Tufts University professor leads speakers line-up at the 2nd Asian Business Conference

MANILA, Philippines–Dr. Laurent L. Jacque, the Walter B. Wriston Professor of International Finance and Banking, and Academic Director of the Masters of International Business of The Fletcher School of Tufts University, leads the line-up of plenary speakers at the 2nd Asian Business Conference to be held at the Makati Shangri-La and Asian Institute of Management (AIM) on June 26-27, 2014.

Dr. Jacque will be leading discussions on what the ASEAN Economic Community will mean for its more than 600 million people—one of the fundamental questions to be addressed by the conference, whose theme, “2015 Approaching: Priming for ASEAN Integration,” sets the tone for businesses as they prepare for the ASEAN Economic Community next year.

Among the other speakers of the conference are: Diosdado “Dado” Banatao, Founder and Managing Partner of Tallwood Venture Capital; DatoPaduka Timothy Ong, Chairman and Founder of the Asia Inc. Forum; Mr. Soon Ghee Chua, Managing Partner for South East Asia of A.T. Kearney; Serge Pun, Executive Chairman of Yoma Strategic Holdings and Serge Pun & Associates; and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ayala Corporation.

“The 2nd Asian Business Conference provides a venue for business leaders to explore opportunities and risks against the backdrop of an ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. The expectations are high in terms of realizing a single production base, an environment of free intra-ASEAN trade, and increased investments, but there are risks and barriers that need to be carefully examined in order to realize this vision,” notes AIM President Dr. Steven J. DeKrey. “Businesses and governments must be able to work together to ensure that the benefits of ASEAN integration will be enjoyed by all people in the region.”

The 2nd Asian Business Conference aims to gather 400 leaders from business, government, the academe, media, and civil society to engage in dialogue that would not only identify opportunities and challenges presented by the ASEAN economic integration, but also to widen networks and explore opportunities for joint initiatives as 2015 draws nearer.

The conference is co-organized by AIM and the AIM Alumni Association. It is also made possible by the following: GoldSponsors – Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, Smart Communications, and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company; Silver Sponsor – San Miguel Corporation; Bronze Sponsors – Goshen Land, Marcventures, Clark Airport Authority; Track Sponsors – Premiere Horizon, Fitch Ratings and Entrepreneur Magazine; Conference Partners – Philippine Airlines, Asian Alliance, Ayala Corporation, First Philippine Holdings, Inc., ING Bank N.V., SyCip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan Law Offices, Acer, Leather Collection, Appleprinters, Inc. and Corporate Giveaways; and Media Partners – Channel News Asia, Oxford Business Group, BusinessWorld, The Philippine Star, Entrepreneur Magazine, INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer and AsianNGO.

For more information, visit https://www.asean.aim.edu/www.asean.aim.edu.