Leaders at ICC World Business Summit examine roles of business and trade in development of post-recession global economy

Speakers and delegates at the summit agreed that trade, employment and sustainable development are key drivers of economic recovery and future growth. They urged governments to support their job creation, export and sustainable development initiatives by ensuring that new employment opportunities are created for unskilled labour, protectionist pressures are kept in check and efforts are stepped up to address critical environmental issues. In addition, governments were encouraged to nurture innovation as a catalyst for the world economy to prosper.

Victor K. Fung, Chairman of ICC, said: “Following the financial crisis and economic downturn of 2008-2009, ICC felt it was important to talk about how the future global economy has been shaped by these events and what we can do to help ensure its stability and growth. Certainly, the specter of global unemployment, the delicate balancing act between trade, development and sustainability, and the dangers of trade protectionism are key areas that must be dealt with as we develop growth strategies. The excellent discussions and presentations today helped shed some light on these important issues.”

The Summit, titled “New Global Economic Realities: Asia-Pacific Perspectives”, addressed the transformation of the global economy, global solutions in an increasingly interdependent world, and how the financial and economic crisis has created new trade opportunities. It also gave particular emphasis to Asia-Pacific, the driver of the global economy and the region that proved most resilient during the economic downturn.

The Summit involved more than 400 participants, most of whom are senior management, business leaders and opinion leaders from around the region and the world. They included Martin Wolf, Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator for the Financial Times, and David Sokol, Chairman, President and CEO of NetJets and Chairman of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivered the morning’s keynote address. Chen Yuan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, China Development Bank, was the keynote speaker for the Summit luncheon.

Green issues and sectors were key focus areas during the Summit. “Sustainability is something that is already impacting daily business decision-making, and we can expect this trend to grow in the future,” Mr Fung said. “One aspect where there seemed to be consensus at the Summit is that we can expect consumers to continue placing more and more value on green technology, which of course means that companies will have to act accordingly.”

Participants also urged national governments to resist protectionism in response to adverse economic conditions, adding that such measures would only serve to exacerbate unemployment and hinder growth of the global economy and developing nations. Members called for the successful conclusion of the Doha Round and the promotion of multilateral trade.

During his presentation, Gary Hufbauer, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, alerted attendees that pressure is increasing on governments to institute protectionist measures on trade policies. “If only half the protectionist measures ‘in the pipeline’ in end-2009 were implemented in 2010 and 2011, the world economy could face a serious protectionist problem,” he said.

The Summit, which was held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre,featured an opening speech on the global economic outlook by Martin Wolf, followed by Donald Tsang’s keynote address. Moderating the subsequent breakout sessions were Mr Hufbauer; Jean-Pierre Lehmann, Professor of International Political Economy at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Founding Director of the Evian Group; Kenneth Courtis, Founding Chairman of Themes Investment Partners; Joseph Bower, Baker Foundation Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School; and Martin Wassell, First Director, ICC.

Mr Bower commented that the private sector has the ability to address issues such as global unemployment and migration by introducing “entrepreneurial solutions” that provide opportunities for unskilled labour. “We must avoid failed states,” Mr Bower said, adding that the right business strategies can “bring the unskilled and unserved into the market system”.

The event also featured presentations from Leonardo Ferragamo, CEO, Palazzo Feroni Finanziaria and Honorary Chairman of the Altagamma Foundation, as well as Rajat Gupta, incoming Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce and Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company. The final panel discussion included Messrs. Wolf, Sokol, Ferragamo, Gupta and Fung, who also delivered the concluding remarks.

ICC, which has members in over 120 countries and is considered the leading voice for global commerce, reiterated that it will continue to support multilateral trade and the interests of business worldwide.

Speaker from left to right: 

Rajat K Gupta, Vice Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce; Senior Partner Emeritus, Mckinsey & Company

Jean-Pierre Lehmann ,Professor of International Political Economy, IMD; Founding Director, Evian Group

Martin Wassell, First Director, International Chamber of Commerce

Kenneth S Courtis, Founding Partner, Themes Investment Partners

Joseph L Bower, Baker Foundation Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Chen Yuan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, China Development Bank

Dr Victor Fung, Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce and Chairman, the Li & Fung Grou

Fred Lam, Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Martin Wolf, Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator,Financial Times

Gary C Hufbauer, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics Development

Leonardo Ferragamo, CEO, Palazzo Feroni Finanziaria; Honorary Chairman, Altagamma Foundation

David Sokol, Chairman, President and CEO, NetJets, Inc.; Chairman, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company