Region's prosperity in volatile global economy subject of major CEO meet
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Chief executives from some of Asia's leading corporations will share their visions and ideas on how businesses can move forward in an increasingly uncertain global economy at Nation Group's 43rd-anniversary conference this morning.
The fully booked conference and gala dinner talk with CEO speakers from 10 Asian countries will open with a keynote address by Bank of Thailand Governor Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul on the topic “Asian and Thai Economies in a Volatile World”.
In his view, although Asian economies over the past several years have proved to be relatively resilient to the volatility of the global markets, the protracted slowdown in external demand has exposed the region to structural weaknesses that could dampen growth in coming years.
Regional economic cooperation has promising potential to relax some structural constraints faced by many countries in the region, but realising these opportunities will not be easy, nor will they be automatic. That will be the challenging message from the chief of the Thai central bank.
The “Asia Driving the World” conference will be attended by more than 500 top international and Thai business executives at the Plaza Athenee Hotel. The event is being co-hosted by Bangkok Bank, Toyota, Holcim Ltd, AIS and Thai Airways International in association with Asia News Network, an alliance of 22 media in 19 Asian countries.
Speakers are CEOs from Japan, Singapore, China, Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. The evening will be capped with a gala dinner address on “The Future of Asia” by Dr Surakiart Sathirathai, former deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and chairman of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council.
The day conference is divided into two sessions – the first on “Business Visions 2020” moderated by Suthichai Yoon, chairman of Nation Multimedia Group, and the second on “Asia: Sustainable Business Models” moderated by Meidyatama Suryodinigrat, member of the board of Asia News Network and chief editor of The Jakarta Post.
Kyoichi Tanada, managing officer of Toyota Motor Corporation, in his talk will outline the dynamic of Toyota and hint at what lies ahead for the region in terms of investment and the future of the auto industry. Chartsiri Sophonpanich, president of Bangkok Bank, will divulge what he sees as the dynamic of the Asean Economic Community.
Other CEOs in this session are Dato Paduka Timothy Ong Teck Mong, chairman of the Asia Inc Forum, Brunei; Ngo Thanh Tung, chairman of Vietnam International Law Firm; U Zaw Zaw, chairman of Max Myanmar Group; and Paul Blanche-Horgan, CEO of Ezecom Corp, Cambodia.
In the second roundtable, Dr Sorajak Kasemsuvan, president of Thai Airways International, will lead the discussion on the carrier’s business model, with Paul Hugentobler, member of the executive committee for South Asia and Asean at Holcim, looking at the growth momentum of Asian and Asean infrastructure development. Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, will divulge his views on the hospitality business of the future.
Other speakers in this session are Oudet Souvannavong, vice president of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vientiane; Yeap Swee Chuan, chairman and CEO of AAPICO Hitech, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok; and Professor Edward KY Chen, chairman of the Advisory Council of Hong Kong Institute of Monetary Research, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and former chairman of the Hong Kong Committee of Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Surakiart will cap off the evening with his special talk on “The Future of Asia” including the progress made by the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council, which was formed with eminent personalities to forge peace in conflict areas of Asia.
The conference will be opened by Felix Soh, chairman of the board of editors, Asia News Network, and editor for new media at Singapore Press Holdings.
Asia News Network is the world’s most active newspaper alliance with 22 member newspapers in 19 countries. The alliance was founded in 1998 to provide avenues for cooperation in the Asian press under the motto “We Know Asia Better”. The members are China Daily, China Post, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News (Japan), The Island (Sri Lanka), The Statesman (India), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), The Nation, Vietnam News, The Daily Star (Bangladesh), the Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Jakarta Post (Indonesia), The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Vientiane Times (Laos), Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), Brunei Times, Kuensel (Bhutan), Daily Eleven (Myanmar), and Dawn (Pakistan).
