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World Trade Symposium 2021

A global trade resurgence?

PROGRAMMED BY

HOSTED BY

Executive Summary

A global Trade Resurgence

  • What next for trade?
  • A new world order
  • Strong supply chains: equitable and digital
  • Quick-fire presentations: What next for digital trade?
  • Sustainability: for people and climate
  • Future-focused case studies
  • Roundtable insights: Meet the World Trade Board
World Trade Symposium 2021 Executive Summary

Agenda

World Trade Symposium: A global trade resurgence?

Covid-19, protectionism, and global tensions have impacted trade like never before. A 13% decline in trade volumes in 2020 is the World Trade Organisation’s best case scenario. But, with vaccines expected to come to market, and new leaders in the White House and in the WTO, a recovery in 2021 may yet be on the cards.

With this incessant change, what must governments, businesses and international institutions do to put economies, and their own organisations back on track? What lessons from Covid-19 must become embedded into trade frameworks? How can stakeholders leverage digital trade and new technology to enhance resiliency and sustainability? And where do opportunities exist for firms in the post-covid 19 world?

The World Trade Symposium will debate these critical issues, provide practical solutions and uncover new opportunities for businesses across industries and geographies. Our expert speaker faculty of established corporate leaders, trade financiers and policymakers will share the stage with fresh-thinking innovators and startup bosses who aim to make world trade more robust, sustainable and inclusive.

  • Learn how macroeconomic trends will affect your business and investments
  • Examine the latest digital trade technologies and solutions to stay ahead of the competition
  • Evaluate innovative opportunities in sustainable, equal and inclusive trade
  • Hear practical, actionable solutions from corporate leaders, innovators, policymakers and experts to incorporate into your firm’s trade strategy

Tuesday 2 February

New World Order in Trade: What it means for you?

06:00
06:10
MST

Opening remarks and briefing

The new world order: Global outlook and trade trends

Will 2021 be as bumpy as the previous year? In this opening session, we hear from The Economist Intelligence Unit about the outlook for world trade and the global economy for 2021 and beyond.

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
06:10
06:50
MST

Opening keynote panel: Navigating the new normal

A new president in America, a new head of the WTO, post-Brexit opportunities and challenges for Britain, covid-19 vaccines on the horizon, China’s growing influence on the world stage and unrelenting technological innovation to help boost resilience and tackle systemic trade challenges. What will it mean for your business, and what new opportunities await?

Simon Paris
Simon Paris
CEO of Finastra and Chair of the World Trade Board

Moderator

06:50
07:00
MST

Future-focused: Agile trade

Throughout this year’s World Trade Symposium, we feature visionaries, creative thinkers and start-up founders who are questioning accepted approaches, and remaking trade in the process. This first of these sessions will feature an in-depth case study to give attendees a new way to think about the concept of ‘agility’ in business.

Moderator

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
07:00
07:10
MST

Spotlight interview: Nigeria’s road ahead.

Nigeria fell victim to incredible hardship as a consequence of covid-19. How did the government use monetary and fiscal tools to mitigate the fallout?

Zainab Ahmed
Zainab Ahmed
Federal Minister of Finance, Budget & Planning
Nigeria

Moderator

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
07:10
07:50
MST

Insight session: Thriving amid change

The disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic induced different kinds of responses from businesses. While some thrived, some survived and some suffered, the disruption has triggered a response in all sectors and segments.What have corporate leaders and policymakers learned from 2020? How have they adapted to unforeseen and evolving risks, and what strategies did they put in place in response? This session will give viewers a look into the minds of corporate leaders who implemented practical, achievable solutions to manage unprecedented problems. Their takeaways will help attendees cultivate and refine their own approaches.

