Conference chair and speaker in inaugural session
Description
Professor Rupa Chanda, RBI Chair in Economics and faculty member in the Economics and Social Sciences area at IIM Bangalore, served as the conference chair and was one of the panelists at the 8th Global Economic Summit held at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, from March 6 to 8, 2019. The theme of the summit was “Services: Enabler of Growth for Trade and Industry.” The objective was to discuss emerging business opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as large corporate houses in the service sector. The three-day summit featured a conference, exhibition, B2B meetings, industry visits, an awards ceremony, and the release of a handbook on trade in services. The conference enabled participants to explore linkages between firms in the services sector and those operating across technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and professional services. It also identified key trends, opportunities, and challenges facing the sector. The exhibition showcased products and services of enterprises of various sizes, reinforcing their business opportunities across markets. Awards were presented to organizations for their exemplary contributions to the services sector. The handbook included articles, expert interviews, and in-house research on trade in services. The summit also explored the role and impact of technology across diverse segments of the service sector. The event brought together policymakers, international experts from multilateral organizations, multinational corporations, academicians, and industry leaders to discuss ways of enhancing economic competitiveness and accessing global markets through services. With more than 30 speakers, 300 delegates, over 100 exhibitors, and participation from 30 countries, the summit served as a platform for stakeholders—including policymakers, business leaders, think tanks, and MSMEs—to deliberate on developments in the services sector. The summit provided valuable opportunities for women entrepreneurs, start-ups, technocrats, and professionals to learn about global market trends. The chief guest, Suresh Prabhu, then Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, addressed the inaugural session on “Emerging Services: Shaping the New Global Business Landscape.” Other notable speakers included Kamal Morarka (Chairman, WTC Mumbai), Deepak Bagla (MD and CEO, Invest India), Scott Ferguson (CEO, World Trade Centers Association), Aditya Mattoo (World Bank), Fayyaz Ismail (Government of Maldives), Dr. Robert B. Koopman (WTO), and Vijay Kalantri (All India Association of Industries). Panel discussions covered topics such as “The Fourth Industrial Revolution and its Impact on Services,” “Smart Solutions and Smart Cities,” “Importance of Services in Supporting Agriculture and Manufacturing,” and “Productivity in Services: Trends and Challenges.” Today, the services sector is the largest contributor to the global economy, accounting for approximately 70 percent of global GDP, 60 percent of employment, and 46 percent of global exports in value-added terms. Over the course of the summit, discussions and presentations addressed the evolving landscape of services globally and in India. Experts from government, industry, academia, and international organizations shared perspectives on how services can drive growth, improve efficiency, address key challenges, and interact with emerging production technologies. The summit successfully enhanced understanding of opportunities and challenges in the services sector and helped businesses identify strategies to leverage the changing services environment. B2B, B2C, B2G, and G2G meetings facilitated partnerships, technology transfers, and discussions on policy and business strategies. Field visits to the Nashik Engineering Cluster, a winery, and a food processing unit were organized for international delegates to provide practical exposure
Copyright Date
January 2019
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Keywords
Economics, Economic growth
Conference
8th Global economic summit, 6th March 2019, World trade centre
