Virtual Workshop on “Effectively Managing the Compliance Function” 7 May 2024

CACCI is inviting its members to join a Virtual Workshop on “Effectively Managing the Compliance Function” to be held on 7 May 2024 from 2PM to 4PM Singapore Time.

The 120-minute Virtual Workshop organized by The Asian Bankers Association (ABA), one of the Product and Service Councils of CACCI, in association with Fintelekt Advisory Services, an official ABA Knowledge Partner, will examine the multi-faceted role of the compliance function and what is required for it to be a success.

The expert trainer, Gail Wessels, will refer to practical examples and case studies to bring the content to life, encourage reflection and discussion amongst participants across the following key issues:

(1) TOPICS

• What is the scope of the compliance function?
• What is the overlap with areas such as governance, risk and sustainability?
• Why is the positioning of compliance within the organisation fundamental to its success?
• What is the purpose and value of compliance?
• What are the key elements of an effective compliance programme?
• Who bears responsibility and accountability for compliance?

(2) WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

The programme is relevant for staff from the AML Compliance, Regulatory Compliance, Audit, Legal, Strategy, and Corporate Governance teams.

(3) TRAINER

Gail Wessels
Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) expert and lawyer with more than 20 years´ cross-functional experience in mostly financial services, as well as experience in less regulated sectors, has a deep understanding of regulatory requirements in multiple jurisdictions, a solid track record of leading complex transformation projects, implementing and improving GRC programmes, setting up new teams and working with executive management.

Trainer and course designer for the International Compliance Association (ICA), certificated qualifications in AML, GRC and financial crime prevention, guest lecturer at ASCOM (Asociación Española de Compliance), UNIR University, CEU University and IE University Law School. Some notable projects include: designer of compliance programs, compliance obligations mapping, enterprise risk management, third party risk, financial crime risk, corporate criminal risk, GDPR, code of conduct, whistleblowing, assurance and audit – various sectors (regulated and non-regulated). Customer due diligence/ KYC managed service and industry utility. IT transformation and migration of new digital bank in Spain and Portugal.

(4) PARTICIPATION FEE: US$50

Includes access to video recording and Certificate of Completion. Pay online via credit/debit card and register HERE.

CACCI member chamber can avail of 2 free registrations per chamber for this workshop. To get nominated under the free registration, please contact the CACCI liaison at your Chamber.

(5) CONTACT

For additional information, you may touch base with Oliver Dickson or Tel / Whatsapp / Viber: +91 9823188864 / +91 9370078917

ABOUT FINTELEKT

Fintelekt Advisory Services Pvt Ltd is one of the Knowledge Partners of the ABA. It is a specialist in training and advisory in anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) within banking and financial services sectors. It systematically invests its time and effort in building the skill level of professionals working in the banking and financial sector by assimilating and dispensing industry-reviewed best practices and knowledge.

Tentative Program for the 38th CACCI Conference in Singapore

Following the meeting of the CACCI Planning Committee on March 5, we are pleased to inform you that arrangements for the 38th CACCI Conference on November 11-12, 2024 at One Farrer Hotel in in Singapore are currently underway with our host organization, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF).

Below please find the tentative program for the two-day conference, which will also be known as the Asia-Pacific Economic and Sustainability Forum. With the theme “Making Asian Business Future-Ready”, this year’s event will have three Plenary Sessions focusing on the following topics:

Session One: Navigating the Future: Integrating AI in Asia-Pacific’s Trade and Commerce

Session Two: Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Building Resilient and Green Businesses

Session Three: Future of Trade: Digitalization, E-Commerce, and Cross-Border Collaboration

In lieu of the usual concurrent Breakout Sessions of the CACCI Product and Service Councils, there will be five Sectoral Plenary Sessions covering:

(1) SME Development

(2) Food & Agriculture and Textile & Garments

(3) ICT and Tourism

(4) Entrepreneurship

(5) Water, Energy, Environment and Sustainability.

A special session will also be held on the APAC Green Alliance.

CACCI counts on the support and participation of its members to make the 38th CACCI Conferene a success. We welcome members’ comments on the program, and suggestions for possible speakers. Should any member has questions at this stage, please contact us.

Further information on the conference will be sent out once these are available. In the meantime, CACCI asks that its members already block the conference dates, November 11-12, 2024, on their respective calendar.

4 Training Seminars on International Trade Terms for Spring 2024

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) is proposing to organize Spring 2024 Training Sessions – in cooperation with interested Primary and Affiliate Members – four different one-day training seminars on International Trade Terms 2020 (Incoterms 2020) and related themes.

