2021 Agenda

Thursday, October 28

Keynote Remarks:
(in order of appearance)

Vinai Thummalapally
Acting Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency

Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Minister of External Affairs, Government of India

Jose W. Fernandez
Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, U.S. Department of State

Promoting a Worker-Centric Trade Policy in the Indo-Pacific to Facilitate Sustainable

and Equitable Economic Recovery and Resilience

While linkages between trade and labor have been a feature of trade agreements and preference programs, public-private engagements to promote business have not always included workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the economic inequality and disproportionate impact on workers throughout the world, including the Indo-Pacific region, and revealed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. Therefore, dialogue and cooperation between governments, businesses, and workers is essential to promoting a sustainable economic recovery, and to ensure populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic are not left behind.

Trade and trade policies can support efforts to protect worker rights and improve working conditions, which in turn can reduce trade barriers, promote foreign investment, and contribute to inclusive economic growth. In addition, governments and businesses must also work together create a fair, rules-based international trading system, which includes ensuring global supply chains do not include forced labor and other exploitative labor practices.

To build understanding of the role of trading partners in the Indo-Pacific region including governments and businesses in protecting workers, the panel will highlight positive examples of public-private partnerships in the region working to promote internationally recognized labor standards, including those where workers have a prominent role.

      • Co-moderator: Ambassador Katherine Tai
        U.S. Trade Representative, The Office of the United States Trade Representative
      • Co-moderator: Marty Walsh
        Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor
      • Wai-Chan Chan
        Managing Director, The Consumer Goods Forum
      • Muhammad Lufti
        Minister of Trade, The Republic of Indonesia
      • Shoya Yoshida
        General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation – Asia Pacific

Mobilizing Private Investment for Build Back Better World (B3W) Infrastructure Priorities

There is an enormous need for infrastructure in developing countries —but infrastructure that is low-quality, feeds corruption, or exacerbates environmental degradation may only end up contributing to greater challenges for countries over time. When done the right way, however—with transparent, sustainable, and catalytic investments— infrastructure can be the strong foundation that spurs growth and prosperity in low- and middle-income societies.

This was the impetus behind President Biden and the G7 Leaders’ announcement of the Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative in June. B3W is a values-driven, high-standard, and transparent infrastructure partnership in an effort to galvanize the energy, attention, and funding needed to help low- and middle-income countries meet the infrastructure needs to succeed in the 21st century. Together with the private sector, other U.S. stakeholders, and G7 partners, the United States will aim to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars of infrastructure investment across the globe.

The panel will discuss investment opportunities and financing structures that draw in private investors. Panelist will also highlight areas in which investors see opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region, and the markers investors seek within projects in the region.

  • Opening Remarks: Daleep Singh
    Deputy National Security Advisor, National Security Council
  • Moderator: Larry McDonald
    Acting Assistant Secretary for International Markets, U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • Rahul Agrawal
    Director, Actis
  • Abhijit Datta
    Managing Director, SCG International Corporation
  • Keith Lawson
    General Manager and Senior Vice President of Asia-Pacific and Middle East Business, Jacobs Engineering
  • Fuat Savas
    Managing Director, Infrastructure Finance and Advisory, JP Morgan

Mobilizing Private Investment for Build Back Better World (B3W) Infrastructure Priorities

There is an enormous need for infrastructure in developing countries —but infrastructure that is low-quality, feeds corruption, or exacerbates environmental degradation may only end up contributing to greater challenges for countries over time. When done the right way, however—with transparent, sustainable, and catalytic investments— infrastructure can be the strong foundation that spurs growth and prosperity in low- and middle-income societies.

This was the impetus behind President Biden and the G7 Leaders’ announcement of the Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative in June. B3W is a values-driven, high-standard, and transparent infrastructure partnership in an effort to galvanize the energy, attention, and funding needed to help low- and middle-income countries meet the infrastructure needs to succeed in the 21st century. Together with the private sector, other U.S. stakeholders, and G7 partners, the United States will aim to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars of infrastructure investment across the globe.

The panel will discuss investment opportunities and financing structures that draw in private investors. Panelist will also highlight areas in which investors see opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region, and the markers investors seek within projects in the region.

Expanding Internet Access in The Indo Pacific to Bridge the Digital Divide and Increase Economic Growth and Connectivity

A 2020 International Telecommunication Union report estimated that only 45 percent of individuals in Asia and the Pacific have access to the Internet. Rural areas significantly lag behind urban areas for Internet access, and a lack of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills and training impedes Internet use for many, particularly women and other disadvantaged communities. In addition to a rural/urban digital divide, there is also a digital gender divide as women access the Internet at a much lower percentage than men, complicating efforts to deliver essential information and government services and participate in the digital economy.

Safe, interoperable, reliable and affordable internet access can lift communities out of poverty by enabling access to the digital economy which, in turn, reduces education gaps between urban and rural communities, and increases access to information and services, including vital health services during the Covid pandemic. By investing in broadband, wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi), and other technologies, governments and the private sector can help bridge inequities across communities and create lasting change which affords the global citizenry access to the technology increasingly necessary to live meaningful, productive lives. Government and industry collaborations are essential to creating more sustainable and inclusive economies, which, in turn, will be critical to long-term global economic growth and social cohesion.

  • Moderator: Stephen Anderson
    U.S. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Policy, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State
  • John Baker
    Senior Vice President of Business Development, Mavenir
  • Hsueh-Hai Hu
    Vice President, Mobile Business Group, Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.
  • Richard Verma
    General Counsel and Head of Global Public Policy, Mastercard

Concurrent Breakouts

Fostering Entrepreneurship and Digital Innovation in Bangladesh and the Indo-Pacific

As Bangladesh celebrates the 50th anniversary of independence, its economic growth has consistently ranked among the top nations in the Indo-Pacific. A focus on robust internet penetration, accelerated digitization, adaptability to the evolving digital ecosystem, and openness to human-centric solutions will be crucial to fostering inclusive economic growth over the next fifty years and achieving the country’s “Digital Bangladesh” vision. 

What can Bangladesh and other Indo-Pacific nations do to build entrepreneur- and startup-friendly environments and promote digital innovation? What ingredients are necessary to help the digital economy grow and how can nations promote digital trade? This session will draw lessons from the stories of both U.S. and Bangladeshi firms, including entrepreneurs with deep linkages to U.S. institutions, who are creating dynamic solutions for the region in healthcare, logistics, and more. 

  • Opening Remarks: Ambassador Earl Miller
    U.S. Ambassador, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
  • Moderator: Sahra English
    Vice President, Global Public Policy, Mastercard
  • Rahat Ahmed
    Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer,  Anchorless Bangladesh
  • Shahir Chowdhury
    Chief Executive Officer, Shikho
  • Sabhanaz Rashid Diya
    Head of Public Policy – Bangladesh, Facebook
  • Afeef Zubaer Zaman
    Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ShopUp
  • Closing Remarks: Zunaid Ahmed Palak
    State Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Government of Bangladesh

Resilient Healthcare Systems: Lessons Learned to Prepare for the Future

A strong and reliable healthcare system is a critical and integral component to delivering safe and effective high-quality care. However, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed points of fragility across global healthcare systems relating to supply chain failures, regulatory restrictions, manufacturing issues in pharmaceuticals, shortages of medical devices and workforce availability among many others. To mitigate these challenges, strengthening and increasing the flexibility of our healthcare systems is crucial. The region offers numerous emerging and developed markets with great potential for healthcare industry to diversify, build resiliency, and reduce overreliance on a single market. Many economies in the Indo-Pacific region are quickly emerging as attractive, alternative destinations for industrial operations. Governments have been taking note of these movements and are implementing measures to attract new investments. Looking ahead & re-emerging from this pandemic, the expert panel will discuss challenges that led to disruptions and opportunities for strengthening and expanding cooperation across the Indo-Pacific for healthcare infrastructure & technology, improve the resiliency and security of supply chain networks and building health workforce. This panel was organized in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

  • Moderator: Dr. Sangita Reddy
    Past President, FICCI & JMD- Apollo Hospitals Group
  • Dr. Dale Huntington
    Senior Director, Health Care Systems for Emerging Markets, Johnson and Johnson, Singapore
  • Vibhav Garg
    Director, Government Affairs Strategy, Boston Scientific India Hub
  • Krishna Nacha
    Senior Vice President, Head of Global Business Service, Wipro Ltd
  • Jo Peddhinti
    Principal Consultant on Digital Healthcare Solutions, IQVIA

Positioning the Indo-Pacific as a Leading Global Transportation Logistics Hub

Rising costs in traditional manufacturing hubs and supply chain instability, as well as a surging e-commerce market, have presented India and the broader Indo-Pacific region with an opportunity to stimulate regional economic recovery and growth by becoming an attractive alternative for manufacturing operations and reliable freight movement. Building this competitive advantage requires more fully integrating Indo-Pacific supply chains, promoting greater regional connectivity, and developing robust, diverse, and efficient logistics, freight, and transportation infrastructure, including multimodal hubs and first and last-mile connectivity.

  • Moderator: Vinayak Chatterjee
    Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry’s National Council on Infrastructure
  • Takeo Konishi
    Director, Asian Development Bank, India
  • Kawal Preet
    Regional President, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, FedEx Express
  • Akhil Saxena
    Vice President, Customer Fulfillment Operations, APAC, MENA & LATAM, Amazon

Remarks:

Myron Brilliant
Executive Vice President and Head of the International Affairs Division, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Concurrent Breakouts

Bridging the Gender Digital Divide in South Asia:
Digital Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the realization of human rights. A woman multiplies the impact of an investment made in her future by extending benefits to the world around her, creating a better life for her family, and building a stronger community. Yet, as digital technology has become an increasingly important tool for education, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and civic participation, women and girls are being left behind. In South Asia, an estimated 52 percent of the women are without mobile phones, and only six percent of funded tech startups since 2018 had at least one female founder. This gap, which reflects the inequalities between men and women in terms of digital technology access and use, has grown steadily over the past three years.

It is vital that women and girls are actively included in digital and technological gains and allowed to participate equally in the digital economy. Large technology companies have deployed millions of dollars into addressing the various aspects of this divide, using a variety of community-centric models. Given the high rate of technology penetration and education, South Asia has become a proving ground for many such models which go on to achieve global scale.

This 50-minute panel session, convened by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will focus on analyzing the various models adopted by private-sector tech enterprises in South Asia to address the gender digital divide and how they translate into social transformation in communities and value-creation at the corporate level. USAID is committed to bridging the gender digital divide by overcoming the barriers to women’s access and meaningful use of digital technology.

  • Moderator: Elsa D’Silva
    Founder and Chief Executive Officer, RedDot Foundation
  • Joyeeta Das
    Group Program Manager, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, IBM India and South Asia
  • Anirban Mukerji
    Head of Qualcomm for Good, India and S.E. Asia, Qualcomm 

Unleashing Energy Innovation for Transformative Climate Action

Energy demand in the Indo-Pacific is growing rapidly. As home to several of the world’s major greenhouse gas emitters and energy consumers, the region holds strong potential to significantly reduce global emissions by accelerating the transition to clean energy. Advancing this shift is an enormous economic opportunity and the Indo-Pacific region contains most of the world’s $23 trillion worth of climate investment opportunity through 2030 according to the International Finance Corporation. As countries in the Indo-Pacific commit to ambitious climate goals and achieving net-zero emissions, the need for innovative solutions has never been greater or more urgent. This panel will showcase innovative technologies that are being developed to tackle the climate crisis and accelerate clean energy transitions; identify measures needed to demonstrate and deploy these innovations; and highlight ongoing efforts to bring these technologies to market in the Indo-Pacific.

  • Opening Remarks: John Kerry
    Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, U.S. Department of State
  • Moderator: Gauri Jauhar
    Executive Director, Energy Transition & Clean Tech Global Consulting, IHS Markit
  • Nathaniel Dean
    Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State
  • Jillian Evanko
    President and Chief Executive Officer, Chart Industries, Inc
  • Sumant Sinha
    Chairman and Managing Director, ReNew Power

Climate-Smart Transportation Infrastructure for a Resilient and Sustainable Future

The climate crisis threatens the global transportation system and has reinforced the urgent need to develop more climate-resilient and adaptive transportation infrastructure solutions to help protect against extreme weather, sea-level rise, and other climate change impacts, while also contributing to the decarbonization of the transport sector. To help accelerate industry-driven approaches, in April 2021, in conjunction with the Leaders Summit on Climate, President Biden launched the U.S. Trade and Development Agency’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure – an initiative with U.S. industry and government partners to deliver clean energy and transportation solutions to emerging markets around the world. This Panel will bring together senior-level government and business representatives to share actions being taken to facilitate and promote investments in climate-smart and sustainable transportation infrastructure development, while promoting strong economic growth across the Indo-Pacific region.

  • Moderator: Carol A. Petsonk
    Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Vinai Thummalapally
    Acting Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency
  • Eugene D. Seroka
    Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles
  • Ashish Kumar Singh
    Additional Chief Secretary (Transport & Ports), Government of Maharashtra
  • Paul Stith
    Associate Vice President, Global Transportation Initiatives, Black & Veatch

Pathways to Indo-Pacific Integration: A Discussion with India’s Chief Economic Advisor

A spirited conversation about what it will take for the Indo-Pacific to become greater than the sum of its parts. India’s Chief Economic Advisor will speak about how far economic recovery has gone in the region and how governments can stimulate the economy. Krishnamurthy Subramanian will take time to talk about India’s economic recovery, including financial and structural economic reforms that the government has undertaken to spur economic recovery, and how those changes are making India an increasingly attractive partner for businesses seeking to diversity supply chains and invest in the region.

Remarks:

Deepak Bagla
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Invest India

Concurrent Breakouts

Role of Private Sector in Low Carbon Future

Countries in the Indo-Pacific region are setting ambitious targets for a sustainable and low-carbon future and are making significant investments to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to pursue an aggressive decarbonization path. According to IRENA, planned investment in clean energy should increase by 30% for 1.5o C pathway, while there is a significant gap between the region’s requirement and what is currently available. A coordinated response between the public and private sectors is critical in this regard, especially for developing economies where public finances are insufficient to meet developmental needs. Additionally, given the sector’s nature, private companies are far more capable of influencing technology shifts and adoption on a much larger scale than public companies. The panel will examine the role private sector can play in driving the region’s low carbon growth strategy, highlight ongoing examples of private sector climate action leadership, explore avenues to increase private sector engagement in decarbonization, and identify measures necessary to accelerate the low carbon transition through innovations in technology, finance, supply chain management and policy.

  • Moderator: Nolty Theriot
    Senior Vice President – Government Affairs, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF)
  • Sanjib Bezbaroa
    Executive Vice President, Corp EHS & Sustainability, ITC
  • Kamesh Gupta
    Chief, Graphene Business, Innoventure and Innovation, Tata Steel
  • Ken Haig
    Head, Energy & Environment Policy, Asia Pacific & Japan, Amazon Web Services
  • Vineet Mittal
    Chairman, Avaada

Start-ups and Innovation – Catalysts for Global Businesses

As countries in the Indo-Pacific seek options for greater flexibility and potential relocation in value chains and production chains, corporates are seeing innovation and collaboration with start-ups as the optimal way to survive. The Indo-Pacific region is home to many high-powered, successful start-ups. However, the key to sustained success, beyond the initial start-up phase is keeping up with the pace of innovation in the market. Challenges that can derail innovation and start-up success include finding new customer bases and suppliers, navigating local laws and regulations, and meshing corporate and start-up culture. Only by understanding both macro trends and local market realities can start-ups and corporates partner to leverage opportunities in global markets. This panel was organized in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

  • Moderator: Avnish Sabharwal
    Managing Director, Accenture Ventures and Open Innovation, India
  • Nikhil Deshpande
    Director of Product Development, Intel Corporation
  • Sruthi Kannan
    Head, Cisco LaunchPad
  • Siddarth Pai
    Founding Partner and Chief Financial Officer, 3one4 Capital

Executive Leadership Roundtable: Supply Chain Resiliency

Interconnected value chains underpin shared prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The world is now dealing with the impact of disruptions to global supply chains caused by COVID-19. To explore how more resilient supply chains can help nations address pressing climate, food security, health, digital, and social needs, including gender equity and inclusive economic development, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez, will lead a moderated discussion with senior executives of leading multinational companies. These participants will share their corporate experiences, challenges, and responses to managing supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 and exchange ideas and corporate best practices about how supply chain diversification can improve the resiliency of their global operations. Looking beyond COVID-19, WEConnect International, a global network that connects women-owned business to qualified buyers around the world, will discuss its work to support corporate efforts to achieve more inclusive supplier diversity.

  • Moderator: Jose W. Fernandez
    Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, U.S. Department of State
  • Sarah Murphy
    Chief Procurement Officer, United
  • Marcel Smits
    Chairman Asia/Pacific & Head of Strategy, Cargill
  • Joe Taets
    President of ADM Asia Pacific, ADM
  • Elizabeth Vasquez
    Chief Executive Officer, WEConnect International
  • Ray Pittard
    Executive Vice President, Supply Chain, Engineering, IT, Trane Technologies
  • Kehat Shahar
    Corporate Vice President, Global Supply Chain, Micron Technology

Friday, October 29

Opening Remarks:

Vinai Thummalapally
Acting Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency

Dato Dr. Amin Liew
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy, Government of Brunei

Concurrent Breakouts

Pacific Opportunities in E-Commerce

Join U.S. Embassy Suva, Fiji and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) for a dialogue on the Pacific’s potential for digital growth. E-commerce is one of the five priorities of PIF’s Pacific Aid-for-Trade Strategy 2020-2025, noting its potential to narrow distances and trade costs, and to promote diversification of Pacific economies. There is a growing demand for the U.S. private sector to implement the shift to e-commerce in the Pacific. This event will introduce opportunities for potential partnerships as the region works to develop its digital economy. The PIF is the premier inter-governmental organization in the Pacific formulating regional trade policy.

  • Opening Remarks: Henry Puna
    Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum
  • Moderator: Austin Lewis
    Economic Officer, U.S. Embassy Suva
  • Tony Greubel
    Chargé d’ Affaires a.i., U.S. Embassy Suva
  • Zarak Khan
    Director Programmes and Initiatives, Pacific Islands Forum
  • Jennifer Ula-Fruean
    Vice Chairperson, Pacific Islands Private Sector Organization (PIPSC)

Congressional Roundtable on U.S. Economic and Foreign Assistance Across the Indo-
Pacific

This panel, moderated by the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, will provide a direct opportunity to hear from U.S. Congressional leadership on government-wide efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The panel, which will include senior Congressional leadership from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, will frame the role of Congress in setting policy, providing funding and conducting oversight for U.S. government engagement in the region.

  • Moderator: Ambassador Ted Osius
    President, U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC)
  • The Honorable Gregory Meeks
    Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • The Honorable Ami Bera
    Chairman, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation
  • The Honorable Steve Chabot
    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation

Private Sector Engagement in Smart Sustainable Cities:

Building Partnerships to Advance Climate Targets and Green Economic Recovery

Cities are important drivers of economic activity and centers for sustainable urban services to ensure a productive and healthy quality of life. The U.S-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership (USASCP) works closely with the private sector, a critical partner of local governments, to leverage public resources across U.S. government agencies to provide the necessary investment, technologies, and expertise to implement urban plans and build capital infrastructure projects. Private sector engagement is essential for cities and local authorities to become important contributors to address climate challenges and strengthen nationally determined contributions by creating net-zero- and low-carbon built environments within smart sustainable cities.

