Plenary Sessions
Plenary Session 1 “The Evolving World Trading System: Implications for Business”
This session discussed how chambers of commerce can position themselves as global players in influencing the emerging trade system. Speakers shared their views on ways in which the world trading system, beginning with the WTO which is at its center, can better serve the needs of today’s private enterprise, and how understanding and addressing these concerns will not only be beneficial for productivity and living standards across the world, but also would encourage private enterprises, especially smaller firms, to become more active participants and advocates for trade.
The session moderator was Dr. Andrew Stoeckel, Honorary Professor at the Centre for Applied Macroeconomics Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. The speakers were The Honorable Dan Tehan, MP, Former Australian Minister for Trade and Current Shadow Minister, Henrik Isakson, In-charge of Trade Affairs, Confederation of Swedish Enterprises, Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President of the Federation of Palistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mohannad Khazaee, Secretary General, Iranian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, and Bryan Clark, Director of the Australian Cenre for Internaitonal Trade and Development.
Plenary Session 2 “Asian Business: Leveraging New Technologies to Drive Transformation and Growth”
During this session, invited speakers examined opportunities presented by new technologies to make businesses – especially SMEs – more innovative, more efficient, less costly, increase their access to finance, and be more responsive to the changing needs of customers. They also highlighted the strengths of Asia-Pacific countries in driving innovation for sustainable and inclusive economic growth and point out how Chambers of Commerce can be a leading player in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
The session moderator was Peter McMullin AM, CACCI President and Chairman of the McMullin Group. The speakers were Andrew Cumpston, State Director at the Victoria State Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mark Harwood, YGAP CEO, Dr. Alireza Yavari, Deputy President for International Affairs, ICCIMA, and Aloysius Wee, Chairman of the ASEAN Legal Alliance, Co-Managing Principal Aquinas Law Alliance, LLP.
Plenary Session 3 “Sectoral Strategies for Business Recovery to Ensure Regional Prosperity”
In this session, invited speakers shared their perspectives on the need for an analysis of different sectors, their potential for future growth, and the support they need to help them and the economies in the region get back on track. They also elaborated on the importance of a stronger collaboration between governments and businesses to enable economies to address many of the challenges and ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery. Central to this will the role Chambers of Commerce in the region can take in helping achieve this objective.
The session moderator was Ambassador Benedicto Jujuico, former CACCI President. The speaker were Rommel Sim Gerodias, Vice Chairman of YEGAP and President of A101 Innovations , Inc., and Gerelsaikhan Tsolmon, Head of the Department of Foregin Relations and Cooperation at the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Plenary Session 4 “Building Back Better: Creating a Business Model for a Resilient Future”
This session featured business leaders who elaborated on their views on how to capitalize on the new momentum of recovery and growth post-pandemic, how to accelerate the innovation they have tapped, and how to optimize their businesses for the new global reality. They shared their perspectives on how a company must have its radar tuned to changes in the external environment and quickly react to refine or reinvent its business model. The session also addressed how Chambers of Commerce can support businesses across the Asia-Pacific through cross-sector partnerships, and how CACCI can play a role in influencing policy decisions at all levels to create a business environment capable of meeting future challenges.
The session also addressed how Chambers of Commerce can support businesses across the Asia-Pacific through cross-sector partnerships, and how CACCI can play a role in influencing policy decisions at all levels to create a business environment capable of meeting future challenges.
The session was moderated by Samir Modi, CACCI President. The speakers were Naina Subberwal Batra, AVPN CEO, Khurram Sayeed, Former Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and CEO of Planet Energy, Pvt. Ltd, and Manish Singhal, Deputy Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Indstry (FICCI.)