The four proposed one-day Seminars are:

(1) New Revision of the International Trade Terms
What you need to know to make your international trade deal successful based on Contract of Sale and ICC Rules Incoterms 2020 (one day)

(2) Developments on Demand Guarantees and Standby L/C World (one day)

(3) Payment and Security Instruments in Foreign Trade, and Trade Finance
How to secure your exports overseas? (one day)

(4) INCOTERMS 2020 and linkage to documentary credits
Updated ICC Publication ISBP 821 explained! (one day)

As the Incoterms 2020 continue to be updated since its inception in January 1, 2020, being familiar with all changes and their impact is a must in the international trade and finance world. Moreover, new changes, updates and new developments were implemented during 2023 that might require further study today.

Interested chambers can choose from the suggested topics and preferably organize at least a two one-day courses. The programs can be adjusted according to the Chamber’s needs.

For instance there could be more comprehensive one-day course just on documentary credits and their financing, with news on some practical issues. New topics can be added or deleted. In fact, more time will be allocated to practical case studies and discussions.

By attending the seminars, participants will be able to:

(1) Get a further understanding on the main aspects of contract of sale, related risks, main problematic issues;

(2) Familiarize themselves with trade terms as per Incoterms and above all with new revision Incoterms 2020 – their practical impact on international trade and finance; and

(3) Learn about the relationship of payment terms to trade terms – Incoterms 2020.

The seminars will be conducted by Mr. Pavel Andrle, Secretary to the Banking Commission of ICC Czech Republic as well as Member of UCP 600 Consulting Group.

In this regard, we would like to know whether your Chamber is interested in hosting the proposed seminars under a cost-sharing arrangement as outlined in the Shared Responsibilities Agreement.

Please let us know if your Chamber is interested to host the proposed seminars under the proposed cost-sharing arrangements by filling out the Response Form and returning it to us through our Fax No.: (886 2) 2760-7569 or e-mail cacci@cacci.biz by March 30, 2024.

The four seminars’ syllabus, Mr. Pavel’s resume, Shared Responsibilities Agreement and Response Form can be downloaded HERE.

Successful 37th CACCI Conference in Kathmandu

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) successfully held its 37th CACCI Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal on November 6-7, 2023, with the participation of some 400 delegates over the two-day period composed largely of businessmen and chamber of commerce representatives from 25 Asia-Pacific countries, led by CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM from Australia and Mr. Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Held at the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu Hotel, the Conference was jointly organized by CACCI and the FNCCI.

37th CACCI Conference

Kathmandu, November 6-7, 2023

Opening Ceremony

Focusing on the theme ”Chambers of Commerce: Helping Businesses Get SET for the Future”, this year’s annual CACCI gathering featured invited speakers who shared their views on strategies that businesses may pursue for navigating – and creating new opportunities – in the post-pandemic business and global market environment through the three-pronged SET principle of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, and Trade. The Conference was officially opened with the traditional Nepalese lighting ceremony officiated by the special guests.

FNCCI Welcome Remarks

FNCCI President Mr. Chandra Prasad Dhakal in his Welcome Remarks stated that the three important aspects focused on by the Conference theme – namely, Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, and Trade – are the key pillars for economic development in the region, and that with the theme, CACCI aspires to create a more prosperous future for the Asia-Pacific region.

Noting the country’s location to be between two economic powerhouses – India and China – Mr. Dhakal said that Nepal holds a strategic position at the heart of the Asia-Pacific region. He said that Nepal’s people and economy have been showing their strength to bounce back from major natural disasters and global economic shocks.

He highlighted the current strength of the country’s economy to include a robust foreign exchange reserves and positive balance of payments; sufficient liquidity in the banking sector to lend to private businesses; rich and growing energy sector with a huge market in its neighbors India and Bangladesh; strong tourism sector since Nepal has always been a popular destination for international tourists; huge prospects for manufacturing, agro processing, ICT, pharmaceuticals, herbs and herbal sectors; and duty-free market access to India, China, the EU and other developed countries. He added that Nepal aspires to establish wider connectivity, physically and digitally, with South Asia, Asia-Pacific region, and beyond.

CACCI Welcome Remarks

In his Welcome Remarks, CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM expressed his hopes that the Conference would provide CACCI members, invited speakers and guests a platform to share their views on strategies that businesses may pursue for navigating – and creating new opportunities – in the post-pandemic business and global market environment through the three-pronged SET principle of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, and Trade.

He explained that Sustainability is critical for SMEs to gain a competitive advantage in today’s market, to be able to manage business risks, grow their brand and enhance their access to capital. Entrepreneurship and particularly inclusive entrepreneurship supports people with new ideas to solve some of their most entrenched challenges. Trade support is a critical service Chambers provide to the business community as it not only helps business supply the world with the goods and services we all desire but it also builds and maintains cross-border relationships.

Mr. McMullin stressed that as members of chambers of commerce and other business organizations – both regional and international – “we have a shared future. We therefore need to help each other to address challenges on the basis of consultation and coordination and pursue common development. We need to share our insights, build consensus and contribute to promoting development and prosperity in Asia and the world.”

