Found at: http://www.competitiveness.org/article/articleprint/752/-1/10/

TCI Regional Conference on Competitiveness and Economic Growth in Asia, Islamabad

Islamabad did host a TCI Regional Conference on Competitiveness and Economic Growth for Asia on May 15 - 16, 2006: Benchmarking Pakistan's Global Competitiveness.

The conference was organised by The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), sponsored by the USAID, and under the Auspices of TCI and the Ministry of Finance, the Government of Pakistan.

TCI President Lars Eklund visited Islamabad on the 20th of February for three days and met high-level Government Officials, representatives from private sector and the heads of the key universities to discuss the regional conference and share his views with Pakistani officials about the international best practice on innovation and competitiveness. You will find a report on his visit very soon on the website.

You can have a look at the program scrolling down on this site.

For an interview with TCI's Acting Vice-president Asia Pacific Arthur Bayhan on the conference and on his view on Pakistan, please follow this link: Read an interview with Arthur Bayhan on the conference

Competitiveness and Economic Growth for Asia: Taking Stock of Pakistan's Global Competitiveness

Asia is the world's fastest growing region led by China whose growth rate will soon make it the world's fourth largest economy. China and India have begun to dominate segments of the global value chain including those, which are knowledge based and where innovation and increased productivity are critical such as IT. The relatively quick emergence of Asia has created substantial opportunities and challenges both to countries in the region and to the heretofore dominant economies of Europe and North America. Asia is attracting the interest of business people, policy makers and academics from all over the world as a market, an investment location, a production platform, and a competitor.

With new articles and books feeding a growing literature on the new Asian markets, it is important to focus on understanding why and how they are improving their competitiveness. The World Economic Competitiveness Report indicates that Asian countries are moving up in the list of more competitive economies yet serious constraints still exist and must be overcome. Which are the leading economic sectors of these countries? How can the other regional countries and those outside the region better benefit from progress made in China and elsewhere in Asia? What programmes and policies would be necessary to develop a competitive economy in this new regional environment? Are there opportunities for a wider intra-regional "pull" factor such as that between Hong Kong and China?

The challenges and opportunities for all countries in the Asian region and for those outside it will form the focus of the Asian regional conference of The Competitiveness Institute (TCI) to be held in Islamabad in May 2006. Competitiveness experts and cluster practitioners and policy makers from Asia and the Pacific will attend the conference to share views on policies necessary for creating a competitive economy. Experts are also expected from other countries that have a keen interest in better understanding the phenomenon of Asia's increasing competitiveness.

The conference will take place in Pakistan to mark Pakistan's determination to improve its competitiveness both regionally and globally. Pakistan sits astride the old silk route and has long been a significant economic player in the region. This will be an opportunity to listen to and exchange ideas with Pakistan's public and private sector leaders engaged in a nationwide dialogue to reposition Pakistan in the global market. The conference will also provide a platform for Pakistan to present its investments and policy reforms intended to create higher value and increase productivity as elements of a nascent competitiveness strategy that will also improve Pakistan's standing in global competitiveness rankings.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

(Please note that the speakers mentioned in the draft agenda are invited but not - in all cases - confirmed)

May 14, 2006 (Sunday)

18:30 Pre - conference workshop: Practicalities of Cluster Development: Experiences and Reflections on the Development of Pakistan Dairy Sector

Moderator: Dr. Arthur Bayhan, Vice President of TCI and CEO of the Competitiveness Support Fund, Pakistan
· Mr. Faisal Farooq, Chairman, Dairy Pakistan
· Mr. Ifor FFOWCS-WILLIAMS, Member of the TCI Board of Advisors and President, Cluster Navigators Ltd. New Zealand
· Dr. Alec Hansen, Vice President of TCI and President of Economic Competitiveness Group, Inc, USA

20:00 Welcome Remarks and Reception
· Remarks by Mr. Lars EKLUND, President of the TCI
· Mr. Jonathan ADDLETON, Director of the USAID Mission to Pakistan
· Mr. Omar AYUB KHAN, Minister of State for Finance, Pakistan

