Business events

"Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for East Asia"
Seoul, Republic of Korea, 18–19 June 2009

The magnitude of the unprecedented economic crisis has shaken the belief that robust intra-Asian trade and consumption alone would be enough to alleviate pressure on an unbalanced global economy. Asia’s large foreign currency reserves, vast domestic consumer markets in China and India, and high growth in Vietnam and Indonesia could not shield Asia from the effects of the massive slowdown in global demand and the credit crunch.

At the same time, Asia’s share of global GDP and growing stake in international institutions point to the region’s importance in restoring economic growth. As one of the world’s largest economies, South Korea is an ideal location to discuss how leaders across Asia will shape the post-crisis world. Following the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009 in Davos-Klosters and the G20 Summit in London, this meeting is regarded as the most important gathering of international leaders, especially as South Korea prepares to assume the chairmanship of the G20 in 2010.

In this context, the programme for the World Economic Forum on East Asia is designed to generate insight on building a common agenda for revitalizing the global economy through new models of growth, technologies and corporate practice. Additionally, it will provide an opportunity to discuss the expanding leadership roles of Asia’s G20 members, which is set against the focus of the new US administration on strengthening the trans-Pacific alliance. To that end, a select group of 300 senior public figures, corporate executives and thought leaders will convene to facilitate steps towards greater international and regional cooperation.

Co-Chairs:

• Azman Mokhtar, Managing Director, Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia
• Cho Suck-Rai, Chairman, Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), Republic of Korea
• Peter Sands, Group Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered, United Kingdom
• Tarek Sultan Al Essa, Chairman and Managing Director, Agility, Kuwait
• Ruben Vardanian, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Troika Dialog Group, Russian Federation

• Forum Site