Special Remarks

Echoing the message of Mr. McMullin on the Conference theme, CACCI Vice President and Former FNCCI President Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said that sustainability is not only merely a choice but is an absolute necessity for the well-being of our planet and future generations, that entrepreneurship fuels innovation, job creation, and economic growth, and that trade unites nations in an increasingly globalized world and is indispensable for shared prosperity.

Mr. Shrestha said that the Conference theme underscores CACCI’s unwavering commitment to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world, and its determination to ensure that businesses are sustainable, innovative, and well-connected to face the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow by exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and forging meaningful partnerships.

Keynote Speaker

The Keynote Speaker Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Former Prime Minister of Nepal, stated that the Asia-Pacific region stands at the forefront of economic growth and change. While its diverse cultures, economies and political systems paint a complex picture, the collective rise of countries in this region has had a profound impact on the global stage, making it crucial to examine their unique trajectories, he added. “The market size available for domestic or reginal consumption and the younger population, which is more productive, is the strength of this region that needs to be harnessed,” he further elaborated.

Dr. Bhattarai underscored that the state-to-state economic cooperation can be complemented by business-to-business collaboration. He called on the Chambers of Commerce at the national level like FNCCI, and at the regional level like CACCI, should be the vanguards in assisting businesses to navigate through the complex global trade landscape, ensuring that they are well-equipped to compete on the global stage. He suggested that Chambers can offer mediation, digitize processes to ease doing businesses, and connect SMEs through networking and business matching opportunities. ”This is the right time to act, and the private sector can lead the path in this direction, “ he added.

Special Guest

The Special Guest Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Honorable Finance Minister of Nepal in his Address urged the Conference participants to utilize and take advantage of the opportunities offered by Nepal. He said that the country is looking for the meaningful support of organizations such as CACCI and their members in improving the living standards of the people to the region by making use of the immense potential in the fields of renewable energy, tourism, infrastructure, and information technology, among others.

Stating that the government is working in developing the needed infrastructure across prospective sectors which is important in taking Nepal’s development goals forward, Minister Mahat called on the international community to invest in the country. “As a result of the climate challenges and dampening global economy, green, resilient and inclusive development (GRID) is the way to go forward, and investing in Nepal is a way to support this GRID approach.  The hydropower sector has already established an ecosystem of Nepal investors across different scales of hydropower projects, and is doing well, the Finance Minister stated. He reported that the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank are pumping investment in Nepal’s renewable energy, adding that this initiative will also build the confidence of Nepal’s private sector to invest. “Nepal’s hydropower sector is an assured return for investors,”  he emphasized.

Chief Guest

Chief Guest Mr. Ramchandra Paudel, Right Honorable President of Nepal, in his Address urged international investors and businessmen to invest in Nepal, noting that investment areas are increasing in Nepal and laws are being made to facilitate investment. Nepal is lying geographically between China and India, making the country a natural gateway for businesses looking to tap into that big consumer market, he noted. He called on foreign investors and international industrialists to invest in sectors with high potential and prospects of significant return in investment, such as agriculture, tourism, and energy.

Noting that small and medium enterprises are the backbone of Nepal’s economy as they create growth, innovation, and jobs, President Paudel remarked that entrepreneurship is not just about starting a business but is also the strongest foundation for embracing innovation, intensifying diversity, and solving the biggest challenges of our communities alongside adopting sustainable practices. He therefore said that the CACCI Conference is timely and relevant to address the challenges of this era and utilize the opportunities of investment and business. He pointed out that the role of chambers of commerce and industry in the Asia-Pacific will be decisive to bring about positive and aligned changes in the world trade scenario.

Vote of Thanks

In his Vote of Thanks delivered at the end of the Opening Ceremony, FNCCI Vice President Mr. Anjan Shrestha stated that the Conference will set a common vision for unity, cooperation, and prosperous future. He pointed out that the conclusions of the Conference will be important for the prosperity of the Asia Pacific region, including Nepal.

The Conference included four Plenary Sessions that included eminent speakers who shared their perspectives on the following timely and relevant issues:

Plenary Session 1 “SUSTAINABILITY: Developing Clean and Renewable Energy for a Greener World”

Plenary Session One addressed the issue of how to ensure a sustainable supply of renewable energy, improve access to modern energy services, identify possible areas of regional cooperation to achieve a clean energy integration to build a greener world, and how chambers can play the role as a voice of change at COP28 in Dubai.

