 in the village of Leningradskoye, North Kazakhstan Region. In 1984, he graduated from the Kokchetav branch of the Tselinograd Agricultural Institute with a degree in agronomy. He completed postgraduate studies at the All-Union Research Institute of Economics of Agriculture (VNIIESH) in 1990 and graduated from the Almaty Institute of Energy and Communications in 2000 with a degree in engineering economics.

In 2009, Aituğanov received a Doctor of Economics degree after defending a dissertation entitled Problems of Integration Development in the Agrarian Sector of Kazakhstan. He was later awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the Kazakh National Agrarian University. a position he held until 9 July 2012, when he was appointed deputy äkim of Karaganda Region. He served in that office until 27 December 2013. On 28 December 2013, he was appointed deputy chairman of the board of directors of KazAgroProduct, becoming chairman of the board in January 2014.

On 22 July 2016, Aituğanov was appointed First Vice Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan. He served in the position until 16 January 2018, when he was relieved of his duties by government decree.

After leaving government service, Aituğanov joined Saken Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, serving as vice rector from 2018 to 2020 and as chairman of the university's board from 27 August 2020 to 2 November 2022.

On 23 June 2026, Aituğanov was unanimously elected chairman of the Auyl party at its 25th Extraordinary Congress.

Awards

Medal "10 years of Astana" (2008) Medal "20 Years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan" (2012) Medal "20 Years of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan" (2015) Medal for Distinguished Labor (2016) Nur Otan Party Medal for Active Service (2016) Order of Kurmet (2023)