The race is on for leaders of the world economy to build a stable recovery and chart a new course for durable growth and lasting prosperity. The stakes are high: the world, with a 7-billion strong population, faces mounting obstacles on its track, with risks such as high oil prices, unemployment, volatile financial markets, and the competition for resources. In the developed world, policymakers must balance the need for austerity to address debt concerns, while providing enough stimulus to generate growth. Emerging countries are the rising economic powers of the world, but they face a more moderate outlook for growth after years of breakneck expansion. As the world economy regains its footing, how can leaders of economic governance keep crisis at bay and put in motion the right policies that will bolster confidence among investors, companies and consumers? How can global CEOs and entrepreneurs take the reins and lead the pack with both speed and endurance? How can they strategize to be the first in the most promising markets and dominate? How should leaders who are facing voters run for power? Beyond the finish line, the champions will mark their success in the winners circle. There is no better place than Dubai, a global city ascending in the new world order, to engage the top minds in business on how to win the race ahead.
| 08:30 | Registration desk opens Madinat Arena, Conference Center |
| 18:00-21:30 | Opening night reception and gala dinner Joharah Ballroom Opening remarks by Rich Karlgaard, Publisher, Forbes magazine Remarks by Mike Perlis, President and CEO, Forbes Media Session I Joharah Ballroom A Meeting of Minds: An interview with Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Media and H.E. Mohammed Al Shaibani, Director General of H.H. The Ruler's Court, Government of Dubai, CEO & Executive Director of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, by Cecilia Zecha, Senior Director, Programming, Forbes Asia |
| 07:30 | Registration desk opens Madinat Arena, Conference Center |
| 07:30 | Standing networking breakfast Joharah Ballroom Foyer |
| 08:30 | Opening remarks by Rich Karlgaard, Publisher, Forbes magazine |
| 08:45 | Session II Joharah Ballroom Racing against the odds The road to recovery from the Great Recession has proved to be tougher than expected. Mounting hurdles are ahead: Europe's sovereign debt crisis threatens to undermine global growth and destabilize the international financial system, and the future of its currency union is uncertain. America's recovery is fragile, and emerging economies are vulnerable to the knock-on effects of a sustained downturn in the West. Growth in China is easing while Japan is on the mend from natural disaster. And social and political change in parts of the Middle East, a region with vital energy reserves, significant sovereign wealth and cutting-edge infrastructure, can impact economic expansion. What is the outlook for the global economy? What will be the new engines of growth and investment opportunities amid a landscape of looming catastrophes? Free trade is at the cornerstone of global economic prosperity. What are the prospects for world leaders to chart a new course on trade policy, especially on issues such as trade imbalances and currency levels, and lower barriers and strengthen protection of intellectual property? Moderated by Tim Ferguson, Editor, Forbes Asia Confirmed speakers: Steve H. Hanke, Professor of Applied Economics and Co-Director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise, The Johns Hopkins University Liang Xinjun, Vice Chairman and CEO, Fosun International Ltd. Enrique K. Razon, Jr., Chairman and President, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman, Hang Lung Properties Ltd. |
| 09:55 | Session III Joharah Ballroom Backing the right horse Investors in search of both safety and high returns in global financial markets face daily headlines about Europe's sovereign debt crisis, America's fiscal cliff, China's slowing economy, and other risks that could lead to another global recession. Pledges by the ECB to do all it can to save the euro, and by the Fed to keep printing money until US unemployment abates, are encouraging in the short term. But such measures can have negative consequences on future growth. How should investors view the global economic and investment landscape, and make sound choices about where to allocate capital? Given the scale of the risks, what kind of rewards can be expected? Where can investors find value? Is it more important than ever to assess the impact of political risks on investments? As the world economy faces an extended period of uncertainty and market volatility, how should pension funds, corporations and individuals pick between stock and bonds, distressed debt, currencies, gold and other commodities, private equity and venture capital, derivatives and hedge funds and other assets? What is the outlook for the global real estate sector, and how best can investors gain exposure to bricks and mortar? Moderated by Rich Karlgaard, Publisher, Forbes magazine Confirmed speakers: Antoine Firmenich, Founding Partner, Alatus Capital, Managing Director, Aquilus Pte Ltd., Chairman, Sentarom Sandiaga Uno, Founding Partner, Saratoga Capital Steven Pan, Chairman, Regent Hotels and Resorts Arif Masood Naqvi, Group CEO, Abraaj Capital Marilyn Cohen, CEO, Envision Capital Management, Inc. |
