07:00 - 18:30 hrs. REGISTRATION
07:00 - 08:30 hrs. MEMBER COMMITTEE BREAKFASTS
08:30 - 08:45 hrs. OPENING PLENARY SESSION
Call to Order Mr. Robert G. Lees, Secretary General, PBEC
Welcoming Remarks Mr. Mario Andrade, Chairman, PBEC Chile Member Committee
Chairman's Address Mr. Gary L. Tooker, Chairman, PBEC - Chairman, Motorola Inc.
08:45 - 09:30 hrs. KEYNOTE ADDRESS
"Pacific Prosperity: Gaining Momentum for the 21st Century"
Keynote Speaker His Excellency Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, President of the Republic of Chile
Introduction by Mr. Roberto lzquierdo, Chairman, 1998 PBEC IGM Organizing Committee
Growth rates in the Asia-Pacific region have been the envy of the world for decades. In recent years, however, some of these growth rates have leveled off or even declined. Most recently, there have been enough "bumps in the road"-market fluctuations, disruptions, and declines-to remind us that we are in a profoundly new era. Some skeptics have even gone so far as to question whether the 21st century will, in reality, be the Asia-Pacific century, as had been so widely assumed. One thing is clear. We cannot afford to be complacent about sustaining regional growth. As we head into the new century, how can the region ensure steady and stable growth, as these economies continue to mature?
09:30 - 09:50 hrs. BREAK
09:50 - 11:20 hrs. PLENARY SESSION
"Liberalization and Privatization: The Stimuli for Continued Economic Growth"
Trade and investment liberalization, along with the privatization of appropriate government services, have proven to be critical ingredients in economic growth. No where has this been more true than in the Asia-Pacific region. Though significant progress has been made, much work remains to be done, especially if the impressive growth of the region is to continue. What has the region's experience with liberalization and privatization been in the past, and how can greater progress be made in the future?
1 1:20 - 12:50 hrs. PLENARY SESSION
'Peace and Stability: The Cornerstone of Prosperity"
Peace and stability are the fundamental building blocks for economic growth and prosperity. justice, respect for human dignity, access to economic opportunity, and an absence of armed conflict are all important ingredients. How do we best ensure the peace and stability-on a military, political, and social level-which is so essential to the region's ability to generate and sustain prosperity?
12:50 - 14:20 hrs. LUNCHEON
"Latin America and Asia: Partners in Pacific Prosperity'
Keynote Speaker His Excellency Alberto Kenyo Fujimori, President of the Republic of Peru (TBC)
Booming growth rates, currency shocks, and banking difficulties have all been experienced by nations in both Latin America and Asia in recent decades. Many policies and practices of the Asian "Tigers" have been adapted by the Latin American "Jaguars". Latin America has already confronted similar banking and currency problems that many nations in Asia now are facing. Despite some very obvious and significant differences between the regions, what can Asia and Latin America learn from each other's experiences?
14:20 - 15:50 hrs. PLENARY SESSION
'How Does Asia Return to Prosperity and Prevent the Next Crisis?"
What policies and practices must Asia adopt in order to restore investor and consumer confidence and return to prosperity? What have we learned from the current crisis that will help us anticipate and avoid similar crises in the future? Today, many observers are providing their views on the policies and practices which precipitated the current crisis. Why wasn't anyone able to see these dangers before they exploded?
15:50 - 16:05 hrs. BREAK
16:05 -17:35 ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
'The Environmental Challenge: Sustaining Economic Growth"
There is a growing recognition among many corporations that environmental preservation and successful business need not be in conflict. Increasingly, business is showing a positive attitude towards the simultaneous achievement of both environmental preservation and economic growth. Other corporations have experienced more of a struggle in reconciling environmental concerns with bottom-line profitability. Some have argued that we are now sacrificing jobs, revenues, and growth for the sake of the environment. How can we continue to practice good corporate citizenship with regard to the environment, while ensuring the economic growth which is so critical to the well being of all our citizens? Is there an "economic cost of change" in increasing environmental protection?
'Liberalized Trade in Food Products: Can We Protect Public Health Without Creating Disguised Protectionism?"
The inevitable reality of globalization is no more clear than in the food we eat-the items on our lunch plates may have come from several different countries. However, recent outbreaks of illness related to imported food has lead to calls in some quarters to step up food inspection and perhaps even curtail or restrict imports of food products. Many food exporters have claimed that such sentiments simply reflect protectionism disguised as health and safety concerns, and that many food standards are designed primarily to keep out foreign products, rather than to protect health. How do we liberalize trade, promote food exports, and still protect public health?
"Telecommunications Liberalization and Deregulation: Meeting the Needs of Both Developed and Developing Economies"
Continued economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region will require expanded and increasingly sophisticated telecommunication networks, but today the region has some of the lowest telephone per capita rates in the world. Liberalization and deregulation are recognized as being critical to the development of this sorely needed infrastructure, but how can this be accomplished in a way which meets the needs of both developed and developing countries? What are the opportunities and challenges for the telecommunications industry as we head for the next century?
'State Owned Enterprises: The Biggest Challenge to China's Reform?"
State owned enterprises still employ the majority of China's urban workers, yet they are riddled with inefficiencies. A large percentage are losing money and bad debt is rampant. Cradle to grave social service obligations and a rising portion of redundant employees further exacerbate inefficiencies. How is China approaching the massive undertaking of reforming these state owned enterprises?
1 7:35 - 1 7:50 hrs. BREAK
17:50 - 19:20 hrs. PLENARY SESSION
"Financial Crisis: What Lessons Can the Banks Learn?"
In the wake of the ongoing financial crisis, it is becoming clear that many banks were far too aggressive in extending more loans and larger loans than could be justified by market or economic realities. What role did these lending practices play in the subsequent meltdown? How can these tendencies be moderated in the future? What lessons can the banks learn from these mistakes?
20:30 - 23:30 hrs. OPENING GALA DINNER