Commonwealth Business Forum 2009
Partnering for a More Equitable and Sustainable Future: The Commonwealth and the Americas
The Forum will be held on the cruise liner, Serenade of the Seas
23rd-26th November 2009 Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
Prof Joseph Stiglitz 2001 Nobel Prize Winner
Economics
Dr Anthony Hayward Chief Executive
BP Group
Rahul Bajaj Chairman Bajaj Auto
Paul Skinner Chairman
Commonwealth Business Council
Dr Pascal Dozie Chairman
Diamond Group
John Orr Chief Executive Officer
FirstCaribbean International Bank
Private Sector Speakers include:
I am delighted that Trinidad and Tobago will be hosting the Commonwealth Business Forum in Port of Spain from 23-26 November 2009 as one of the pre-events associated with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. I look forward to welcoming leaders and senior business executives from across the Commonwealth and beyond, focusing on the theme “Partnering for a More Equitable and Sustainable Future: the Commonwealth and the Americas”. The Forum will highlight new global economic partnership arrangements to promote trade and investment in key sectors across the Commonwealth and beyond, particularly in the Americas. The CBF as a unique gathering of business leaders from developed and emerging markets will focus on building the new economic and financial architecture in the global economy and ensure that it is inclusive and beneficial to all. This important business Meeting will present a useful platform for fostering such partnerships and new relationships. Building on the successful fora held since 1997, I believe that this year’s CBF will yield practical ideas on enhancing trade, mobilising investment, and strengthening economic links between the countries of the Commonwealth and with our global partners. I am also confident that the opportunities for commercial networking through the Forum will be highly valuable. I therefore urge you to make every effort to ensure you are able to participate in this important meeting. Hon. Patrick Manning Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Message for the Commonwealth Business Forum 2009 from Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of the
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Message from Honourable Patrick Manning Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
Monday, 23 November 2009 Day One
DRAFT PROGRAMME
DRAFT PROGRAMME
Confirmed Speakers include:
14:00 - 19:00 Registration [Delegates and Media] One to One Meetings (by prior appointment only) 17:00 - 19:00 Reception and Briefing: Speakers and Chairs
09:00 - 11:00 Opening Ceremony: “Challenges of the Global Economy- Partnering for Sustainable Future” This session will examine the challenges of the global economy with a
special focus on the great economic collapse that began in 2008 and will aim to explore new partnerships for a sustainable future.
Dr Mohan Kaul, Director General, Commonwealth Business Council Paul Skinner, Chairman, Commonwealth Business Council HE Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary General Hon. Patrick Manning, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago 11:00 - 11:30 Refreshments and Networking Break 11:30 - 13:00 The Commonwealth and the Americas This session will examine the role of the Caribbean in bridging the gap
between the Commonwealth and the Americas and in developing relationships with the African and Asian private companies.
13:00 - 14:30 Networking Lunches 14:30 - 16:00 Energy for Growth This panel will examine the world’s energy infrastructure for development
and growth. It will seek to see how growing nations will get their energy in the future, especially in times of economic and financial crisis. How can countries which see rapid population growth meet the subsequent energy demand growth? What are the best routes for meeting this need in a sustainable manner? Can distributed generation technologies carry the load? What other technologies and policies are needed? To what extent will developed nations contribute to the process?
• Shift the debate on energy and development in times of economic
and financial crisis beyond generalities and identify specific courses of action
• Initiate and advance regional and international co-operation in dedicated result-oriented working sessions
16:00 - 16:30 Refreshments and Networking Break 16:30 - 18:00 Interactive Theme Sessions
• Renewable and Alternative Energy: Planning for an Effective Energy Mix
• Energy Efficiency: Utilisation, Production and Service Delivery • Enabling Growth: Improving the Investment Climate • Public Private Partnerships: Accelerating Infrastructure Development • Investment Window
19:00 - 22:00 Reception and Gala Dinner: The Commonwealth and the Americas Keynote Speaker: Hon. Patrick Manning, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago
HE Yoweri Museveni President Uganda
Hon Bruce Golding Prime Minister
Jamaica
Hon Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister Bangladesh*
Tuesday, 24 November 2009 Day Two
HE Rupiah Banda President Zambia
The Hon Tillman Thomas Prime Minister
Grenada
Hon David Thompson Prime Minister
Barbados
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 Day Three
DRAFT PROGRAMME
07:30 - 08:25 CBC Members Breakfast (by invitation only) 08:30 - 09:25 Caribbean: A Place to do Business A wealth of natural resources, a dynamic literate workforce, stable industrial and political environment have been marking the Caribbean for the past few years. What are the main incentives, challenges and prospects for business and investment in the region? This session will also focus on the experiences of the existing investors in doing business with this region. 09:30 - 11:00 Interactive Theme Sessions
• Telecoms and Services: Creating New Business Opportunities • e-Health • Investment in Agribusiness • Travel and Tourism • Enhancing Manufacturing Capacity • Water Resource Management: Addressing the Challenge • Investment Window
11:00 - 11:30 Refreshments and Networking Break 11:30 - 13:00 Managing Climate Change: Promoting Renewable and Alternative Energy The economic and environmental costs of inaction continue to accrue for a battered world economy. This session will examine the best, worst and likely scenarios to emerge in the global race to mitigate the impact of climate change. 13:00 - 14:30 Networking Lunches 14:30 - 16:00 New Global Financial Structure: Instruments of Growth The most dangerous shock to global economy today has proven to be financial given the toxic mixture of integrated capital markets, complex financial engineering and fragmented regulatory oversight. This session will examine the economic impact on the developing countries with a special focus on access to finance, SMEs development and financial regulation. 16:00 - 16:30 Refreshments and Networking Break 16:30 - 18:00 Interactive Theme Sessions
• Role of Capital Markets in Mobilising Finance • Pensions and Insurance • Micro Finance and New Financial Instruments • Promoting Trade: New Strategies for Growth • Enhancing a Broadband Enabled Economy • Investment Window
19:00 Reception and Gala Dinner: “ Partnering for a More Equitable and Sustainable Future” Keynote Address: Heads of State and Government
Confirmed Speakers include:
HE Kamalesh Sharma Commonwealth
Secretary General
Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka Executive Director
UN-Habitat
HE Edwin W Carrington Secretary General
CARICOM
Amb Luis Fernando Andrade Falla
Secretary General ACS
Hon Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei Minister of Energy
Ghana
Hon Dr Sally Kosgei Minister of Higher
Education, Science and Technology
Kenya
DRAFT PROGRAMME
Thursday, 26 November 2009 Day Four
DRAFT PROGRAMME
07:30 - 08:25 Vision 2015- The CBC Perspective (Breakfast Meeting) 08:30 - 09:25 The Innovation Mantra: Technology - The Key to Growth and Development Globalisation is both driving and being driven by the current period of rapid advancement in information and communications technologies but at present not all nations are utilising the advantages that stem from these developments. How can technological progress assist the developing economies to benefit from globalisation and where are the main challenges? Can new technologies be used to reduce the digital divisions within and between nations? 09:30 - 11:00 Interactive Theme Sessions
• Learning from the Young Leaders • Technology and Environment • Emerging Caribbean Global Players • Corporate Social Innovations • Creative Industries • Investment Windows
11:00 - 11:30 Refreshments and Networking Break 11:30 - 13.00 Skills Challenge of the 21st Century A talented workforce is a prerequisite for getting through cyclical and structural shocks but finding and retaining talent remain difficult around the world, even during a major global slowdown. The session will focus on employment, training, skills and capacity development.
• How have globalization, changing demographics, and new technology influenced talent-management practices at leading-edge companies?
• What innovative processes and technologies have companies developed to support their talent management strategy?
13:00 - 14:25 Gala Lunch: Trading for a More Equitable and Sustainable Future Keynote Address: Heads of State This session will provide an opportunity for political and business dialogue on how the global trading system can play a stronger role in addressing global issues, including poverty reduction, climate change, food security, quality jobs and the sustainability of natural resources. 15:00 - 16:30 Prime Minister’s Roundtable (by invitation only)
Confirmed Speakers include:
Michael Prior President & CEO
Atlantic Tele-Network
Vijay Eswaran Chairman & CEO
QI Ltd
Louis Farrugia Group Chief Executive Simonds Farsons Cisk
Sir Allan Fields, KCMG Chairman
Cable & Wireless
Alessandro Teixeira President
Waipa and Apex-Brasil
Ishmael Yamson Chairman
Unilever Ghana
“CBC Members, 20 Heads of Government, 60 Ministers, 100 Speakers and 800 Business Leaders look forward to meeting you at the Forum.”