This session will inform stakeholders on approaches for ensuring smart city investments are sustainable and supportive of climate targets and a green economic recovery. The panelists will include regional city planners and U.S. private sector representatives who are partners of the USASCP and able to highlight smart city export and investment opportunities across the Indo-Pacific from the relocation of Indonesia’s capital city to East Kalimantan to smart city investments in India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

  • Opening Remarks: Rich Steffens
    Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Markets, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration
  • Moderator: Mike Hernon
    Director, Winbourne Consulting, LLC
  • Maimunah Jaffar
    Director, Iskandar Regional Development Authority
  • Sacha Schwarzkopf
    Director, Urban Design Studio Leader, AECOM

Concurrent Breakouts

Ready for Takeoff: What’s Next in Aviation?
U.S.-Southeast Asia Aviation Cooperation Program

Following opening remarks from the FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, the Indo-Pacific Business Forum U.S.-Southeast Asia Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) Panel will convene aviation stakeholders from the public and private sectors in the U.S. and Southeast Asia to discuss cooperative efforts to support Southeast Asia’s aviation sector. The aviation sector has been extraordinarily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the decrease in flights dramatically affecting aviation authorities, airport operators and airlines. Aviation stakeholders implemented new, innovative approaches in response to COVID-19 that will change how passengers and cargo transit the globe. As planes return to the skies the twin goals of efficiency and sustainability are key considerations for the future of aviation. This panel will explore the return to the skies and how the United States can support Southeast Asia’s aviation sector on its growth trajectory in a sustainable manner.

The ACP is a public-private partnership that works with aviation stakeholders in Southeast Asia to design programs that promote technical, policy and commercial cooperation in civil aviation. The ACP is industry led and government supported with cooperation from the USTDA, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Department of Commerce. Launched in November 2019, the ACP now has 36 U.S. member companies with expertise spanning the aviation sector.

  • Opening Remarks: Steve Dickson
    Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
  • Moderator: Verinda Fike
    Regional Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency
  • John Bruns
    Vice President, Commercial Sales & Marketing India & Southeast Asia, The Boeing Company
  • Shiumei Lin
    Vice President for Public Affairs & Sustainability in Asia-Pacific, UPS
  • Bart Meroney
    Executive Director for Manufacturing, Department of Commerce
  • Ivar Satero
    Airport Director, San Francisco International Airport
  • Nguyen Quoc Phuong
    Deputy Director General, Airports Corporation of Viet Nam

Sustainable Development through Finance: Reducing Inequality and Promoting Responsible Production

“The Asian Development Bank’s contribution to this year’s Indo-Pacific Business Forum will feature a lively discussion among financial sector experts and executives on two key topics for India and the broader Indo-Pacific region in the financial services sector. First, the ADB  will present highlights from its recently released report “Harnessing Digitization for Remittances in Asia and the Pacific”. Digitization of remittance transfers increases their convenience, speed, security and affordability. Discussion will follow on how digitization can be further advanced and the potential role for U.S. providers.   

Second, representatives from the private sector will discuss financial sector regulations concerning reporting on and disclosure of climate risks and related matters for more informed investment, credit, and insurance underwriting decisions. There is a growing focus among the leading economies on potential risks to financial stability from climate change, and the Financial Stability Board has set up the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures to improve and increase reporting of climate-related financial information. A large, and growing, number of international initiatives are underway that will result in new regulatory requirements, but questions abound on how regulators and firms are to navigate these uncharted waters, and who firms can turn to if they encounter obstacles.   

  • Opening Remarks: John Hurley
    Acting U.S. Executive Director, Asian Development Bank
  • Moderator: Malachy Nugent
    Vice President, Financial Services, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF)
  • Lawrence “Larry” Angelilli
    Chief Financial Officer, MoneyGram International
  • Lisette Cipriano
    Senior Digital Technology Specialist (Financial Technology Services), Asian Development Bank
  • Kaku Nakhate
    President and Country Head – India, Bank of America

Promoting Sustainable Investments along the Mighty Mekong

The mighty Mekong River supports the livelihoods of tens of millions of people in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.  Local communities depend on the Mekong’s natural resources for food, energy, and a wide range of ecosystem services.  At the same time, Mekong region countries are growing fast and regional governments are pursuing investments to support their long-term economic growth.  Through the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, the U.S. government supports sustainable investment in the Mekong’s future via a range of technical assistance programs and policy measures.