John Blood
John Blood
Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer
AB InBev
Liren Chen
Liren Chen
Chief IP Officer, SVP, Engineering & Legal Counsel
Qualcomm
Janet De Silva
Janet De Silva
President and Chief Executive Officer
Toronto Region Board of Trade (Canada)

Moderator

07:50
08:00
MST

Spotlight session

Moderator

08:00
08:15
MST

Fireside chat: Canada’s course for growth

Moderator

08:00
09:00
MST

Roundtable: Meet the World Trade Board

Splintered Global Trade – How can business thrive? (By invitation only)

Wednesday 3 February

Digitalising the supply chain: A business imperative

05:00
06:00
MST

Roundtable: Meet the World Trade Board

Digital Trade – The New frontier (By invitation only)

06:00
06:10
MST

Live: Chair’s welcome remarks

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
06:10
07:10
MST

Insight session: Resilient supply chains

Supply-chain disruptions happen, but rarely are as calamitous as those seen during covid-19. The pandemic debilitated critical industries and resulted in widespread shortages in protective equipment, food, medicine and other necessary goods. Yet, a herculean effort by some governments and firms helped avoid catastrophe.In this session, we hear from the companies that experienced breakdowns in their global supply chains and managed to quickly adapt. How did they adjust manufacturing and distribution approaches, work with governments, and keep workers safe and healthy throughout? Speakers will outline which approaches worked best, which technologies have been most effective and what further steps are needed to strengthen supply-chain resilience. Viewers can use these insights as a basis to make their supply chains more robust.

James W. Fraser
James W. Fraser
Global Trade, Trade Structured Solution Head
JPMorgan Chase Bank
Hau Thai-Tang
Hau Thai-Tang
Chief product platform & chief operations officer
Ford
Raj Subramaniam
Raj Subramaniam
President & COO of FedEx, Co-President & Co-CEO of FedEx Services

Moderators

07:10
07:20
MST

Future-focused: How to build a high-performing supply chain

The second ‘future-focused’ session places the spotlight on an innovative business which is rethinking how to build a cost-effective, high-performing supply chain.

Moderator

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
07:20
07:50
MST

Quick-fire presentations

What’s next for digital trade?

Digital trade has many purported benefits, but must be implemented strategically to maximise investment. What new technologies and networks are emerging to make supply chains more robust? How are business leaders tackling cyber security and data-privacy concerns? How can digital trade standards and data governance be made an industry-wide priority to foster greater tech integration? In this session, attendees will learn about how to structure their digital trade and technology strategy according to their industries, geographies and budgets.

Oscar de Bok
Oscar de Bok
Chief Executive Officer DHL Supply Chain, Member of the Board of Management DPDHL Group

Moderator

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
07:50
08:10
MST

Keynote Interview: Reviving business amid chaos

Moderator

Thursday 4 February

Sustaining progress towards a greener future

06:00
06:10
MST

Chair’s welcome remarks

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
06:10
06:40
MST

Ambition vs reality: Fair and inclusive trade

The benefits of globalisation have not been shared equally among all groups and its rise has coincided with widening of income gaps around the world. Companies have faced increasing pressure from consumers and governments to make trade more inclusive, ensuring that communities are beneficiaries of the businesses which rely on them.This session will bring together two viewpoints: one that considers which aspects of globalisation must be retained while the other examines how to incorporate socially responsible trade principles into a redesign of global trade.

Lori Wallach
Lori Wallach
Director and founder
Global Trade Watch, a division of Public Citizen
Marion Jansen
Marion Jansen
Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate (TAD)
OECD

Moderator

06:40
07:00
MST

Panel discussion: Access granted – Making the benefits of trade inclusive and sustainable

Covid-19 has wrought havoc for world trade and the global economy. But out of the ruins, a better trade ecosystem could be within reach – one which is much more sustainable and inclusive, and which shares its benefits equitably. Can businesses, governments and other key stakeholders seize the opportunity?

Moderator

07:00
07:10
MST

Spotlight conversation: Time for a new system?

This session will feature a dynamic leader outlining how they designed a business that sacrifices neither profits nor its social conscience in pursuit of success.

Moderator

07:10
07:20
MST

Future-focused: Can inclusive trade be as profitable?

This session will feature a dynamic leader outlining how they designed a business that sacrifices neither profits nor its social conscience in pursuit of success.

Moderator

07:20
07:40
MST

Interviews Insight session: Uncovering opportunities in eco friendly trade

Doing business responsibly and minimising negative effects on the environment are no longer a matter of choice for most companies. But transitioning away from conventional approaches towards greener ones is rarely seen as cost-effective or easy.In this series of interviews, we invite renowned chief executives and climate visionaries to share their vision for a more eco-friendly trade ecosystem. Attendees will learn about the process of implementing a eco-friendly trade strategy, and the factors that underpin its success.