May 15, 2006 (Monday)

09.00 - 09.45 Opening Remarks
· Introductions by Mr. Lars EKLUND, President of the TCI
· H.E, Mr. Ryan - C CROCKER, The US Ambassador to Pakistan
· H.E, Mr. Adahan MADUMAROV, Vice Prime Minister, Kyrgyz Republic
· H.E, Mr. Shaukat AZIZ, Prime Minister, Pakistan

Part I: The Competitiveness Vision in Asia

9:45 - 10:15 Plenary Session:
Inspired the Asian Vision by China?
· Prof. Michael ENRIGHT, Director of Competitiveness Programme, Hong Kong Institute of Economic and Business Strategy

10:15 - 10:45 Coffee Breaks

10:45 - 12:30 Plenary Session:
Moderator: Dr. Alec HANSEN, Vice President of TCI and President of Economic Competitiveness Group, Inc, USA
Pakistan Perspective on a Vision for Domestic and Regional Competitiveness
· Mr. Omar AYUB KHAN
Minister of State for Finance, Pakistan
The Competitiveness Vision of the European Union (The Lisbon Process)
· Dr. Juergen VOSS, Senior Investment Advisor, Ministry of Economy, Germany: Regulatory Framework and Investment Aspect of the Competitiveness Agenda of the EU
· Dr. Per ERIKSSON, Director General, Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems, Sweden: Innovation and R&D Aspect of the Competitiveness Agenda of the EU
A Pacific Rim Vision
· Speaker from the region (TBC)

Discussions

Wrap Up of Part I: Mr. Ifor FFOWCS-WILLIAMS, Member of the TCI Board of Advisors and President, Cluster Navigators Ltd. New Zealand

13:00 - 14:30 Luncheon:
Public-Private Sector Partnerships on Industrial Development
· Mr. Jehangir Khan TAREEN, Minister of Industries,
Production and Special Initiatives, Pakistan

Part II: Competitiveness Obstacles and Opportunities

14:30 - 16:00 Plenary Session (A):
State of the Region Report - Challenges in the State of Affairs in the Region

Moderator: Dr. Lars EKLUND, President of TCI

· Presentation by Robert E. HENNING, Manager at OTF Group, Inc. and Chief of Party, Afghanistan Competitiveness Project (ACP)
· Irene MIA, Senior Economist, Global Competitiveness Network, World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland
· Dr. Alexey N. PRAZDNICHNYKH, Principal, Bauman Innovation Company, Russia
· Discussion

16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break

16:30 - 18:00 Discussion

Wrap Up: Kevin MURPHY, President, J.E Austin Associates, Inc

14:30 - 16:00 Plenary Session (B)

Business Forum: Private Sector Views on Regional Cross-border Co-operation and Competitiveness Challenges
Moderator:Mr. Per SODERLUND, Managing Director, Tetrapak, Pakistan
· Mr. Jagat Shah, Founder and Mentor, Cluster Pulse, India
· Malaysia
· Mr. Md. Mamunur RASHID, Citigroup Country Officer, Citibank N.A., Bangladesh
Discussion

16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break

16:30 - 18:00 Discussion

Wrap Up: Dr. Alec Hansen, Vice President of TCI and President of Economic Competitiveness Group, Inc, USA

Reception/ Dinner 8 p.m. - 10 pm:
Cross-border Co-operation: The Role of Trade in Strengthening the Region's Competitiveness
· Mr. Humayun AKTHER KHAN, Minister of Commerce, Pakistan

May 16, 2006 (Tuesday)

Part III: Strategies for Competitiveness

09:15 - 09:30 Conclusions from the plenary sessions of the previous day by Dr. Alec HANSEN, Vice President of TCI and President of Economic Competitiveness Group, Inc, USA and Mr. Kevin MURPHY, President, J.E Austin Associates, Inc