This panel will feature Chiefs of Mission from U.S. Embassies in the Mekong region who will highlight U.S. efforts to support sustainable investment, building on over $4 billion in U.S. foreign assistance in the Mekong over the past 12 years.  Panelists will discuss U.S. programs that increase access to information for development planning, minimize negative environmental impacts from infrastructure projects, and build connections among policymakers, academics, NGOs, and the private sector, including over 1,000 U.S. companies active in the Mekong region.  These projects support commercial opportunities by strengthening good governance, economic independence, and sustainable development through transparent, rules-based policies.

Concurrent Breakouts

Building a Resilient Supply Chain to Power Electric Vehicles for the Future

This session will share trends from a diverse panel of Taiwan industry players and experts about Taiwan’s role of partnering with likeminded partners to build a resilient supply chain to power electric vehicles for the future. As one of the world’s leading producers of information and communication technology (ICT) products, Taiwan has developed a holistic electric vehicle supply chain, including by providing major components (hardware) and integrated systems (software) to the dynamic electric vehicle industry. Taiwan’s External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and panelists will share how they are accelerating innovation and research and development (R&D) to secure resilient electric vehicle supply chains in the Indo-Pacific.

  • Opening Remarks: Sandra Oudkirk
    Director, American Institute in Taiwan
  • Moderator: Arati Shroff
    Deputy Economic Chief, American Institute in Taiwan
  • James Huang
    Chairman, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)
  • James Wang
    Vice President, General Director of Office of Strategy and R& D Planning, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan
  • Joan Shen
    Managing Director, Tangeng Advanced Vehicles, Taiwan

U.S.-ASEAN Connect Green Economy Series “Mobilizing Green Finance in ASEAN”

As one of the fastest growing regions with a population already exceeding 650 million, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will play a critical role in reaching Paris Agreement climate goals. ASEAN’s estimated green finance goal is approximately $3 trillion by 2030, but current annual financing caps at $40 billion. Public finance alone is insufficient to meet the region’s green finance shortfall to invest in climate-related industries to revive post-pandemic recovery and accelerate the race to net-zero emissions. The U.S. Mission to ASEAN is organizing the U.S.-ASEAN Connect Green Economy Series “Mobilizing Green Finance in ASEAN” Side Event at the 4th Indo-Pacific Business Forum. The U.S.-ASEAN Business Council will moderate the event which brings together experts from the private and public sector, including from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Citi, and the Sustainable Finance Institute Asia, and the Export-Import Bank of the United States to discuss the challenges and opportunities in mobilizing green finance in ASEAN, the key constraints and opportunities in the region’s green finance transition, and the most effective ways ASEAN countries can work with governments and businesses to facilitate greater flow of private capital in the region.

  • Opening Remarks: Joseph M. Young
    Chargé d’Affaires a.i., U.S. Mission to ASEAN
  • Moderator: Kim Yaeger
    Senior Director for Maritime Southeast Asia, U.S. ASEAN Business Council
  • Jeffrey Baker
    U.S. Treasury Representative to Southeast Asia, U.S. Embassy Singapore
  • Craig O’Connor
    Renewable Energy & Environmental Exports Officer, Project Finance Division, Export-Import Bank of the United States
  • Eugene Wong 
    Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Finance Institute Asia
  • Michael Paulus
    Managing Director, Head of the Public Sector Group, Asia-Pacific, Citi

An Industry Assessment of Developments in Open Radio Access Networks

With the increasing deployment of Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) in commercial environments, telecommunications providers are demonstrating how open architectures can facilitate secure, high performance, flexible, affordable, and interoperable 5G deployments. An interoperable approach to broad and wireless infrastructure has the potential to bring savings to operators building next generation 5G networks, close the digital divide, and foster a more competitive and innovative ecosystem of vendors.

