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  • Driving commercial and political engagement between Asia, the Middle East and Europe

    Pictured left is a scene from Tanukikoji shopping street in Sapporo, Japan and pictured right is a scene in Shanghai, China
    Pictured left is a scene from Tanukikoji shopping street in Sapporo, Japan and pictured right is a scene in Shanghai, China

    Outlook: Business & Policy Programme 2016

    Published On: 4 February 2016

    In its 20th anniversary year, Asia House will continue to strengthen its Business & Policy programme to provide first-hand information to its corporate members and offer unique networking opportunities. With the opening up of Iran and Myanmar, two major players are re-emerging on the stage of the world economy. Myanmar is predicted to be the fastest growing economy in Asia in 2016, expanding by over eight per cent. China’s slowing economy and its most recent crises are topics to watch as is, of course, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

    2016 started with a briefing on the geopolitical situation in the Middle East by the Middle East and North Africa Director at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Jane Marriott, who had just returned from a trip to Saudi Arabia.

    Shortly after the inauguration of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Shona Riach, Director for International Finance at HM Treasury, discussed with Asia House corporate members UK’s role in the development of the AIIB. In December last year, the UK became the first country outside Asia and the first G7 member to ratify the Articles of Agreement of the AIIB.

    On 8 March, Asia House will launch Asia 2025, at a networking reception. The publication is a collection of 25 informed opinion pieces by some of the most influential thought leaders in and from Asia, including Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration in Government of Hong Kong; Jusuf Kalla, Vice President of Indonesia; Tatsuo Yasunaga, President and CEO of Mitsui; and Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive of Diageo. Three of the contributors, Paul Manduca, Chairman of Prudential, Beth McKillop, Deputy Director and Director of Collections at the V&A Museum and Nazir Razak, Chairman of CIMB Group, are confirmed to speak at the event. For further information, please contact: Samantha Deave, Business & Policy Team at samantha.deave@asiahouse.co.uk or call 0207 307 5442.

    On 31 March, a private briefing with Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will give insights about how the EBRD views its role in the development of the Belt and Road initiative and what this means for multinational companies.

    In continuation of 2015, Asia House will again host the launch of the Asian Development Outlook, a series of annual economic reports of the Asian Development Bank, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank. Please save the date, 26 April, for this launch.

    One of the most influential businesswomen in the Middle East, Lubna S. Olayan, CEO of Olayan Financing Company, will meet Asia House corporate members for a private briefing on 21 June.

    Many more topics are high on our agenda: the opening up of Iran and Myanmar, ASEAN and the ASEAN Economic Community, the AIIB, the G20, and China’s new Five-Year Plan in March, just to name a few.

    In 2016, Asia House will again welcome several head of states and ministers for private briefings and exclusive meetings with corporate members. For our conferences we are looking at the development and internationalisation of the RMB; the Internet of Things and how connectivity will change business; unlocking Asia’s economic potential; demographic developments in Asia and their implications for businesses; and many more topics. We are also looking forward to our second UK-ASEAN Dialogue in the second half of 2016. To get the latest information about Asia House Business & Policy events please follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.

    melanie.ullrich@asiahouse.co.uk

    For further information about Asia House corporate membership please click here or contact Vivi Qi, Asia House Corporate Membership Manager, at vivi.qi@asiahouse.co.uk.