A new trade era – what it means for Asia and the UK

Given Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States of America and the UK vote to leave the EU, the world is looking at a new trade era. With this in mind, Asia House in partnership with HSBC, is taking the opportunity to discuss ‘A new trade era – what it means for Asia and the UK’.

Alok Sharma, Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will give a keynote speech about the future of UK trade after Brexit and how UK companies can contribute to the growing demand for services in Asia.

For decades the biggest firms operated internationally, while smaller firms tended to be domestic. Today, nimble mid-sized UK & Asian firms are entering new markets earlier in their business cycle. These ‘micro-multinationals’ tend be agile, tech savvy and look at the world with a global mindset. Their emergence is changing the ecosystem of Asian supply chains, as they challenge the dominance of the traditional big players. Many micro-multinationals can be found in the rapidly growing services sector. Globally, services are becoming more tradeable, due to the falling costs of travel, advances in digital technology and reduced barriers to trade.

Research suggests that the share of services in total world trade grew three per cent in the years 2011-15. The services sectors represent a huge exporting opportunity to the UK. Last year the country had a record surplus on trade in services of over £90 billion and exports in these sectors increased by £7.1 billion (3.2%). Services will also shape Asia’s economies. A burgeoning Asian middle class is going to demand education, healthcare, tourism and creative industries. And as skill levels in the region increase, these well-educated workers are also going to work in businesses that need, or indeed offer, services.

This Asia House Signature conference in partnership with HSBC explores how businesses, policy makers – and the societies they serve – can capture the full value of these 21st century trends.

Keynote Speaker:

Alok Sharma, Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Alok Sharma was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in July 2016.  Alok was appointed in 2016 as the Prime Minister’s Infrastructure Envoy to India. He also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who had overall responsibility for the Cabinet Office.  Prior to entering Parliament, Alok qualified as a chartered accountant and then worked for 16 years within banking, first with the Japanese firm Nikko Securities and then Enskilda Securities, where he held senior roles based out of London, Stockholm and Frankfurt.  

Confirmed speakers:

Noel Quinn, Chief Executive of Global Commercial Banking, HSBC

Noel Quinn was appointed Chief Executive, Global Commercial Banking, in December 2015. He became a Group Managing Director in September 2016. Based in London, Mr Quinn is responsible for HSBC’s relationships with about 2 million small, medium and large business customers in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, North America and Latin America. From 2011 to 2015 he was the Regional Head of Commercial Banking for Asia-Pacific, based in Hong Kong.

Anne Patricia Sutanto, Vice President Director, PT Pan Brothers Tbk

In 2010, Anne Patricia Sutanto was appointed Vice President Director of Pan Brothers. She has played a vital role in turning the company into Indonesia’s largest garmentmaker, which makes apparel for brands such as Adidas, Salomon, The North Face and Spyder. In 2015, she appeared in the Forbes 2015 list of The Most Powerful Women in Asia. 

Duncan Innes-Ker, Regional Director Asia, The Economist Intelligence Unit 

Duncan heads a team of analysts covering Asia, in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Country Analysis division and is personally responsible for compiling economic and political forecasts for a number of countries in the region. He has helped to produce customised research and analysis on many topics, ranging from a long-term forecast of the outlook for Asia to 2050 to the impact of China’s leadership changes in 2012-13. 

Panelists: The rise of a services economy

Natalie Blyth, Global Head of Trade and Receivables Finance, HSBC

Natalie is the Global Head of Trade and Receivables Finance which provides financing and risk mitigation solutions to meet clients’ international and domestic trade requirements. She has over 20 years investment banking experience. Before moving to the Commercial Banking business in 2015, Natalie spent eight years with Global Banking and Markets business as Global Head of the Consumer Group and as Co-Head of UK Banking.

Paul Smith, Executive Chairman of Harvey Nash Outsourcing, Chairman of NashTech Ltd.

Paul founded three software businesses prior to Harvey Nash Outsourcing, who now employ over 2,000 English and Japanese speaking software developers and BPO staff in Vietnam. Paul has received an award for outstanding services to Vietnam’s trade and culture, an award for services to Vietnam’s ICT and software industry and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce Medal for his contribution to Vietnam’s economic growth. Paul is also Vice Chairman of UK-ASEAN Business Council and Vice Chairman of Vietnam-UK Network. 