This panel will bring together leading industry players to get their assessment of the state of Open RAN development. It will discuss the opportunities of this new technology as well as the regulatory and policy challenges that governments may need to address.

  • Moderator: Alex Botting
    Senior Director for International Cybersecurity Services, Open RAN Policy Coalition 
  • Azita Arvani
    General Manager, Rakuten Mobile Americas
  • Rajesh Gangadhar
    Chief Technology Officer, STL Access Solutions
  • Durga Malladi
     Senior Vice President and General Manager, 5G, Mobile Broadband & Infrastructure, Qualcomm
  • Rahul Vatts
    Chief Regulatory Officer, Bharti Airtel 

Remarks:

Naoshi Hirose
Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI)

Concurrent Breakouts

Clean Energy Financing: Supporting the Indo-Pacific’s Energy Transition

The Indo-Pacific region needs trillions of dollars of investment to meet its growing energy needs in the coming two decades. The region has the highest carbon output in the world and coal is the current dominant source of energy across much of the Indo-Pacific, powering the region’s rising economies but significantly contributing to climate change. Identifying public and private sector solutions to fund the Indo-Pacific’s energy transition is necessary to help Indo-Pacific governments achieve climate goals, aid their energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and stimulate economic growth and recovery.

  • Moderator: Jake Levine
    Chief Climate Officer, U.S. Development Finance Corporation
  • Eric Francia
    President and Chief Executive Officer, AC Energy
  • Dinesh Kumar Khara
    Chairman, State Bank of India (SBI)
  • Wee Seng Lim
    Group Head of Energy, Renewables & infrastructure, DBS Bank Ltd
  • Makoto Uchida
    Managing Executive Officer, Global Head of Infrastructure and Environmental Finance, JBIC

What are the Opportunities and Challenges in the Critical Minerals Supply Chain?

Critical minerals are key ingredients to many of the world’s most advanced manufacturers who will produce the technologies needed to achieve the 21st century goals of achieving net zero emissions, exploring space, quantum computing, and many more. But supply chains are complex, often highly concentrated, and relatively nascent. The Australian and United States governments are committed to working with industry to develop the required supply chains and overcome these challenges.

In this session Australian and American business leaders will provide insights into their view of the developing market and the role the government can play in facilitating growth. The discussion will focus on practical steps to grow and diversify these key global supply chains, bringing together producers (extraction), consumers (semiconductor and automobile manufacturers), and government officials (as regulators and investors) to help identify barriers to market growth and investment across the supply chain.

  • Opening Remarks: Matt Murray
    Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State
  • Moderator: Tania Constable
    Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Council of Australia
  • Stephen Biggins
    Managing Director, Core Lithium
  • Tetsuro Fukunaga
    Director-General, International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan
  • Sam McLean
    Senior Manager, Business Development and Policy, Tesla
  • Sam Riggall
    Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Sunrise Energy Metals

Cybersecurity in the Cloud – Protecting the Region’s Critical Infrastructure

The theme of the fireside chat is to explore how government policy makers, regulators, and industry must work together to enhance cybersecurity in the region, especially for critical infrastructure sectors. Businesses and other organizations, including operators of CI, are increasingly using the scalability, economies of scale, quality, and enhanced security features of cloud computing to meet their information technology needs and improve their operations. In this fireside chat, we will hear from companies on the importance of robust stakeholder consultations in the development of effective cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection rules to ensure interoperability across sectors and international borders and to avoid costly inconsistencies or redundancies that undermine information security.

  • Opening Remarks: Rafik Mansour
    Chargé d’ Affaires a.i., U.S. Embassy in Singapore
  • Moderator: Jared Ragland
    Senior Director, Policy – APAC, BSA | The Software Alliance
  • Paul Chua
    Head Cybersecurity Officer, Greater Asia, Becton Dickinson Medical Devices
  • Annabel Lee
    Head of Digital Policy, APAC, AWS Public Policy
  • Richard Lomas
    Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs – Asia Pacific, Citi

Closing Remarks:

Jose W. Fernandez
Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, U.S. Department of State