Moderated by Mr. Melvin Tan, Managing Director, Cyclect Pte. Ltd. and Vice President of Singapore Manufacturing Federation, the session featured the following speakers:

• Mr. Sushil Chandra Tiwari, Secretary, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, Government of Nepal.
• Mr. Khurram Sayeed, CEO, Planet Energy Pvt. Ltd / Vice President, CACCI
• Mr. Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairman, Asian Council on Water, Energy, and Environment (ACWEE)
• Dr. Alireza Yavari, Deputy President for International Affairs, ICCIMA / Vice President, CACCI
• Mr. Homer Yu, Vice President, Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC)

Plenary Session 2 “ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Driver for Regional Economic Growth”

Plenary Session Two discussed how to promote the entrepreneurial spirit in the region – particularly young and women entrepreneurs – through, for instance, mentorship and access to capital and markets, in order to make them effective and sustained contributors to the economic growth of their respective communities and the national and regional economy as a whole.

With Mr. Suraj Vaidya, Former President, FNCCI as Moderator, the session featured the following speakers:

• Prof. Pramod B. Shrestha, Ph.D. (Engineering Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada) Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University
• Mr. Allen John Ku, Vice-President, EVERIII & Partners / Director, Startup Island Taiwan (The Intersection of Innovation & Technology)
• Mr. Sanjeeb Panthee, Good Return
• Ms. Sudha Shivkumar President, FICCI Ladies Organization
• Ms. Narin Shahrokhi Kabir, ICCIMA

Plenary Session 3 “TRADE: Helping Businesses Become Global Trade Players”

Plenary Session Three featured speakers who elaborated on their thoughts and ideas on how to assist businesses, particularly the SMEs which comprised majority of chambers’ constituencies, adequately equipped to participate in the international market through, for instance, digital transformation, mediation and dispute resolution capability, and labor mobility and skills development to meet new business and market demands.

Moderated by Mr. Kush Kumar Joshi, Former President, FNCCI/Managing Director, Nepal Ekarat Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd., the session included the following speakers:

• Ms. Deborah Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Disputes Cetner (Mediation/Dispute Resolution)
• Mr. James Shi Chu, Secretary General, Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC), Taiwan
• Dr Gunveena Chadha, Assistant Secretary General and Coordinator International Division, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
• Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Executive Chairman, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment
• Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, Former Finance Minister of Nepal

Plenary Session 4  CEO FORUM “Development Challenges and Opportunities in the Asia-Pacific Region”

Plenary Session 4 featured company CEOs and business leaders who shared their insights on what they think are the development challenges and opportunities faced by the region, including – but not limited to – food safety and security, tourism, supply chain resilience, climate change, cooperation in healthcare, the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and China’s economic growth.

Moderated by Mr. Peter McMullin AM, President, CACCI, the session featured the following speakers:

• Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, President Emeritus, CACCI / Former CEO, Poti Sea Port
• Mr. Samir Modi, Immediate Past President, CACCI / Executive Director, Modi Enterprises
• Mr. Lennon Tan, President, Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF)
• Mr. Padma Jyoti, Chairman, Jyoti Group / Past President, FNCCI

Sectoral Breakout Sessions

In addition, parallel sectoral breakout sessions were organized by the following CACCI Product and Service Councils that gathered government and private sector experts for dialogue and panel discussion on important sectoral issues:

Asian ICT Council

Focusing on the theme: “Envisioning the Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI)”, the session featured speakers who shared their perspectives on the session theme: what are the challenges, opportunities, and benefits for industries and businesses.

The speakers included: Mr. Parag Shrestha, Managing Director, Fuse machines Inc.; Mr. Sam Shen, Global Business Director, Taiwan Smart Solutions Alliance (TSSA); Mr. Umesh Raghubanshi, Vice President, Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation); Prof. Andrew Koh, President, Singapore Chapter, Government Block chain Association; and Mr. Homer Yu, Vice President, Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC). Moderating the session was Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha, Immediate Past Chairman, CACCI YEGAP / Global Vice President (Growth & AI) at Frost & Sullivan.

Asian Council on Food and Agriculture

With “Food Security and Access: Ensuring Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems” as theme, the session included speakers who elaborated on their views on how to ensure equitable and sustainable food systems through food security and food access.

The featured speakers were: Mr. Rommel Gerodias, President, A101 Innovation Inc.“Food Safety”; Mr. Sumit Kedia, Executive Director, Kedia Organization / Commodity Council Advisor , FNCCI; Mr. Igor Piasetskii, Representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russian Federation in India; and Mr. Hem Raj Dhakal, Vice President (Commodity), FNCCI. The session Moderator was Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, CACCI Vice President and Former FNCCI President.

Young Entrepreneurs Group Asia-Pacific

The session addressed the theme: “Digital Transformation and Adoption of AI: Driver for Innovation in Entrepreneurship, Trade and Sustainability” Invited speakers examined how digital transformation and the adoption of AI will serve to drive and enable innovation in entrepreneurship, trade and sustainability.

The speakers included: Mr. Michael Lim, Founder, Beyond Value; Mr. Aabhushan Jyoti Kansakar, Board Member, Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF); and Mr. Saurabh Jyoti, Chairman, Syakar Trading Co. P. Ltd. The Session Chairman was Mr. Rommel Gerodias, President, A101 Innovation Inc.

Asian Council on Tourism

Carrying the Theme: “Green Tourism for Sustainable Future”, the session invited speakers who shared their experiences and best practices in promoting green tourism in their respective countries for a sustainable future. The speakers included Mr. Yogendra Shakya, Chairman, Club Himalayan Resort, Nagarkot (Hotel Ambassador); Dr. Dhananjaya Regmi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board; and Mr. Binayak Shah, President, Hotel Association Nepal. Mr. Anura Lokuhetty, Chairman, Red Apple Travels & Holidays Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. served as Session Moderator

SME Development Council

The session tackled the theme: “Private Sector and Government Cooperation for SMEs in Change Management”. Invited speakers elaborated on their countries’ experience in promoting the growth and development of SMEs and the government policies in place to achieve this objective amidst a changing market environment.

With Mr. George Abraham, Chairman, The GA Group Pte. Ltd. as Moderator, the session included the following speakers: Mr. Stuart Thomson, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Good Business Foundation / Chief of Staff, Office of the President, CACCI; Ms. Jyotsna Shrestha, Vice President (Associate), FNCCI; Ms. Juna Mathema, Chairperson, Startup and Innovation Forum/EC member FNCCI; and Mr. Manoj Paudel, Chairperson, Investment & International Affairs forum/EC member FNCCI.

Asian Council on Water, Energy and Environment

Focusing on the theme  “Clean & Green Energy: CO2 Zero Emission”, the session Invited speakers who shared their views and perspectives on the importance of promoting clean and green energy and what their respective countries are doing in this regard.

Moderated by Mr. Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairman, Asian Council on Water, Energy and Environment, CACCI, the session featured the following speakers: Mr. Melvin Tan, Managing Director, Cyclect Pte. Ltd. / Vice President, SMF; Mr. Sher Singh Bhat, Former Deputy Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority “Energy Transition for Net CO­2 Zero Emission; Mr. Shailendra Guragain, Executive Committee Member, FNCCI; and Mr. Igor Piasetskii, Representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russian Federation in India.

Discover Business Opportunities Through CACCI

The two-day program also included a special session on “Discover Business Opportunities Through CACCI”, which featured country presentations by selected organizations on current economic conditions in their respective countries and opportunities for trade and investments, or on special programs, projects, products or services that have benefited their members of the community they serve and may be adapted by chambers from other countries.

Moderated by Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, President Emeritus of CACCI, the session included country presentations conducted by the following:

• Mr. Lennon Tan, President, Singapore Manufacturing federation
• Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, Former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Vice President of CACCI
• Dr. Alireza Yavari, President for International Affairs, ICCIMA and Vice President, CACCI
• The session opened with Special Remarks by Mr. John Denton AO, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation.

97th CACCI Council Meeting

Members of the CACCI Council, which is the governing body of the Confederation, convened for the 97th CACCI Council Meeting on November 6, 2023. Among the items discussed and agreed upon during the Council Meeting included the following:

Review of CACCI Activities since the 96th Council Meeting – The CACCI Council reviewed the activities undertaken by the Confederation since its last meeting held in November 2022 in Melbourne, Australia, including the various Presidential visits, the training programs, participation in regional and international meetings and forums, and issuance of regular publications containing useful and timely information for members.

Among other issues presented for discussion, the Proposed Budget for 2024 was reviewed and approved by the Council Members.

Endorsement of CACCI Policy Paper Study – The CACCI Council endorsed the policy paper study that was reviewed during the meeting held earlier by the CACCI Policy Advocacy Working Group. Prepared by TEPAV, the think-tank arm of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the policy paper study called for a sector specific, green transformation model for value chain formation among CACCI member countries.

Associate Membership of CACCI in Steering Committee of the Regional Committee for Asia Pacific (RCAP) of CoNGO – The CACCI Council noted the  formal acceptance of CACCI as an  Associate Member  of the Steering Committee of the Regional Committee for Asia Pacific (RCAP) of the Conference of NGOs with Consultative Status in the United Nations (CoNGO)

Next CACCI Conferences – The CACCI Council noted that the host chamber for the 38th CACCI Conference in 2024 was still to be confirmed and is expected to be formally announced before the end of 2023 or in early 2024.

New CACCI Members

Admission of New Members – The CACCI Council formally approved the admission of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation  as the newest Primary Member, and the following new five Lifetime Special Members from Pakistan and  one the Philippines:

Pakistan

• Mr. Zahid Hameed, M/s Apparel Zone
• Mr. Atif Iqbal, M/s High Q Pharmaceutical
• Mr. Rameez Sattar, M/s Sonraj (Pvt) Ltd
• Mr. Arbaaz Sattar, M/s Sonraj (Pvt) Ltd
• Mr. Adnan Asad, M/s Venus Group

Philippines

• Koten Enterprises Co., Inc.

Formal Turnover fo YEGAP Chairmanship

During the Gala Dinner, a formal turnover of the Chairmanship of the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) was conducted. Erstwhile YEGAP Chairman Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha from Nepal, who is the Global V ice President (Growth and AI) for Frost & Sullivan, formally handed over the leadership of YEGAP to Mr. Rommel Gerodias from the Philippines.

Mr. Gerodias, who was previously Vice Chairman of YEGAP, will serve in the Chairmanship position until the latter part of 2024, when an election of a new Chairman will take place. With more than 18 years of experience in various industries, Mr. Gerodias is an expert and highly accomplished professional in the field of Management, Business Development, Training, Marketing, Sales, Entrepreneurship and Leadership. His expertise is in the field of Entrepreneurial Chemistry, Food & Beverage, Food Safety & Management Consulting; Proficient in communication with proven success in business development from the ground up in various businesses. He is a highly motivated and success-driven individual with a positive attitude and passion for excellence. Locally and internationally known leader in entrepreneurship advocacy and leadership.

XIII edition of SME newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to share herewith the Thirteenth Volume of the SME Development Council’s newsletter. Please click HERE to read or download.

We hope that this publication will provide you with adequate information about the latest developments in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in the Asia Pacific region. Members are encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues. Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to mig.moreno@cacci.biz. Enjoy the reading!

CACCI Profile – January edition available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the January 2024 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click here to read or download.

This month’s President’s Update includes the announcement of the date and venue for the 38^th CACCI Conference: November 11 to 12, 2024 in sunny Singapore. It also includes a feature on CACCI’s membership in the newly-established APAC Green Alliance. Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities. If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

Best regards,

David Hsu
Director-General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry

CACCI Profile – December edition available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the December 2023 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click HERE to read or download.

This month’s President’s Update includes a recap of the year’s activities. The issue also features the recent appointment of SMF President Lennon Tan as CACCI’s newest Vice President. Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz. We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

Best regards,

David Hsu
Director-General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry

Invitation to join CACCI Planning Committee meeting on March 5, 2024 at 2:00 PM, Taipei Time

Due to unforeseen circumstances, CACCI will need to postpone the Planning Committee Meeting, originally scheduled for 2:00 PM Taipei/Singapore time on February 29, 2024, to March 5, 2024 at the same time, 2PM Taipei time.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but hope you will still be able to join us at the meeting, as we value your attention and input to this year’s CACCI Conference.

The meeting will primarily discuss preparations for the 38h CACCI Conference to be co-organized by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) on November 11-12, 2024 in Singapore. Among the items to be discussed will be the Conference theme, topics, speakers, program, and format, among others.

Attached herewith is the Tentative Agenda for the meeting.

Further information (e.g., meeting link, annotated agenda, discussion papers, etc.) will be sent to members upon confirmation of attendance by filling out this online Confirmation Form on or before January 31, 2024.

Furthermore, in preparation for the Planning Committee Meeting, we would like to seek your suggestions on economic, business or policy issues which you think are currently of great concern to members and the business sector of the region as a whole and should be discussed by members during next year’s Conference. Please let us know your thoughts on this year’s Conference theme and topics by accomplishing the Suggestion Form.

We would appreciate hearing from you before January 31, 2024 to give us enough time to circulate all suggestions to the Planning Committee for consideration prior to its meeting.

For your reference, we have also attached the list of the themes and topics of past years’ Conferences HERE.

Singapore skyline at night

38th CACCI Conference to be held in Singapore November 11-12, 2024

CACCI is pleased to inform all members and friends that this year’s  38^th CACCI Conference will be held in Singapore on November 11-12, 2024,  with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) as the co-organizer. This will be the first time that CACCI will be holding its annual gathering in Singapore. The proposed venue is One Farrer Hotel (https://www.onefarrer.com)

CACCI will inform its members and friends relevant information (e.g., Tentative Program, hotel accommodation, registration procedure, etc.) as soon as these are available. In the meantime, we suggest you already mark your 2024 calendar of events for our annual gathering next year.

Asian Textiles & Garments Council’s newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to make available the Volume Eight of the Asian Textiles & Garments Council’s newsletter. (Click HERE to download.)

This issue is a compendium of relevant news, reports, and analyses on recent developments in the textile and garments industry in Asia Pacific countries.

This newsletter includes a report indicating that Azerbaijan and Pakistan are trying to secure raw material’s supply. Simultaneously, India’s apparel market continues growing and its designers joined Moscow fashion show.

On the other side, Iran is exporting more and also cooperating with China in the textile area. China is also securing textile links with Iran’s neighbor, Pakistan. Further south, other news reports show that Sri Lanka is making inroads in organic manufacturing while Vietnam tries to expand its FTA to further market its textiles and apparel products overseas, and much more.

