Source: dl.gov.cn
09-04-2007 20:18
Thursday 6 September
09:00 - 09:45
World Expo Center - Plenary Hall
Global Economic Outlook
Despite recent financial volatility and high energy prices, the world economy is widely expected to continue its robust growth path in 2008, with emerging and developing economies leading the way. Yet, some concerns remain. This session will highlight the main trends and critical challenges to the global economy over the next 12 to 18 months.
1) What are the potential spillover risks from the expected slowdown in the US? How might they be mitigated?
2) How would an increase in financial volatility affect the growth prospects of developing countries?
3) What are the implications of the economic outlook for companies expanding internationally?
10:15 - 11:15
World Expo Center - Room Bern
Growth Hotspots - Focus on North America
Though it faces competition, the US remains the motor for business growth and innovation: 51 of the 100 top global brands come from the US, 170 of the world's 500 largest corporations by revenue are American, and the world still looks to Silicon Valley for the latest technologies and business models.
1) Which sectors of the US economy are driving most of the growth? And which industries are most likely to experience significant changes?
2) What new trends or models might the US export next?
3) With an election year ahead, what changes to the business environment might be expected in 2008?
10:15 - 11:15
World Expo Center - Room Geneva
New Frontiers in Advertising
Join this roundtable discussion to explore new trends in advertising with the new champions and experts who are doing the most to innovate in this area.
10:15 - 11:15
World Expo Center - Room Montreux
Different Paths: The Designer
A conversation on the best of the design and architecture world.
10:15 - 11:15
World Expo Center - Room Davos
The Outlook for China's Capital Markets
China's capital markets rocketed up 183% in 2006, and the impressive growth has continued in 2007. Many suggest this heralds the start of a new golden age of capital markets as national heavyweights, such as ICBC and China Life, return to the domestic exchanges. Others, including government officials, have expressed their concern that public enthusiasm is creating a bubble.
1) What is the outlook for China's capital markets? Where are the greatest opportunities and risks?
2) What role do foreign investors play in the growth of China's capital markets?
3) How will China's stock exchanges continue to attract top companies to list domestically? What are the implications for foreign stock exchanges?
10:15 - 12:30
World Expo Center - Room Zermatt
Dialogue in the Dark
If visual communication is suppressed, people react and behave, and in particular communicate, differently. This session places participants in a darkened environment to explore how people deal with the sudden withdrawal of a key sense and how other senses compensate. Participants will explore:
1) The ability to adapt, interpret and communicate
2) How leaders can develop better communication awareness and skills
3) How senses are used to foster understanding and connection
10:15 - 12:30
World Expo Center - Room Lugano
Managing Regulatory Risk
Fast-growing companies face a complex web of regulations as they enter new markets and expand their global footprint. Successfully managing regulatory risk means going beyond compliance and building the corporate capacity to understand political trends and shape the regulatory environment.
1) Which issues create the most regulatory uncertainties for companies as they go global?
2) What can global growth companies and established multinationals teach each other about managing regulatory risk?
3) How should new champions from business and government seek to shape tomorrow's regulatory environment?
10:15 - 12:30
World Expo Center - WorkSpace 1
How to Compete in an Open World
The current regime for protecting intellectual property is under pressure from open source software; music exchange services; counterfeit consumer, industrial and pharmaceutical products; and even from governments in their fight against HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases.
1) Which business models will reward innovation in a world without adequate intellectual property protection?
2) How could companies potentially gain a competitive advantage by adopting new approaches to IP? What new models might emerge?
3) What can companies learn from other industries that operate without the benefit of IP protection?
Join this interactive simulation designed to explore the risks and opportunities for your organization in a world without intellectual property protection.
11:30 - 12:30
World Expo Center - Room Bern
Growth Hotspots - Focus on Latin America
Latin America features two of the largest emerging economies (Brazil and Mexico) in the world, a young and increasingly better educated population, as well as one of the fastest-growing pools of disposable income.
1) Which regions provide the most attractive opportunities for investors?
