Asia Trade Week 2021 | Economist Events | 21 February 2021 | Virtual Event

Covid-19 has hit trade hard. Trade was growing at roughly twice the rate of global GDP but the shock to supply and demand has massively disrupted global value chains and further exposed the vulnerabilities of the international trade system.

Throughout the week of February 22nd 2021, a global audience and world-class speakers will take stock of what happened in 2020, virtually and in-person. Transformed into a hybrid event, Asia Trade Week 2021 will deliver a dynamic 4 days of networking, online panel discussions and masterclasses including 5 live-streamed events from Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Join 850+ business leaders; trade negotiators; policymakers; academics and economists for a week of rigorous discussion into the major factors that will shape the future of trade in Asia and beyond. Register your free place today.

The Economist's philosophy is to tackle issues with a forward looking, uniquely global perspective. We aim to create events for the intellectually curious: people who enjoy ideas and who are passionate about the issues that define our world.

Why Attend?
• Access 4 days of exclusive insights and unlimited networking for free!
• Hear from those at the forefront of the global trade industry and discover new opportunities for growth.
• Shape the evolving dialogue on the way forward for trade and share ideas with decision-makers and innovators.
• Discover the most important trends for global trade in the next five to ten years and learn how they will impact Asia.
• Look at the trade community through a critical lens and assess how businesses are dealing with economic, political and environmental issues.
• Understand how trade can contribute to global economic recovery and the role will Asia play.
• Plan for the future. As the world becomes more dependent on Asia, how will unforeseen events such as covid-19 affect global value chains?
• Get insights into how companies are likely to change and rethink their manufacturing bases, supply chains and customer focus over the medium to long term.
• Network with 850+ industry peers including business leaders; trade negotiators; policymakers; academics and economists.
• Visit our virtual exhibition, connecting you with the solutions providers your business needs.

2021 Speakers

Edward Yau Tang-wah
Secretary for commerce and economic development, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Pamela Coke-Hamilton
Executive director, International Trade Centre

Ceferino Rodolfo
Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines

Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria
Executive director, APEC Secretariat

Sansern Samalapa
Vice Minister for Commerce, Thailand

Jean-Pascal Tricoire
Chairman and Chief Executive, Schneider Electric

Carola Richter
President Asia Pacific, BASF

Benjamin Wong
Head, Transport and Industrial, Invest Hong Kong, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Magesvaran Suranjan
President – Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, P&G

David Wang
President, Asia Pacific, Buhler Group

Nabil Habayeb
President and chief executive, GE International Markets

Charlene Barshefsky
Senior international partner, WilmerHale

Mark Hosty
Anti-Illicit Trade Operations Director – Asia Pacific and MENEAT Regions, JTI

Vandita Pant
Chief commercial officer, BHP

Thadoe Hein
Chairman, Myanma Awba Group

Nicholas Kwan
Director of Research, Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Bobby G. Fondevilla
Executive Director, Investment Assistance Service, Board of Investments Philippines

Susanne Bieller
General Secretary, International Federation of Robotics

Angad Banga
Chief Operating Officer, The Caravel Group

David Rosa
Chief Executive and Co-Founder, Neat

William Fairclough
Managing Director, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Limited

Ndiame Diop
Country Director for Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, World Bank

Ker Gibbs
President, American Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai

Simon Evenett
Professor, international trade, University of St. Gallen

Keyu Jin
Professor of economics, London School of Economics

Marion Jansen
Director - Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD

Lingling Wei
Senior China Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal

Wendy Cutler
Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI)

Helena Konig
Deputy Director General, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission

Merle A. Hinrich
Chief Executive and Founder, Hinrich Foundation

Chris Humphrey
Executive Director, EU-ASEAN Business Council

Holly Lei
President, Covestro China

Kelvin Leung
Chief Executive Officer APAC, DHL Global Forwarding

Craig Burchell
Senior Vice President, Global Trade Affairs, Huawei

Nobuhiko Sasaki
Chairman and Chief Executive, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Heiwai Tang
Professor of Economics, HKU Business School

Sayuri Shirai
Professor, Keio University

Simon Baptist
Chief Economist,The Economist Intelligence Unit

Wu Chen
Managing Director, The Economist Global Business Review

Christopher Clague
Managing Editor, Asia, and Global Editorial Lead, Trade and Globalisation, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Simon Cox
Emerging Markets Editor, The Economist

Henry Curr
Economics Editor, The Economis

Nick Marro
Lead for Global Trade and Analyst, Asia and Access China, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Soumaya Keynes
Editor, Trade and Globalisation, The Economist

Rohit Sahgal
Principal, Global Health (Asia), The Economist Intelligence Unit

2021 Sponsors

GOLD SPONSOR:
• Hinrich Foundation

SILVER SPONSOR:
• Neat

SUPPORTER:
• JTI

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS:
• BrandHK
• Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB)
• Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO)
• Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)
• InvestHK
• Meetings & Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK)