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    Government officials and key brands to take part in Asia House Singapore conference

    Published On: 3 November 2019

    Government ministers and officials from Singapore, the UK and the United Nations will join representatives from major brands including Alibaba, Accenture, Arup, Bukalapak, Jardines, Google and Pfizer for The Asia House Global Trade Dialogue.

    Keynote speeches and Q&As

    • Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, Singapore
    • Arancha González, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, International Trade Centre
    • Stuart Gulliver, Non-Executive Director, Jardine Matheson Holdings, and former Group CEO, HSBC

    With global tensions disrupting trade and creating investment uncertainty, Singapore will be the setting for a major international forum exploring what lies ahead for the world economy.

    The Asia House Global Trade Dialogue will take place in Singapore on Thursday 7 November and brings together senior figures from business and policy to discuss the big changes taking place across geopolitics, technology and commerce in Asia and beyond.

    Mr S Iswaran (pictured), Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, Singapore, will give a keynote speech.

    The conference, which will focus on finding solutions to the challenges affecting world trade, will also feature Q&A sessions with Arancha González, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, International Trade Centre, and Stuart Gulliver, Non-Executive Director, Jardine Matheson Holdings, and former Group CEO, HSBC.

    The Asia House Global Trade Dialogue comes amid a US-China trade war which is disrupting investment and production flows. While some countries, such as those in Southeast Asia, have seen benefits from the trade war, the wider impact is creating a challenging global environment.

    Trade relations are also eroding between Japan and South Korea, while China’s economy continues to slow.

    At the same time, the digital revolution is thriving in Asia, heralding major opportunities and creating new markets for tech players across the region. The disruption that digitisation will bring, from job displacement to business model redesigns, will have a profound economic and social impact in Asia.

    Sponsored by Arup, Accenture and Pfizer, with The Straits Times the official media partner, the Asia House Global Trade Dialogue will feature panels focusing on trade policy and geopolitical development; disruptive innovation; and the future of infrastructure across Asia, including the rise of smart cities.

    Lord Green, Chairman of Asia House and former UK Trade Minister, said:

    “With the US-China trade war, the disruption of the digital revolution, and a raft of security tensions simmering across Asia, these are challenging times for trade and investment in the region. Asia House is therefore pleased to be returning to Singapore for the Asia House Global Trade Dialogue, which will explore the big changes taking place in Asia with those who are shaping them.

    “It is particularly pleasing to see such broad representation from governments, the United Nations and an array of major global brands at this year’s dialogue, which builds on our successful conference in Singapore last year.”

    Other speakers taking part in this important dialogue include Natalie Black, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, UK Government; Barbara Weisel, former US Assistant Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific; and Dr David Hardoon, Special Advisor (Artificial Intelligence), Monetary Authority of Singapore.

    They will be joined by speakers from Alibaba, Accenture, Arup, Bukalapak, Cisco, Google, Jardines, Pfizer, Ripple and more.

    The conference is supported by The Straits Times as part of a strategic partnership with Asia House aimed at driving mutual engagement with Asian and European markets. Asia House will be sharing The Straits Times content across its channels.

    Mr Warren Fernandez, editor-in-chief, The Straits Times and Singapore Press Holdings’ English, Malay and Tamil Media Group, said: “The Straits Times has been covering Asia for decades, serving audiences in the region and beyond, and we are delighted to partner with Asia House to bring our brand of objective, insider insights on Asia to a wider audience, through its events and platforms.

    “At a time when global trade issues are a major concern all round, this collaboration will offer much scope for meaningful exchanges of ideas and content.”

    The Asia House Global Trade Dialogue follows the successful Asia House conference in Singapore in 2018, which brought hundreds of delegates together to hear insights from leading figures from across global business and policy.

    Find out more, view the full agenda and register interest now at www.globaltradedialogue.org