09:30 - 11:00 Breakout session (A)
Knowledge and Innovation Performance for Sustainable Growth in Asia
Moderator:
· Chairman of the National Innovation Agency, Thailand
· Dr. Per ERIKSSON, Director General of the Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems VINNOVA, Sweden
· Chairman of the Innovation Fund, Kazakhstan
· Dr. Parvez Akhter, Chairman of Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Pakistan

Discussion

09:15 - 10:45 Breakout Session (B)
Skills Upgrading: Repositioning Industry Competitiveness
Moderator: Kevin MURPHY, President, J.E Austin Associates, Inc.
· Mr. Rashid AFTAB, Director, KM Jewlers and member of the Competitiveness Strategy Working Group on Gems Cluster, Pakistan
· India
· Carlos QUINTANA, The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), Spain
· Almas HYDER, Chairman, the Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company, TUSDEC, Pakistan
Discussion

11:00 - 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 - 11:45 Conclusions of the Break out Sessions

11:45 - 13:30 Plenary Session:
Financing of Competitiveness and Economic Growth by Improving Macroeconomic Performance in Asia and Pacific
Moderator and Key Speaker: Dr SALMAN SHAH, Advisor to PM on Finance and Economic Affairs of Pakistan
· Mr. Kabir HASHIM, Former Minister of Education and Training, Government of Sri Lanka
· Minister of Finance of India
· China
· Thailand and Malaysia
Discussion

Wrap Up: Prof. Michael ENRIGHT, Member of TCI Board of Advisors and Director of Competitiveness Programme, Hong Kong Institute of Economic and Business Strategy, University of Hong Kong

13.30 - 14.45 Luncheon:
Key Note: Competitiveness Strategies: Lessons Learned from Ireland
· Mr. Albert REYNOLDS, Chairman, Ireland/Pakistan Business Council, Former Prime Minister, Ireland

Part IV: Action Plan for Competitiveness

14:45 - 16.15 Plenary Session:
Creating a Learning Platform: Asia Pacific Learning Platform
Moderator: Prof. Michael ENRIGHT, Member of TCI Board of Advisors and Director of Competitiveness Programme, Hong Kong Institute of Economic and Business Strategy, University of Hong Kong
· Prof. Dr. Peter HEYDEBRECK, Innovation and Management, University of Linkoeping, Germany: The Learning Platform of the European Union
· Dr. Alec HANSEN, Vice President of TCI and President of Economic Competitiveness Group, Inc, USA
Comments from the delegates

16:15 - 16.45 Coffee Break

16.45 - 17.45 Plenary Session:
Conference Closing Remarks
· Dr. Frederic MIRIBEL, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lyon, France. The TCI Annual Conference of 2006 in Lyon, France
· Dr. Lars EKLUND, President of TCI
· Mr. Omar AYUB KHAN, Minister of State for Finance, Pakistan

Conclusions
· Prof. Michael ENRIGHT, Member of TCI Board of Advisors and Director of Competitiveness Programme, Hong Kong Institute of Economic and Business Strategy, University of Hong Kong

Contributions and Proposals for the program are very welcome. If you are interested to participate as a speaker please contact TCI ( fblunck @ competitiveness.org ) or directly Arthur Bayhan ( Arthur.Bayhan @ telefonica.net ).

Registration
If you would like to register to the conference, please follow this link. The organizers will cover the registration fee including TCI membership.

Contact

Mr. Arthur Bayhan
Tel: +92 3008565277
Arthur.Bayhan @ telefonica.net

Acting Vice-president Asia Pacific,
The Competitiveness Institute - TCI
Chief Executive Officer
The Competitiveness Support Fund - CSF

Read an interview with Arthur Bayhan on the conference

Further Contacts

Mr. Ahmed Afzal
Manager,
Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF)
Cell: +92-345-5004477
Email: ahmedafzal @ gmail.com

Mr. Amir Jahangir
Consultant,
Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF)
Tel:, Cell, +92 - 300 - 8555161
Email: amir.jahangir @ csf.net.pk