Dr Mohan Kaul Director General
Commonwealth Business Council
“Amongst the Commonwealth countries,
there is significant untapped potential. With active involvement of the
private sector in partnership with governments, this
potential can be harnessed in a wide range of
sectors...CBF provides an ideal platform to help
achieve these goals in order to promote economic
growth and sustainable development”
PROJECT EXCHANGE AND INVESTOR CENTRE
The Forum will feature a project portfolio of investment proposals that are looking for funding, equity or business partners in the region. The Project Exchange Centre will enable participants to meet with potential investors, investment bankers, and potential knowledge partners to present their projects. Project summaries will be available in advance to interested investors and partners, and project holders will be available for one-to-one meetings.
Projects will be organised by country and sector and include business plans with identified requirements in terms of investment required, technical and knowledge based requirements. For potential Investors, this is an opportunity to establish strong partnerships and explore investment opportunities in key sectors such as ICT, financial services, tourism,
Infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing and the environment. The Centre will bring together entrepreneurs looking to access f inance and new markets, Investors and companies looking for new markets or projects, and companies looking for external markets and knowledge partnerships to improve their competitiveness. Sectors will include: • Financial Services • ICT and Knowledge Industries • Agriculture and Fishing • Tourism • Energy and Extractive Industries • Manufacturing and Exports • Transport and Logistics • Creative industries
HE Yoweri Museveni President Uganda
“The CBC has made a major contribution to the international debate on
trade. Uniquely the Council presents its
recommendations directly to the Commonwealth Heads of Government.
There is now an effective interface between business
and government in the Commonwealth”
The Rt Hon Tony Blair Prime Minister UK (1997-2007)
“Aid given by rich countries to the developing world does make a difference,
but on its own it is not enough. The route for
tackling global poverty is through trade and
investment”
The Rt Hon Helen Clarke Prime Minister
New Zealand (1999-2008)
Business-to-Business Meetings at CBF 07
Pre– Arranged One to One Meetings at CBF 07
CBC Facilitating Business Meetings at CBF 07
Doing Business at the Commonwealth Business Forum
DRAFT PROGRAMME
PROJECT EXCHANGE AND INVESTOR CENTRE
B2B Forum activities will include: • a project exchange lounge
for meetings between project holders and potential investors/partners
• a project book and online
webpage with summaries of projects and short profiles of potential partners/investors
• The opportunity to present country or sector strategies in breakout sessions of the Forum
• Site visits to key projects in
Trinidad and Tobago on 27th November
The Centre will bring together businesses and a wide range of potential investors, government bodies and global technology and knowledge based industries.
• a webpage with documents which is linked to the home page of CBC and the sponsor
• a Caribbean Exhibition Centre to
enable companies/countries to showcase products and services
“Globalisation is the other international development that influences our world
view. As trade barriers have dropped sharply, global
economic integration has encouraged an expansion
in trade, foreign direct investment and flows of technology and people.
The explosion of information technology has created
new business opportunities undreamt of ten years ago”
Hon Dr Manmohan Singh Prime Minister
India
“In the short time since its inception in 1997, the
Commonwealth Business Forum has successfully
demonstrated the Commonwealth’s
continuing capacity to meet the changing needs of its members - small and large economies alike - by developing practical ways
of facilitating trade and investment”
Hon Dr Lawrence Gonzi Prime Minister
Malta
“I would like to commend the Commonwealth and
the Commonwealth Business Council for their foresight and
consistency in organizing this very critical Forum in the series of regional and
international events across the countries of the Commonwealth
family.”
HE Umaru Musa Yar’Adua President Nigeria
For more information or to find out how you can take part in the
Invest Caribbean: Project Exchange and Investor Centre
please contact:
Ms Alison Kley E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0) 20 7024 8212
Meet like minded Investors at CBF 09
Take advantage of the multiple networking opportunities at the
Business Forum
Make contacts and meet potential business partners
Commonwealth Business Council, 18 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5LU, United Kingdom www.cbcglobal.org
For more information please contact: Delegate Enquiries
E: [email protected] T: +44 (0) 20 7024 8250
Speaker Enquiries
E: [email protected] T: +44 (0) 20 7024 8212
Sponsorship Enquiries
E: [email protected] T: +44 (0) 20 7024 8227
Partnership Enquiries E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0) 20 7024 8271
Press Enquiries E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0) 20 7024 8209
General Enquiries E: [email protected] T: +44 (0) 02 7024 8200
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Register today at http://cbf09.eventbrite.com