2) Which will be the winning sectors in Latin America and what are their expected rates of return?
3) Besides the regional giants - Brazil and Mexico - which other growth hotspots should businesses keep their eye on?
11:30 - 12:30
World Expo Center - Room Montreux
Different Paths: The Astronaut
Jerry Linenger, renowned astronaut, shares his experiences as an astronaut including five months on the Russian space station Mir.
11:30 - 12:30
World Expo Center - Room Davos
Global Trade: Avoiding the Backlash against the New Investors
Recent government interventions to protect national champions and domestic industries from international investment highlight increasing popular resistance to economic liberalization. Economic nationalism and financial protectionism risk to hinder the New Champions from achieving their maximum potential and fully contributing to economic growth.
1) Where is the balance between adequate regulation for environmental, food safety and national security concerns, while also ensuring an open and competitive business environment?
2) What is the role of governments to create a positive investment climate for New Champions?
3) How can governments, investors and companies work together to address the underlying concerns of the public?
12:30 - 14:00
World Expo Center
Buffet Lunch
Participants are cordially invited to a buffet lunch in "The Village" within the World Expo Center.
14:00 - 15:00
World Expo Center - Room Bern
Leadership - Avoiding the Growing Pains
Fast-growing companies need leaders that help them to grow and go global. When corporations seek leaders, the question is usually whether to find and integrate external talent or to develop leadership internally.
1) How can fast-growing companies develop the leadership and managerial skills necessary to take the business to the next level?
2) What are the trade-offs between developing leaders internally and bringing them in from the outside?
3) What is the role of the CEO in cultivating leadership inside the organization?
14:00 - 15:00
World Expo Center - Room Zurich
Geopolitical Risk: Putting the Heat on Business
When expanding into new markets, not only can understanding and anticipating political and geopolitical risks provide a critical competitive advantage, but can also help unlock key business opportunities.
1) What geopolitical and political risks should be on the business radar screen?
2) What are the lessons to be learned on effectively managing geopolitical and political risks?
3) Where are the opportunities in addressing political and geopolitical risks?
14:00 - 15:00
World Expo Center - Room Davos
China's Future Growth Hubs
Even as traditional business hubs, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, seek to further reinforce their leading positions, the central government has been actively promoting investment in second-tier cities to balance growth and highlight opportunities throughout the country.
1) Which cities are at the forefront to become China's next growth hubs?
2) What role do the new growth hubs play in China's ongoing development? Which sectors will be key to the development of such growth hubs?
3) What opportunities could these cities offer to international companies?
14:00 - 16:30
World Expo Center - Room Zermatt
Dialogue in the Dark
If visual communication is suppressed, people react and behave, and in particular communicate, differently. This session places participants in a darkened environment to explore how people deal with the sudden withdrawal of a key sense and how other senses compensate. Participants will explore:
1) The ability to adapt, interpret and communicate
2) How leaders can develop better communication awareness and skills
3) How senses are used to foster understanding and connection
14:00 - 16:30
World Expo Center - Room Lugano
Building Your Brand
A brand is one of a company's most valuable assets. With the ever-increasing saturation of products and services from which consumers can choose, the building and safeguarding of renowned brands play a decisive role in the competitive arena.
1) Where do companies need to invest when building a brand?
2) What cutting edge practices are used by leading brands?
3) How can the value of a brand be measured?
14:00 - 16:30
World Expo Center - Room Montreux
From Fast Follower to Innovator
Many companies that started out following industry leaders are now focusing on growth through innovation. While becoming a fast follower of innovative companies may be a viable strategy to generate revenues in the short term, consistent growth can be achieved only through "hard" competitive advantages.
1) What key elements are required to become an industry innovator? How does a follower company develop these traits?
2) What strategies are most effective in transforming from follower to innovator? Does the business model need to change?
3) How can M&A activities be used to foster innovation?