We hope that this latest issue of the Asian Textiles & Garments Newsletter will enable you to gain a better understanding of the trends and conditions of the textile market throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Members are encouraged to contribute articles for future issues. Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to mig.moreno@cacci.biz.

Sincerely yours,

David Hsu
Director-General
CACCI

2023 CACCI Year End Review available

CACCI is pleased share with its members and friends a copy the CACCI 2023 Year-End Review which summarizes our Confederation’s activities over the past year. To download or read click HERE.

On behalf of CACCI, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the cooperation and assistance you have extended in undertaking CACCI’s activities in 2023. Without your help, we would not have accomplished as much as we did amidst a still challenging and difficult year for many of us.

We look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities, and we certainly hope to see you and your colleagues under more improved circumstances next year.

Sincerely yours,

David Hsu
Director-General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry

Asian Council on Contracting & Construction newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to share Volume X of the Asian Council on Contracting & Construction Newsletter, for your download HERE.

This Newsletter shows reports about the expansion of Azerbaijan railways and irrigation system, and Cambodia’s mixed construction landscape as Iran and Azerbaijan reported on the construction of a larger border bridge. Further south, India’s Modi continued constructing projects in India.

North of India, the Nepalese are implementing hydropower projects to export electricity to Bangladeshi and Indian markets while President Marcos returned home with Japanese pledges to invest in infrastructure. Vietnam also received similar investment pledges.

I hope that these news and reports can provide you with a wider view of the construction and contracting market in Asia Pacific and its role in the national economy. Enjoy your reading!

David Hsu
Director General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Trade Facilitation newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to share the Eleventh Volume of the Asian Council on Trade Facilitation newsletter under the Chairmanship of Mr. R. B. Rauniar.

This issue (click HERE to download) starts with bad news about the EU-Australia FTA that fortunately Australia compensates with strengthened trade ties with the US. More good news came from Australia’s northern neighbor, Indonesia, as it integrates more deeply in its neighborhood.

Furthermore, there is a report that another ASEAN player, Philippines, is building formal economic ties with the UAE, a major trading center in the Middle East.

One report indicates that CPTPP positively impacted Malaysia’s FDI inflows while Iran expands its trade in the EAEU. Moreover, India and Russia are establishing more trading mechanisms to enhance their trade volume as China and Russia de-dollarize their bilateral trade. And to conclude, there is another report about new trade facilitation’s procedures among ASEAN members.

We hope you will find this issue useful and informative.

Members are encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues. Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to mig.moreno@cacci.biz.

Sincerely yours,

David Hsu
Director General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Supply Chain disruption is an opportunity for CACCI, TOBB TEPAV Ph.D Guven Sak

In the afternoon of November 6, 2023, CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM from Australia chaired an interactive live virtual presentation of a Policy Paper on “Sector Specific, Green Transformation Model for Value Chain Formation Among CACCI Member Countries.”

The Policy Paper prepared by Economics Professor Guven Sak, Ph.D. from TEPAV, the think-tank arm of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), calls for a sector specific, green transformation model for value chain formation among CACCI member countries.

During the presentation, Prof. Sak discussed the present Age of Global Disruption created by transnational threats, great power competition and a race of new technologies.

Prof. Sak further explained that the disruption is creating opportunities and impacting regions, especially CACCI areas where many countries are in position to increase production and reduce dependance on China.

The impact on CACCI areas will realign the global value chains and could transform the region’s agendas. The disruption is driven by a process of de-coupling of certain economies and supply processes vis-a-vis a de-risking imperative.

These emerging conditions are in fact creating opportunities for CACCI countries that need to be considered.

Prof. Sak’s presentation was complemented with the participation of Lennon Tan, President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and newly appointed CACCI Vice President, and James S. Chu, Secretary General of the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) who raised relevant questions about Asian manufacturing strategy during the present supply chain disruption that Prof. Sak proceeded to answer in a comprehensive fashion.

The video presentation of Prof. Guven Sak during the CACCI Policy Advocacy Meeting in Kathmandu can be viewed at the CACCI YouTube channel below.

Successful webinar on Advancing ESG Agenda

CACCI members had the opportunity to join the successful webinar on Advancing ESG Agenda: Net Zero Emission Supply Chain Through Carbon Footprint (CFP) held on 19 October 2023 by the Asian Bankers Association (ABA), a CACCI’s subsidiary, and the Association of Credit Rating Agencies in Asia (ACRAA).

Moderated by Mr. Atsushi Masuda, Chairman of ACRAA, Counselor for International Affairs, Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR), the webinar featured as speakers a Japanese government official, a petrochemical company staff, a commercial banker and a rating agency representative. Over 440 bankers from 35 countries registered for this special webinar.

We present the Summary of the speakers’ presentations below.