Jens Tholstrup, Director, Oxford Economics

Jens joined Oxford Economics in 2009 as Managing Director, UK. From 2000 to 2009, was Executive Director of Oxford Analytica. Prior to this, he worked in Investment Banking in London and Tokyo for over 20 years, principally on capital markets, leveraged finance and corporate finance with a particular focus on financial institutions.

Priscilla To, Director General, Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office

Ms To joined the Hong Kong Administrative Service in 1995. She has served in various bureaux and departments, including the former Industry Department, the former Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, and the former Environment and Food Bureau. She was Principal Assistant Secretary in the former Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau (now Commerce and Economic Development Bureau) from 2004 to 2007, and Administrative Assistant to Secretary for Education from 2007 to 2010. She has been Principal Assistant Secretary for the Civil Service since 2010.

This panel discussion will be moderated by Michael Lawrence, Chief Executive of Asia House

Michael heads the Asia House team in delivering thought leadership and market intelligence on Asia to some of the UK’s biggest companies. Prior to joining Asia House, he spent 18 years at Reuters, the international news organisation, where he held several senior positions over the course of his distinguished career, including Global Editor and Managing Editor, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Panelists: Post-Brexit UK trade with Asia

Gemma Clarke, Chief Marketing Officer, Tangle Teezer Limited 
Gemma has launched iconic beauty brand Tangle Teezer into over 80 countries within the past 8 years, with a particular focus upon Asia and emerging markets.
Tangle Teezer hairbrushes have become a phenomenon in China and Japan. Currently ranked as the fastest-growing UK brand upon China’s e-commerce giant TMall, no less than £1.5m of Tangle Teezers were sold on Singles Day (11th November) in 2016. It is China, Japan and South Korea which are proving to be the markets with the greatest potential for future growth.

Alistair Hughes, Managing Director, Savoir Beds  

Alistair began his career as a strategy consultant, initially based in London but then working in Sydney and Manila with clients ranging across the airline, telecommunications and financial service sectors. The vast majority of clients were large multi-nationals, and wishing to “get his hands dirty”, he went on to became involved with a number of smaller businesses in London from 1994, before, together with Stephen Winston, buying The Bedworks from The Savoy hotel in 1997 and creating Savoir Beds. Starting with two full time craftsman, the business has grown to become a mini multi-national, with 70 craftsmen and women in the UK and 13 showrooms across Europe, the US and Asia.

Philippe Legrain, Founder of OPEN (Open Political Economy Network)

Philippe recently founded an international think-tank, OPEN: the Open Political Economy Network. From 2011 to 2014 he was economic adviser to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and head of the team providing the president with strategic policy advice. Previously he was special adviser to World Trade Organisation director-general Mike Moore and trade and economics correspondent for The Economist.

Hiroshi Matsuura, Minister (Economic), Embassy of Japan to the UK

Mr. Hiroshi Matsuura was appointed Economic Minister to the Embassy of Japan to the United Kingdom in 2014. Having spent nearly two decades in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Matsuura has been the Political Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, Director of International Economy, and Director of Global Issues Cooperation. As well as serving in Embassies in Indonesia, East Timor and Malaysia, he has also been a Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Law and Politics, University of Tokyo and a Visiting Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Chuo University.

This panel discussion will be moderated by Martin Hatfull, former UK Ambassador

Martin has extensive experience of working in and with countries in Asia. Among his senior diplomatic roles he was Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN (2008-11) and served twice in the Embassy in Tokyo, including as Minister. Moving to the private sector, as International Public Affairs Director for Diageo plc he was heavily involved in the company’s major businesses across Asia. He is currently Vice-Chair of the UK-ASEAN Business Council and a member of the Board of the UK-India Business Council. He also advises the UK-Japan 21st Century Group. 

This conference is by invitation only. To register your interest, please contact conor.paterson@asiahouse.co.uk

Note: Following recent political developments globally, Asia House has made the decision to refocus this conference from  ‘Asia in the Services Century’ to ‘A new trade era – what it means for Asia and the UK’. All those who are already registered do not need to take any further action. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

Tweet about this event @asiahouseuk and use the hashtag #NewTradeEra

This conference is organised in partnership with: