ICC calls for post-Bali World Trade Agenda at CEO Forum in China

Regional leaders and CEOs from around the Asia-Pacific region gathered at the Kunshan Expo Center in Kunshan, China, on Tuesday for the first day of the ICC Asia Pacific CEO Forum.

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event in New Delhi, the two-day forum aims to demonstrate the vibrancy of the business community in the Asia-Pacific region.

In his keynote speech during opening remarks, Mr McGraw said the event came at “a critical time” for the world economy, as it emerges from the global economic crisis towards a fragile recovery.

To an audience that included representatives of major international trade and business groups, along with representatives of the regional chambers of commerce, Mr McGraw called for the restoration of “stronger, sustainable, and more equitable” global growth, which would create jobs while maintaining the momentum of the multilateral trading system.

“This is exactly the mission of ICC – to promote open, cross-border trade and investment, as evidenced by the key role we played via the World Trade Agenda in helping secure the Bali agreements,” Mr McGraw said.

Mr McGraw advocated for a World Trade Agenda that could advance the mission of the post-Bali agenda with clear policy initiatives to drive jobs and growth.

The goals of the post-Bali WTA would include expanding trade in IT products and encouraging the growth of e-commerce worldwide; liberalizing trade in services; fostering “greener” economic activity through trade; and advancing the international investment agenda and framework by moving towards a high-standard multilateral framework on investment.

The opening day of the Forum featured three panel discussions, with ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier contributing to that on the ‘role of the Asia-Pacific region in global governance.

Combining interactive panel discussions and networking opportunities for some 300 business leaders from around the world, the Forum takes place during the third China Import Expo, and serves as the third ICC World Business Leaders Conference. The event concludes on 15 May, 2015.

Watch Harold (Terry) McGraw’s interview with CCTV