Three Plenary Sessions featured eminent speakers who shared their perspectives on the following timely and relevant issues:a. One-Belt, One-Road Initiative: Opportunities for Asian Business – This session examined how the One Belt, One Road policy is expected to boost levels of infrastructure development across Central Asia and along the maritime silk road, what its impact will be on the economies in the region that are covered by the initiative, how it can help to support economic growth and trade in these countries, and what opportunities will it offer to businesses in the region. Invited as speakers for this season were: Ms. Christine Ip, CEO, UOB Bank Hong Kong; and Mr. Jianzhong Lu, Deputy President, China Chamber of International Commerce, and Chairman, Tang West Market Group; and Mr. Victor L. L. Chu, Chairman, First Eastern Investment Group; Serving as Session Chairman/Moderator was Ms. Fion Li, Journalist, Bloomberg.
Challenges in Investing Overseas – This session featured speakers who shared their views on challenges in investing overseas, including the need for adequate management and systems support, extensive market research involving both the industry, product and local regulations governing foreign investment, realistic assessment of what resource utilization the investment will entail, and factoring of political and foreign exchange risks into the business plan, among others.The speakers included: Mr. Anthony Tam, Managing Director, Mazars CPA; Mr. Fernando L. Gaspar, Chief Administration Officer and Senior Vice President, International Container Terminal Services Inc.; and Mr. Samir Modi, Executive Director, K. K. Modo Group. The session was chaired and moderated by Ms. Maria Perez-Esteve, Counsellor, Council and TNC Division,World Trade Organization.
This session examined ways of assisting SMEs tap into the international market. Invited speakers shared their views on why it is essential for SMEs in this region to accept the reality of the globalization of markets, and how they can enhance their growth by exploiting this new economic environment.Featured as speakers were: Mr. Stephen Liang, Director, product Promotion, Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Mr. David Dali Liu, Partner, JunHe Law Firm; Mr. Bryan Clark, Director, Trade and International Affairs, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Mr. Markus Lötzsch, Chief Executive Officer, Nuremberg Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Dr. Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean, Asian Development Bank Institute, delivered his speech through video presentation. Chairing the session was Mr. K. K. Modi, Chairman, Modi Enterprises and CACCI President Emeritus.