14:00 - 16:30
World Expo Center - WorkSpace 1
SlimCity: Building Urban Champions
Cities are increasingly becoming the nuclei of regional and national prosperity. At the same time, cities are complex ecosystems in terms of infrastructure. Some cities have demonstrated leadership with innovative solutions that address energy efficiency, transportation, waste and greenhouse gas emissions. New model cities such as Dongtan in China demonstrate the great potential in streamlining city design.
1) What are the latest state-of-the-art solutions for efficient city design? What business models of the new champions are driving change in city design?
2) How can cities partner with the private sector, urban planners and the new champions to spearhead development towards a cleaner and more efficient future?
3) How can a "SlimCity ranking" help identify and replicate innovative solutions and best practices?
14:00 - 16:30
World Expo Center - WorkSpace 2
Harnessing Collective Intelligence: The Role of Online Communities
Online social networks are revolutionizing how knowledge and information are developed and shared. Wikipedia, open source software and blogging services - all part of the consumer-powered Web - are challenging existing models of client relations and value creation.
1) How have some companies succeeded in harnessing the collective intelligence available in the Web 2.0 world?
2) How can existing online community models be leveraged and translated into revenue-generating opportunities?
3) How is this different from the offline world?
Join this collaborative workshop to gain insights into how collective intelligence and online communities can add value to your business
15:30 - 16:30
World Expo Center - Room Geneva
Going Global: Finding the Right Board Structure for Growth
Beyond the legal requirements, building a strong board with the right mix of expertise and perspective can be the key to successfully implementing a global growth strategy.
1) What are the roles and responsibilities of a board of directors in a fast-growing company?
2) How can CEOs, especially company founders, manage the transition to share decision-making responsibility?
3) What is the role of the chairman, particularly in a founder-centred company?
15:30 - 16:30
World Expo Center - Room Bern
Perspectives on Entrepreneurship - Why Culture Matters
Successful entrepreneurs possess a rare blend of vision, passion, determination, ambition and initiative. Cultural factors can shape these common characteristics into unique models of entrepreneurship.
1) What are the common traits of successful entrepreneurs?
2) Which cultures are best equipped to develop and encourage entrepreneurship?
3) How can entrepreneurship be developed?
15:30 - 16:30
World Expo Center - Room Zurich
Private Equity in China: Discovering New Treasures?
The combination of strong economic growth, the continued privatization of state-owned enterprises and a growing number of profitable companies is luring private equity investors to China. At the same time, there is growing public concern over the handover of state assets and the risk of monopolization.
1) What can private equity investors bring to domestic companies? What are the trade-offs?
2) Which sectors hold the greatest potential for private equity investment?
3) What are the regulatory and business challenges facing private equity investors in China?
15:30 - 16:30
World Expo Center - Room Davos
The Transformative Potential of Science and Technology in Asia
Asia's rapid development as a science and technology hub has created tremendous shifts in the allocation of global investments in people, resources and technology. Advances in all fields are fuelling changes in the way companies conduct business and creating economic growth and societal benefits.
1) What is the role of government in enabling and furthering the positive effects of investments in science and technology?
2) What are the social benefits of the science and technology advances taking place in Asia?
3) What is the role of the new champions in accelerating change?
17:00 - 17:10
World Expo Center - Plenary Hall
Welcome to the Inaugural Annual Meeting of the New Champions
17:10 - 18:00
World Expo Center - Plenary Hall
New Champions, New Challenges
As the world comes to terms with a host of global challenges, new champions are emerging to lead industries and drive solutions in the future.
1) What role will entrepreneurs, young global leaders and high-growth companies play in shaping the 21st century growth environment?
2) How can they collaborate to influence broader agendas while still driving innovation?
3) What role will new champions play in creating a more equitable society?
18:00 - 18:30
World Expo Center - Plenary Hall
Special Address by
18:30 - 19:30
World Expo Center
Reception
Participants are cordially invited to a get-together in "The Village" within the World Expo Center.
19:30 - 22:30
World Expo Center - Plenary Hall
Gala Soirée
All participants and their spouses are cordially invited to this formal social evening hosted by the Dalian Municipal Government.
Editor:Du Xiaodan
