HPAIR 2008 Business Conference
Plenary Sessions, Panels and Workshops
Plenary Sessions
Ties that Bind: How Corporate Governance Affects the Business Climate in Asia
Corporate governance reform has progressed rapidly in Asia in recent years, leading to changes in laws and regulations, more rigorous enforcement, and new board structures. These changes have been the subject of much scrutiny since the 1990s. To what extent have attitudes towards corporate governance changed and has reform contributed to the revitalization of the economies across Asia? What benefits can investors in Asian companies expect to see from further adoption of best practices in corporate governance? What challenges lie ahead for further reform? Should individual countries first focus on improving national standards of regulation and corporate practice rather than attempting to reach a common set of matrices from the start?
The direction of reform is also open to debate. Does the board's role include corporate social and environmental responsibilities? If so, how can boards of directors most effectively guide their companies to produce a strategic and sustained response to these challenges? As Asian companies develop an ever more established presence in many markets around the world, the questions explored in this panel will grow increasingly pertinent to the international economy.
East Meets West: Global Integration of the Business World
Competition is fierce as companies seek constantly to grow and expand into new markets. Today, this entails more than targeting different age groups communities; it all but requires participation on a global scale. An increasing number of companies are investing in their foreign counterparts as the border between countries begins to blur.
What mechanisms are corporations using as entry points into the Asian market, and how is this integration affecting the business climate? What role does the government play in facilitating or hindering the synthesis of global firms? Who are the beneficiaries of the globalization process, and is it actually spurring the developing economies in Asia?
Panels
The HPAIR Business Conference 2008 will be framed around eight specific panel topics, focusing on specific areas and offering a uniquely concrete perspective:
Financial Services
As Asia's becomes increasingly integrated into the global market, financial institutions are playing an ever greater role in shaping the economies of its nations. Yet this role is by no means a facile one. Challenges include the need for further market reforms, currency exchange issues, increases in efficiency, focus on smaller nations, and so on. This panel will look into the major issues in the Asian financial service sector and possibilities for its further growth.
Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds
Asia has become an increasingly attractive destination for capital-both foreign and domestic. As people capitalize on the influx of foreign investments and relaxed governmental regulations, entrepreneurial ventures in Asia have spawned a number of notable companies setting trends in manufacturing, branding, and technology. Yet fierce competition and the risks of the market pose challenges to all investors. This panel will examine the unique market opportunities giving rise to successful entreprenuership ventures and analyze the numerous challenges stemming from competition and risk faced by firms and individuals today.
Energy and Natural Resources
In today's world of scarce energy resources, Asia is faced with a major challenge to its continuing economic expansion. How its governments and businesses react to this challenge is crucial to the region-and the world's-further growth. This panel will focus on the government policies necessary to increase energy efficiency, encourage innovation in technology, and other methods to promote a sustainable society, as well as the reorganizations businesses need to undergo in order to compete successfully facing the new energy situation.
Real Estate
In Asia, the buzz word on everybody's lips is real estate. With so much undeveloped land and so much potential for expansive malls and commercial skyscrapers, every entrepreneur is looking to snatch a piece of the profit. How overrated is this craze for space, and how many actual opportunities are there for investors and real estate developers in Asia? This panel will explore the possibilities for real estate development, as well as discuss the governmental and financial challenges to operating in such a volatile environment.
Foreign Direct Investment
Foreign direct investment (FDI) has traditionally been the most important source of capital for Asia's developing nations. Yet this development strategy has also exposed many countries to potential risks outside of their control. How to attract foreign capital sustainably and safely is, therefore, of utmost importance to Asian economies. This panel will discuss the benefits of FDI for both foreign businesses and local economies, as well as the continuing challenges and risks they pose.
Media and Entertainment
The increasingly pervasive presence of media and entertainment in Asia cannot be underestimated. Accompanying the recent economic development is not only a larger audience for existing mediums but also a brand-new audience for the cutting-edge technologies developing across Asia. Economic progress in addition to technological changes have forced existing companies to revisit their business models, while at the same time created opportunities for new business models to emerge. This panel will explore the growth of the media and entertainment industry in Asia, the strategies employed by Asian media firms moving more aggressively into the international arena, and the potential Asia holds for Western investors in the industry.
Family-Owned Conglomerates
Business in Asia is marked by the dominance of family-owned conglomerates. The unique position of these family-owned conglomerates stems from competitive market positioning, advantageous local production costs, and centralized administration. This panel will explore how the structure of family businesses influence their corporate strategies and success in the region and what the future holds for these conglomerates in an era of globalization and economic expansion.
Luxury goods
As the prevalence of entrepreneurship and the volatility of the Asian financial markets create more money-making opportunities for the middle class, the ranks of the rich rise, thus widening the market for luxury goods. This panel explores how luxury good companies can penetrate and capture this market in light of challenges created by piracy, cultural values, and government regulations.
Workshops
Four workshops will analyze the realities of complex business issues, providing the opportunity to synthesize conflicting data and points of view and make tough decisions with uncertain information:
Enhancing Board Leadership and Value
Board reform remains a relatively new issue in Asia. Many companies are still grappling with how to best utilize their new independent directors, board committees and other governance structures, while many directors do not fully understand their duties and responsibilities. This session will focus on the strategic and governance benefits a well-structured board can bring, how directors can make a difference, and what lessons have been learned from implementing best practices in Asia over the past 10 years.
Consumer Branding and Marketing
Branding and marketing are one of the most important tools to grow and develop a business. Their effectiveness is closely related to consumer preferences, culture, history and customs. How should multinationals market their brands to Asian consumers? How could Asian companies mold their brands as they expand into the regional and international arena?
Law and Regulations
While businesses in Asia have experienced accelerated growths in the past decades, regulatory and legal infrastructures in the financial and business worlds are still trying to catch up to market activities. What legal issues are businesses facing? How could governments provide regulatory support to foreign and local businesses?
Managing and Recruiting Talent
At the core of any business is human capital. From operations to marketing, personnel are the fuel for the sustainable growth of a business venture. How should businesses select a responsible and dynamic team of business leaders in Asia? How should they strike a balance between foreign expertise and local talent?