MANILA INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM EXAMINES POST-911 REGIONAL, GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTS

Date: 02-08-2002

The East-West Wire is a news service provided by the East-West Center in Honolulu. For more information, contact Susan Kreifels at 808-944-7176 or EastWestWire@EastWestCenter.org.

MANILA INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM EXAMINES POST-911 REGIONAL, GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTS

HONOLULU (Feb. 8) -- Leading Asian and U.S. experts on economics as well as politics and security will gather at a business-strategy forum in Manila next month to discuss the changing global and regional environments since Sept. 11.

Roberto de Ocampo, president of the Asian Institute of Management in Manila (AIM), said the March 5-7 forum is especially timely and unique because it looks at all aspects of the economic environment -- politics and security, the energy industry, the future of the multilateral trading systems, accomplishments since the Asian economic crisis, and setbacks since Sept. 11.

De Ocampo, a former Philippine finance secretary, said the 2nd Asia Pacific Executive Forum includes speakers on the economies of countries throughout the region as well as Japan and China. The forum, co-sponsored by AIM and the East-West Center in Honolulu, also looks at prospects for the U.S. economy and its implications for the region.

"What stands out about this conference is the combination of political realities as well as economic analysis," said de Ocampo. "Sept. 11 significantly changed all the world. In the Philippines we have experienced firsthand terrorism's impact on the economy."

Fereidun Fesharaki, a speaker at the forum who heads the Energy Project at the East-West Center, said the Asia Pacific Executive Forum is modeled on the World Economic Forum but focuses on political and economic challenges in Asia and how they impact business planning and strategy. Fesharaki recommended the forum for anyone planning a business strategy in the region.

Other speakers at the forum, titled "Opportunities and Challenges: Business Strategies in a Changing Economic Environment," include Philippines Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona Jr. and Energy Secretary Vince Perez Jr.; Ambassador Rodolfo Severino, secretary general of the secretariat, Association of Southeast Asian Nations; Ret. Adm. K.K. Nayyar, former vice chief of the Indian Navy; Charles Morrison, president of the East-West Center in Honolulu; William Overholt, senior fellow at Harvard University Asia Center; Mark Fuller, chair and CEO of the Monitor Group in Cambridge, Mass.; Boon Yoon Chiang, chair and managing director of Jardine Matheson Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. in Singapore; Ungsuh Park, president and CEO of Corporate Clinic in Seoul; Sachio Semmoto, chairman and CEO of eAccess Ltd. in Tokyo; Sanjaya Baru, chief edtor of The Financial Express in India; Washington Sycip, founder of SGV Group in Manila; Narongchai Akrasanee, chairman of Seranee Holdings Co. Ltd. in Bangkok; and Jusuf Wanandi, chairman of the Supervisory Board at the Centre for Security and International Studies in Jakarta.

The registration fee is US$500 with significant discounts for Philippine residents and full-time government employees. Early registration deadline is Feb. 25. The forum will be held at the AIM Conference Center in Manila and is open to the press, which must pre-register. For more information and to register, see www.EastWestCenter.org/sem-bp.asp or call the East-West Center in Honolulu at 808-944-7682, fax 808-944-7600 or email seminars@EastWestCenter.org. For information in Manila, call 632-751-9182 or 9183.