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East Asian Economies Top the Global Enabling Trade Report 2009

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:52:49 +0200

East Asian economies – Singapore and Hong Kong SAR – occupy the top two positions in the Enabling Trade Index ranking, followed by Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden, according to the the World Economic Forum's Global Enabling Trade Report 2009. Canada, Norway, Finland, Austria and the Netherlands complete the top-10 list. The results mirror the openness of Singapore and Hong Kong SAR to international trade and investment as part of their successful economic development strategy.

Both economies have put into place highly efficient border administrations and supportive business environments. They are endowed with well-developed transport and telecommunications infrastructures ensuring rapid transit to final destination. These attributes are further supported by business environments that are conducive to trade.

The United States benefits from a conducive business environment, as well as excellent infrastructure. The US position is weakened by restricted access to markets and concerns about costs to business resulting from crime, violence and terrorism. China performs well with respect to transport services and has swift import-export procedures, but trade development is held back by highly restricted access to its markets.

The Global Enabling Trade Report 2009 is launched at a crucial time for global trade, as overall economic activity declines, trade volumes drop and public authorities adopt counter-cyclical stimulus policies and institutional reforms. The report serves as a timely reminder of the risks of protectionism and of the widespread prosperity and poverty reduction associated with the expansion of international trade in the years leading up to 2008.

Watch interviews with the authors below and download the full report here: http://tr.im/getr09

Celebrating 25 years of Engagement in India

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:59:48 +0200

This year, the World Economic Forum celebrates 25 years of collaboration and active engagement in India. As a result of over two decades of partnership, the annual India Economic Summit has emerged as an institution in Indian business, policy and political circles.

The India Economic Summit 2009, the country’s foremost gathering of government, industry and civil society leaders, will take place on 8-10 November 2009 in New Delhi under the theme “India’s Next Generation of Growth”.

Following the recent elections, this year’s programme will provide a unique opportunity to interact with the new government and to examine the priorities for shaping India’s next generation of leaders and growth models to ensure future competitiveness and inclusive growth.

For more information go to http://tr.im/India2009

Summer Davos - Looking at The World Through an Asian Lens

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:15:28 +0200

After a successful series of regional meetings in the Middle East, Africa and East Asia, we’re now gearing up for our "Summer Davos" in Dalian, China. The meeting which kicks off on September 10th is different from our regional events in that it’s a true global gathering similar to Davos but “looking at the world through an Asian lens” as Robert Greenhill, Managing Director, put it in this interview.

The "Summer Davos" which is officially the "Annual Meeting of the New Champions", will focus on how we can revive economic growth in the current turmoil. It will showcase the Forum's Community of Global Growth Companies. This 200-strong community - many of whom are from Asia and with sales usually between $100 million to a $1 billion - has the potential to transform their industries. The Annual Meeting of the New Champions is their key meeting and brings them together with two other important Forum communities, the Young Global Leaders and the Tech Pioneers.

As well looking at the business models and new leaders capable of driving growth, the Forum will make another key contribution by launching its flagship Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010 in Dalian. The Report is accepted internationally as the benchmark publication on country competitiveness and will be used by governments and business to gauge how different countries are dealing with the current economic crisis.

For more about the Summer Davos go to http://www.weforum.org/NewChampions

Looking for Technology Pioneers 2010

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:02:10 +0200

Every year the World Economic Forum is looking for Technology Pioneers, companies around the world that are involved in the design and development of new technologies. To be selected as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, a company must be involved in the development of life-changing technology innovation and have potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition, it must demonstrate visionary leadership, show the signs of being a long-standing market leader - and its technology must be proven.

Technology Pioneers are companies from around the world that develop and apply the most innovative and transformational technologies in the fields of information technology, renewable energy and biotechnology/health. The work undertaken by these companies holds the promise of significantly affecting the way business and society operate. Each innovation is another step in society's attempt to harness, adapt and utilize technology to change and improve our world. The World Economic Forum identifies between 30 and 50 companies as Technology Pioneers every year. More than 350 companies have been selected as Technology Pioneers since the programme’s inception in 2000.

The Technology Pioneers are integrated into the Forum’s activities with the objective to identify and address future-oriented issues on the global agenda, in proactive, innovative and entrepreneurial ways. By bringing these executives together with scientists, academics, NGOs, and Forum members and partners, the Forum hopes to shed new light on how technologies can be used to, for example, find new vaccines, create economic growth and enhance global communication.

