2018 Plenary Sessions
Plenary Sessions
Istanbul – The four Plenary Sessions featured eminent speakers who shared their perspectives on the following timely and relevant issues:
Plenary Session 1 “The Changing Role of Chambers in Promoting Business”
This session featured speakers who shared their views on how SMEs can be assisted by chambers in their internationalization efforts and in becoming a part of Global Value Chains (GVCs).
The session speakers included Dr. Martin Wansleben, Chief Executive of DIHK; George Abraham, Managing Director, The GA Group Pte. Ltd.; Arnaldo Abruzzini, Chief Executive Officer, Eurochambres; Philip Kucharski, Former Chief Operating Officer of the International Chamber of Commerce; and David Kiang, Chairman of Silk Road International Development Fund and Chairman of Finance Committee of SRCIC. Chairing the session was Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, Managing Director, Panchakanya Group and Vice President, CACCI.
Plenary Session 2 “Innovation and Digitalization: Implications for Business”
This session examined how new technological revolution has directly transformed our lives and trade mechanisms.
Invited experts included Ozan Acar, Head of Sectors and Entrepreneurship Department of TOBB; James Chiao – Chairman and CEO, Smart City Consulting Co.; Mitsutoshi Oriyama – Director for Trade in Service, Multilateral Trade System Department, Ministry of Economy, Trade amd Industry; and Ma. Alegria Sibal Limjoco, President, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The session chairman was Samir Modi, Senior Vice President, CACCI and Executive Director, K. K. Modi Group.
Plenary Session 3 “Regional Integration and Connectivity for Sustainable Development”
Invited speakers elaborated on their perspectives as to Why new transportation corridors and regulatory harmonization needs are important for diversification of the Asian economies, and what role can chambers play to increase regional connectivity.
The speakers and panelists included Suraj Vaidya, Former President, FNCCI and President, Vaidya Organization of Industries and Trading Houses; Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director, Gateway House, Indian Council on Global Relations; and Ruwan Edirisinghe, SAARC CCI President and Chairman and Managing Director of RN Group of Companies. Chairing the session was Peter McMullin, Vice President, CACCI and Board Member, ICC Australia
Plenary Session 4 “A New World Economic Order: What It Means for Asia”
This session featured panelists who, in light of the rising protectionism among major economies which is seen to threaten the developing world, shared their views on how to define new aspects of the new world economic order, and how opportunities and threats of this new era of populist backlash should be identified and addressed.
The invited speakers included: Bryan Clark, Director, Trade and International Affairs, Australian CCI; Tetsuhide Mikamo, Advisor, Marubeni Research Institute; and Dr. Pedram Soltani, First Vice President of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture. The session chairman was Bozkurt Aran, Director, Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV).