Ghulam Samad is a Chief of Research Division at the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute, ADB. Before joining CAREC Institute, Mr. Samad was a Senior Research Economist at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. Mr. Samad also served as an Economist at the Planning Commission of Pakistan. Mr. Samad holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Colorado State University, USA.

Akim Nasirov is a Leading Specialist at the Entrepreneurship Development Division, Business Environment Policy Department, Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic. 

He is engaged in MSME policy development, improving the business environment, and coordinating interagency working groups within the framework of the national MSME development program and investment promotion efforts in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Timur Khusanov is Director for the Department for Analysis, Support and Coordination of State Policy on SME Development, Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan.  

Firangiz Aghayeva is the Chief Strategy and Organizational Development Specialist at the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) of Azerbaijan, where she leads strategic planning, performance management, and institutional development initiatives. She plays a key role in strategic reporting, designing KPI systems, and coordinating international cooperation projects with international organizations such as the KOICA, JICA, OECD and ADB.