Proposed Programme Agenda
The two day summit and plenary programme will include a variety of themes related to the changing role of emerging markets in the global economy, the facilitation of sustainable and ethical investment in the region and the exchange of trade and investment concepts, and practices within the BRICA region. The programme is envisaged to contain the following:
• Africa: can it realise its potential?
• China and India: Two emerging economic giants
• The rising Influence of emerging markets
• Trends in inter-regional trade and investment
• Business relations between Asian and African countries and Brazil.
• Current investment flows between China, India and African countries and lessons learnt.
• Trend-setting investments and business involvements contributing to economic interdependence and cooperation between the three regions.
• The Importance of interregional investments
Examples of investments will include:
• China’s investment in Standard Bank
• SAB Miller’s investment in China
• Dubai World’s investment in the Western Cape
• Murray & Roberts’ contribution of engineering skills to Brazil
• Sasol’s involvement in Qatar
• Tata, Sahara and Mittal Steel in Africa
• Old Mutual in India
• Anglo American, Kumba Resources and other mining companies in China
• Chinese infrastructure investments in Angola, Zimbabwe & Zambia
• MTN in the Middle East (Iran, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan)
Case studies will be covered by expert presenters and a number of these companies will be invited to represent themselves.
Other topics of discussion
Infrastructure
• Infrastructure development: Encouraging or limiting economic growth
• Can Eskom power future growth?
• Sustainability and growth: a challenge for emerging markets (China case study)
• Interregional cooperation and exchange Financial services
• Capital formation: The role of stock exchanges
• Microfinance: A sustainable way to grow emerging markets
• Changing risk profiles
Manufacturing
• Competing in a global market place
• Reducing trade barriers through interregional cooperation
• Examples: automotive industry, textile and clothing Industry,
Tourism:
• Conservation and tourism development – paradox or imperative?
• Heritage Tourism as a new tool for sustainable development
• Challenges and opportunities for interregional property development projects
• Global warming and the impact on tourism in the Indian Ocean region
Agriculture & Climate Change:
• Fair trade – the promotion of agricultural development in emerging economies
• Climate change and how to handle its effects
More on the rationale:
With their growing economies and increasing international involvements, emerging markets are continually gaining influence on the world stage. On the changing geopolitical playing field, new power structures are emerging and roles and responsibilities are beginning to shift. Instead of relying on the developed world, Africa, Asia and Brazil are re-discovering and resurrecting their past trade relations by continually forging new direct economic links, which provide opportunities for ongoing social, environmental
and economic development, coping with growing infrastructure demands (power, water, telecoms,).
• The role of the emerging markets in managing fundamental world problems
• Balancing economic growth and sustainable development
• Tackling poverty and underdevelopment
• Challenges and opportunities through globalisation
• The ongoing competition for foreign direct investment
• The role of governments, trade and investment promotion agencies, international organisations and business in driving and managing the relationship
• Some suggestions for policies and strategies of cooperation