Vera Songwe
Vera Songwe
UN Under-Secretary-General & Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa
Ann Tracy
Ann Tracy
Chief Sustainability Officer
Colgate-Palmolive

Moderators

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
07:40
08:00
MST

Closing keynote interview: The world in 2030: Trade priorities and prospects

Globalisation was marketed extremely well in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, the focus is shifting towards a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable trade framework.In this session, we invite a world leader to outline trade priorities and ambitions in the post-covid 19 era. Can the ambition become reality, and how will that affect economies, industries, societies and individuals?

Margrethe Vestager
Margrethe Vestager
EU Executive Vice President for the digital area and Commissioner for Competition

Moderator

Christopher Clague
Christopher Clague
Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
08:00
08:05
MST

Closing remarks

Simon Paris
Simon Paris
CEO of Finastra and Chair of the World Trade Board
08:00
09:00
MST

Roundtable: Meet the World Trade Board

The case for sustainable trade (By Invitation only)

Speakers

Vera Songwe

Vera Songwe

UN Under-Secretary-General & Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa
Christopher Clague

Christopher Clague

Managing editor, Asia and global editorial lead, trade and globalisation
The Economist Intelligence Unit
Liren Chen

Liren Chen

Chief IP Officer, SVP, Engineering & Legal Counsel
Qualcomm
Lori Wallach

Lori Wallach

Director and founder
Global Trade Watch, a division of Public Citizen
Janet De Silva

Janet De Silva

President and Chief Executive Officer
Toronto Region Board of Trade (Canada)
Oscar de Bok

Oscar de Bok

Chief Executive Officer DHL Supply Chain, Member of the Board of Management DPDHL Group

Gold Sponsors

J.P. Morgan’s Wholesale Payments business combines the firm’s treasury services, trade, commercial card and merchant services capabilities to help clients pay anyone, in any currency, anywhere in the world. Focused on helping treasury and payments clients navigate changing environments, digital transformation and evolving customer expectations, J.P. Morgan processes $6 trillion payments daily, is the top USD clearer and was the first to offer real-time payment capabilities across USD, GBP and EUR.

www.jpmorgan.com

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is the world’s leading brewer based in Leuven, Belgium. Its diverse portfolio of well over 500 beer brands, including global brands Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois, leverages the collective strengths of 170,000 employees in 50 countries. With centuries of brewing history and building brands using the finest natural ingredients that consumers love, we will continue to bring people together for the next 100 years and beyond.

www.ab-inbev.com

Supporting Sponsors

IHS Markit is the leading source of critical maritime and trade insight, enabling organisations, policy makers and security experts to navigate today’s complex trading environment. Successfully managing inter-connected global supply chains requires a detailed understanding of continually evolving patterns of international trade flows, and with over 90% of international trade being transported by ship, success requires an in-depth understanding of the shipping industry.

Governments, traders, cargo owners and the global shipping industry use IHS Markit maritime and trade intelligence every day to manage complex global supply chains, find sources of competitive advantage, identify new business opportunities, and secure our oceans and borders from potential security risks.

ihsmarkit.com

Media Partners

Established in 2002, Global Trade Review (GTR) is a world-class independent publishing and events company, offering a one-stop shop of news, events and services for companies and individuals involved in global trade.

www.gtreview.com

Trade Finance Global (TFG) is the leading trade finance platform. TFG assists companies to access trade and receivables finance facilities through its relationships with 270+ banks, funds and alternative finance houses. TFG’s award winning educational resources serve an audience of 160k+ monthly readers (6.2m+ impressions) in print & digital formats across 187 countries, covering insights, guides, research, magazines, podcasts, tradecasts (webinars) and video.

www.tradefinanceglobal.com

Legacy Highlights

World Trade Symposium 2019

New York City

Open Trade In An Uncertain World

World Trade Symposium 2018

London

The Future of Trade is Open

World Trade Symposium 2017

London

Transforming Trade