Director of Kazakhstan’s Institute of World Economics and Politics, Mr. Akimbekov specializes in Eurasia’s political and social developments. He has been involved in the development of the country’s policies, as advisor to the President and as a head of preeminent research institutions. He has served as editor-in-chief of Kazakhstan’s leading analytical publications on geopolitics and security. Mr. Akimbekov holds Ph.D. in history and is the author of several books, including “History of Afghanistan”.

Mr. Capannelli, an Italian national, is the Country Director of the Kazakhstan Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Prior to this appointment, he was principal economist in ADB’s Central and West Asia Department and held various other positions in ADB and the ADB Institute. He holds a doctoral degree and a master’s degree in Economics from the School of Economics of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.

Dr. Jong Woo Kang is principal economist at the Economic Research and Cooperation Department of the Asian Development Bank. He is a seasoned economist with extensive knowledge and experiences on policy and strategic issues. He leads the publication of Asian Economic Integration Report. Areas of his research interest include regional integration, inclusive growth, macroeconomic and trade policies and aid effectiveness.

Fahad Khan is an Economist in the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department of Asian Development Bank. He joined the Asian Development Bank after completing his PhD from Australian National University in 2015, and also holds a BA from Yale University, United States. He is also an honorary visiting research fellow at the Australian National University. His primary research fields are empirical political economy and economic development, and he has published in Economic Letters and PLOS Medicine.

Mr. Capannelli, an Italian national, is the Country Director of the Kazakhstan Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Prior to this appointment, he was principal economist in ADB’s Central and West Asia Department and held various other positions in ADB and the ADB Institute. He holds a doctoral degree and a master’s degree in Economics from the School of Economics of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.

Mr. Kussainov was Head of the Gas Industry Department, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and in the board of directors of several national companies. He holds an MSc in Physics (Moscow State University), MA in Economics (Kazakhstani Institute of Management, Economics and Forecasts), Petroleum Engineer (Atyrau Oil and Gas Institute).

Mr. Taibekuly specializes in Kazakhstan’s economic development, tax policy, foreign investments’ impact. He authored several policy papers and published various articles and online commentaries: “The Financial Transactions Tax: International and Kazakhstan’s Experience”, “Kazakhstan’s trade with EAEC countries”, ‘Challenges Kazakhstan’s small and medium-sized enterprises face in financing their R&D” and other.

Mr. Yelemessov has been in the financial industry since 1994, at various times serving as deputy CEO/Adviser to CEO for private banks. He served as a Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, and as a Vice Minister of Finance. He has extensive experience as the Board of Directors member with a broad variety of Kazakh financial and public institutions. Mr. Yelemessov graduated from Moscow State University, Political Economy Department and attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where he has received his MBA degree.

Dr. Jong Woo Kang is principal economist at the Economic Research and Cooperation Department of the Asian Development Bank. He is a seasoned economist with extensive knowledge and experiences on policy and strategic issues. He leads the publication of Asian Economic Integration Report. Areas of his research interest include regional integration, inclusive growth, macroeconomic and trade policies and aid effectiveness.