For more information about the Technology Pioneer Programme go to: http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers and nominate your Technology Pioneer: http://tr.im/TechPioneerNominate

Looking for Social Entrepreneurs/Young Global Leaders

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:12:22 +0200

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is searching for young social entrepreneurs to include in the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Forum. The Forum of Young Global Leaders is a sister organization of the World Economic Forum. It is a unique, multistakeholder community of the world’s most extraordinary leaders under 40, which creates a diverse, multinational, multistakeholder network of the top young leaders in the world; enhances knowledge and leadership skills; and serves as a platform to work collaboratively on key issues facing the world. Current Young Global Leaders include Larry Page and Sergey Brin, founders of Google and Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia. Former Young Global Leaders include Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of

Germany and Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The World Economic Forum is committed to ensuring that 10% of the next incoming members of the group of Young Global Leaders are social entrepreneurs. This is a unique opportunity for a select group of social entrepreneurs under the age of 40 to become members of the community of Young Global Leaders. The selected social entrepreneurs are part of a peer network that can open doors in the business, political and academic fields, help enter new markets and identify investors, among many other opportunities. Young Global Leaders are invited to the events of the World Economic Forum. While the nominated social entrepreneur should be under 40 years of age, they should nevertheless already have achieved a significant impact and should have the potential to significantly scale further. Current Social Entrepreneur Young Global Leaders include: Vikram Akula, Founder,

SKS Microfinance, India, Ganhuyag Hutagt, Chief Executive Officer, Xac Bank, Mongolia, Premal Shah, President, Kiva.org, USA among many other successful individuals.

Send your nominations to the Schwab Foundation (name, organization and website are sufficient) to info@schwabfound.org by July 31.

The Schwab Foundation is also looking specifically for the Swiss Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Send in your nominations to http://www.schwabfoundseoy.org/switzerland and the deadline is June 30.

Key Strengths & Weaknesses of Mexico's Competitiveness

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:53:36 +0200

The World Economic Forum’s Mexico Competitiveness Report 2009 is the first-ever study of this type for Mexico. Using the Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index’s methodology and the latest thinking in competitiveness research, The Mexico Competitiveness Report 2009 provides a comprehensive overview of the country’s current competitiveness landscape, highlighting strengths and problematic areas.

Ranked 60th in the Global Competitiveness Index 2008-2009, Mexico presents important strengths in its market size, sophisticated business sector and diversified production structure, as well as in its sound macroeconomics fundamentals. However, a number of weaknesses remain in the quality of institutions, goods and labour markets, education standards and its innovation potential.

Forum on East Asia Ends with Shaping the G20 Agenda

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:03:13 +0200

East Asia can drive the critical post-crisis structural reform of the global economy, business, government and civil society leaders participating in the 18th World Economic Forum on East Asia agreed at the closing session of the two-day meeting. Next year, the Republic of Korea will assume the chair of the G20, which has become the main forum for addressing global economic challenges.

“For the time being, the G20 is for reactive purposes, with the financial markets still in shambles,” said Ahn Ho-Young, G20 Sherpa and Deputy Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea. But “moving on, there will be other post-crisis management issues on which G20 members will have to cooperate. If leaders agree and there is sufficient ambition, the G20 should move from being reactive to proactive. The question is if G20 leaders have the stomach and appetite to address these next-generation issues. Korea does.”

During the final session, three of the meeting Co-Chairs reviewed some of those priorities, including rebalancing the global economy; devising “exit strategies” from the huge public investments made in recent months to stimulate economies around the world; developing social safety nets to promote domestic consumption in high-saving economies such as China; examining the potential of shaping a coordinated approach to interest rate and currency management; and alleviating the poverty that affects half of the world’s population. Watch the sessions 'On-Demand' here: http://tr.im/ForumLive

Particpants Join the Davos Debates in East Asia 2009

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:52:08 +0200

Participants at the World Economic Forum on East Asia held in Seoul have joined the Davos Debates in East Asia. At a specially designed video corner set up at the conference venue participants replied to the question: Will geopolitical conflicts outweigh the economic crisis in East Asia? Watch their answers below. (sorry for the sometimes noisy recordings, we'll do better next time)

Asia relies on green initiatives for future growth

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:55:27 +0200

“We believe that a strong economy and a clean environment are not mutually exclusive, and that Korea has to take an active part in tackling climate change,” Han Seung-Soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, told 350 participants from 35 countries at the 18th World Economic Forum on East Asia today. “Korea recognizes the symbiotic relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability.” The country has proclaimed low-carbon green growth as its new national vision.

Watch the session:

Worst of economic crisis over, but Asia still facing risks

loiclemeur@gmail.com (Loic Le Meur) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:05:44 +0200

There is a growing consensus that the worst is over for Asia and the rest of the world, but many risks remain, said leaders at the 18th World Economic Forum on East Asia.

They urged governments to formulate an exit strategy to mop up excess liquidity from stimulus programmes, avoid trade protectionism, strike a correct balance between regulation and flexibility, and use the crisis to move strongly on regional integration.

“There is a growing consensus that the worst of the crisis is over and even signs of bottoming out, and even hints of recovery in some economies,” said Lim Hwee Hua, Minister, Office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. “However, as we move out of the woods, we need to be mindful of how recovery is taking place.”

For more, watch the session and read the press release.