| 10:55 | Session IV Joharah Ballroom On the board The goal in any race is to win and CEOs of global companies strive to be among the leaders of their industries. Yet the corporate landscape is littered with bankruptcies, foreclosure signs and unemployment queues, and much of the current turmoil is unprecedented. Strategies and growth models born out of conventional wisdom in the past may be outdated. How are leading companies raising their competitive edge? How are they using the cash in their pockets to invest their way out of a recession, rather than save? Is now the time to spend heavily on R&D, hire talent, push the envelope on innovation, make acquisitions, reposition themselves to appeal to new customers, pioneer new industries and develop promising ventures that grow revenues? What strategies enable companies to take risks that will pay off? Moderated by Cecilia Zecha, Senior Director, Programming, Forbes Asia Confirmed speakers: Ahmad Bin Byat, CEO, Dubai Holding Beth A. Brooke, Global Vice Chair – Public Policy, Ernst & Young Fu Jun, President and CEO, Macrolink Group Anand C. Burman, Chairman, Dabur India Ltd. Yoshihiko Miyauchi, Chairman and CEO, ORIX Corporation Teresita Sy-Coson, Vice Chairperson, SM Investments Corporation |
| 12:00 | Networking break Joharah Ballroom Foyer |
| 12:30 | Lunch and Session V Joharah Ballroom A Meeting of Minds: Steve Forbes talks to HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman, Kingdom Holding Company |
| 14:15 | Session VI Joharah Ballroom Champions in the making From an economic desert to a vibrant metropolis, what are the building blocks that make thriving cities rise to prominence? Emerging cities are eager to become dynamic urban centers that attract capital and talent. What development models and incentives allow policymakers to create an ecosystem ideal for entrepreneurs and foreign investors? How should policies on taxation, regulation and immigration be addressed? Is it possible to keep costs down in a city that is on the way up? Investing productively in infrastructure can build connectivity that positions cities at the center of global trade, finance and tourism. How best to invest in everything from shipyards to docks, ports and telecoms, sports arenas and museums, hotels and resorts – and avoid getting too crowded? And how can rising cities win the race to retain the most skilled human capital with the right universities and institutes of higher learning and skills training? Moderated by Russell Flannery, Senior Editor, Forbes magazine Confirmed speakers: H.E. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World John Quelch CBE, Professor, Vice President and Dean, China Europe International Business School Sir Gordon Wu, Chairman, Hopewell Holdings Ltd. Chao Teng-Hsiung, Chairman, Farglory Group Raza Jafar, CEO, Enshaa Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and CEO, Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee |
| 15:20 | Session VII Joharah Ballroom Riding the energy and commodities boom The world's population has hit 7 billion and demand for all sources of energy and commodities is greater than ever. Coal, oil, natural gas, shale, nuclear power, water, electricity, wind, solar power, biofuels and agricultural products are among our essential resources. What is the outlook for the global marketplace to keep providing adequate supply of these resources and at stable prices? How is it affected by potential shocks stemming from geopolitical risks, extreme weather and disruptive technologies? As we seek to diversify our resources and avoid dependence, how are entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, policymakers and scientists evaluating the risks and acting on the opportunities? Energy efficiency is also vital to improving sustainability, by designing buildings that operate more cleverly, cars that get more miles to the gallon, factories that adopt cleaner technologies, and planes that get better mileage in the skies. But at what cost and how could it be regulated? Moderated by Tim Ferguson, Editor, Forbes Asia Confirmed speakers: Anthony Pratt, Global Chairman, Visy Henrietta H. Fore, Chairman and CEO, Holsman International, Director, ExxonMobil Corporation Douglas Hsu, Chairman and CEO, Far Eastern Group Peter Seligmann, Chairman and CEO, Conservation International Sri Prakash Lohia, Group Chairman, Indorama Group G V Sanjay Reddy, Vice Chairman, GVK |
| 16:25 | Session VIII Joharah Ballroom Fast track with technology and innovation New technologies and innovation are driving revolutionary change across the world. Social networks are empowering people to connect, share ideas and form influential communities. Mobile connectivity is allowing people to do countless things online, anywhere, anytime. More people living in developing countries are plugging right into the modern economy with their cell phones and tablets. Companies are increasingly adopting new technologies – especially tools in social media – to adapt their growth models, develop new revenue streams, and bring better products and services to market, across sectors such as education, healthcare, transportation, energy, media and entertainment, music and art. How are these and other emerging trends enabling governments, companies and entrepreneurs to harness the power of tech and innovation? Moderated by Mike Perlis, President and CEO, Forbes Media Confirmed speakers: Jim Goodnight, CEO, SAS Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon Ltd. Anindya Novyan Bakrie, CEO, Bakrie Telecom, Chairman, VIVA Ken Hu, Rotating CEO and Deputy Chairman, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, CEO, Etisalat Group Eduardo Saverin, Co-Founder & Investor, Facebook |
| 17:30 | Closing remarks for day one by Rich Karlgaard, Publisher, Forbes magazine |
| 17:30- 18:00 |
Transportation departs from the Transportation Meeting Point of the Madinat Conference Hall Entrance for a reception and gala dinner at the Armani Pavilion and Armani Ballroom, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, hosted by the Government of Dubai and Falcon & Associates |
| 18:30-21:30 | Reception and gala dinner Session IX Keynote address by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Session X In Conversation: Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Media and H.E. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties PJSC, moderated by Cecilia Zecha, Senior Director, Programming, Forbes Asia |
| 21:30 | Transportation departs for Madinat Jumeirah |
| 07:30 | Registration desk opens Madinat Arena, Conference Center |
| 07:30 | Standing networking breakfast Joharah Ballroom Foyer |
| 08:45 | Opening remarks by Rich Karlgaard, Publisher, Forbes magazine Joharah Ballroom |
| 09:00 | Session XI Joharah Ballroom Crossing to the lead Visionaries, trailblazers, innovators – world class entrepreneurs are a dynamic breed of leaders who launch new businesses, open markets, create jobs and build value. They often spot trends, anticipate demand, take calculated risks and cut ahead of the competition. Yet crossing to the lead in today's challenging economic environment is not easy. What do these leaders do differently? How do they deliver consistent performance on growth, expand economies of scale, keep up with technology, manage finances and pioneer new industries? Perhaps better than anyone, entrepreneurs dare to experiment and are not afraid to make mistakes. How can one learn to recover from setbacks and understand that success and failure are not polar opposites but two sides of the same coin? Moderated by Moira Forbes, Publisher, ForbesWoman Confirmed speakers: H.E. Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman, Abdulla Al Ghurair Group, CEO, Mashreq Group Chairul Tanjung, Chairman, CT Corporation Kathy Ireland, CEO and Chief Designer, kathy ireland Worldwide Malvinder Mohan Singh, Executive Chairman, Fortis Healthcare Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Chairman and CEO, WL Ross & Co. LLC |
| 10:15 | Session XII Joharah Ballroom Toward greener pastures Philanthropy has come through the financial crisis remarkably well. Billionaires are pledging to give their wealth away, entrepreneurs of a new generation are giving strategically, and companies are sharpening their focus on their CSR initiatives. How are today's agents of change and social innovators leveraging their financial resources, ideas and relationships to alleviate poverty, support conservation, advance medical research, promote art and culture as well as sports and community? How are they investing in girls and women in poor communities? What are the best strategies for philanthropists to invest in education? At the same time, how can universities and institutes of higher learning groom the next generation of givers and social leaders by developing their philanthropic values? Moderated by Cecilia Zecha, Senior Director, Programming, Forbes Asia Confirmed speakers: Dr. Tahir, Chairman and CEO, Mayapada Group Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO, Acumen Fund Joseph E. Aoun, President, Northeastern University Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO, X PRIZE Foundation Timothy Fok, Chairman, Fok Ying Tung Group |
| 11:30 | Networking break Joharah Ballroom Foyer |
| 12:00 | Lunch and Session XIII Joharah Ballroom Enlarging the winners circle The financial crisis has been a profound awakening for leaders everywhere. How best can policymakers, business and thought-leaders reflect on the challenges of the past and extract the right lessons? As the global power shift from West to East gathers pace, how will the new world order emerge, and how should competing countries and leading companies adapt and prosper? Prosperity is no longer defined by a nation's GDP or material wealth alone, but measured by other forms of 'capital' such as rule of law, governance, health, security, freedom and entrepreneurship. As the world regains stability, what are the right tools to replant the seeds of a broader prosperity? Moderated by Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Media Confirmed speakers: Lindsay Fox, Founder, Linfox Mohamed Mansour, Chairman, Mansour Group Dhanin Chearavanont, Chairman and CEO, Charoen Pokphand Group Xiang Wenbo, President, Sany Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. |
| 14:15 | Closing remarks by Rich Karlgaard, Publisher, Forbes magazine End of 12th annual Forbes Global CEO Conference |