SUMMARY

(1) The first presentation on Carbon footprint and net zero emission target for the entire supply chain by Mr. Tomoki Sano, Deputy Director, Environmental Policy Division, Industrial Technology and Environment Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) discussed the purpose of achieving green transformation in Japan.

According to some estimates, economies headed to achieving carbon neutrality have reached 94% of the world’s GDP as of 2023, thus the importance of promoting investments towards this global trend.

Since Japan is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, the risks associated with this structure have especially become apparent after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He argued that to achieve long-term sustainable growth, it is important for Japan to transform its economic and industrial structure based on clean energy (=Green Transformation.)

Furthermore, since the importance of transition finance is starting to be understood globally; in the G7 Hiroshima Summit held in 2023, the G7 highlighted the importance of transition finance for the first time.

Concerning the role of Carbon Footprint (CFP) towards Decarbonization, he explained that Carbon FootPrint is a calculation of a product’s total emission of greenhouse gases through its lifecycle. He proposed that the calculation of CFP will enable businesses to prioritize decarbonization efforts through its supply chain.

The final objective is that customers and consumers will choose goods produced with less emission.

For this reason, the purpose of CFP for businesses is that various stakeholders surrounding businesses should request the calculation and disclosure of CFP amidst increasing interests for climate change.

Mr. Sano highlighted that CFP is increasingly becoming a factor for business competitiveness and that the future policy directions based on the “CFP Guideline” will accelerate businesses’ efforts to calculate and understand their CFP, and lead to procurement of low-emission products, thereby leading to fewer emissions across the product supply chain.

Mr. Sano concluded with the forecast that to promote such change, Japan will undertake the more serious policies.

(2) The second presentation on Outline of carbon footprint and sustainability link loan framework by NAGASE & CO., Ltd. featured Mr. Yasuyuki Aizawa, Corporate Sustainability Office Manager of NAGASE & CO., LTD.

He started his presentation on the 190 years history of this traditional trading firm. It was then followed by an explanation on what is CFP.

According to him, CFP is a method of evaluating the environmental impact of CO2 based on the framework of life cycle assessment.

He mentioned that actually, CFP is calculated at the Product-level vs. Corporate-level. The methodology is built on ISO 14067 and some influential international CFP guidelines launched recently.

Mr. Aizawa presented a successful case to the audience where NAGASE and its partners successfully created the world first data linkage of carbon emission in the laptop PC suppler chain (Tier 0 to 3.)

It is said that 70% of the chemical suppliers are working on CFP.

Furthermore, he argued that CFP is an effective way to assess the environmental impact of chemicals. Collecting primary data is critical to moving toward carbon neutral.

In the chemical industry, the development in the three dimensions, methodology, tools and engagement have spurred suppliers to work on carbon footprints.

He forecasted a further drive carbon transparency in the chemical supply chain, which is essential to creating incentives especially for SMEs.

Nagase’s new SLL framework is extensive and its expertise covers not only Tier1 suppliers but also suppliers behind them (Tier2, Tier3…).

(3) The third presentation on Business management support for zero emission by financial institutions featured Mr. Naoya Orita. Vice President/Head of Sustainable Finance Japan, Sustainable Business Division, MUFG Bank, Ltd.

Mr. Morita initiated his presentation expressing MUFG’s Commitment to Carbon Neutrality and MUFG Declaration of Carbon Neutrality.

In fact. MUFG has been supporting its clients’ decarbonization and launched a collaboration with Zeroboard Inc., offering services for more than 1,800 companies.

This project led to the development of new business fields through visualization of customer’s GHG emissions and the entire supply chain, development of finance schemes, partnerships with solution providers, etc.

Mr. Morita also explained that Sustainability Linked-Loan (SLL) is a financing method with flexible use of funds that links the borrower’s Sustainability KPI performance with loan terms.

Loan terms such as interest rates are linked to the achievement of the SPT (Sustainability Performance Targets.)

These loans allow flexible use of funds while publicizing sustainability commitments externally. Furthermore, borrowers are incentivized by changes in loan conditions, such as preferential interest rates, depending on the level of achievement of the SPT, so the borrower can strengthen its commitment to achieve sustainability goals.

(4) The fourth and final presentation on How to evaluate the alignment of Supply Chain Finance Framework with Sustainability Linked Loan Principles featured Ms. Atsuko Kajiwara, Managing Executive Officer, Head of Sustainable Finance Evaluation Group.

She explained how to evaluate the alignment of Supply Chain Finance Framework with Sustainability Linked Loan Principles.

Ms. Kajiware spoke about the abundant experience in valuation (900 evaluations provided) and the participation of her organization in standards development as a member of the government council and study committee.

In the following image, she explained how sustainability linked loans (SLL) work:

She explained that the process of evaluation rests in the effort to capture the impact through the value chain, thus companies, suppliers and consumers share common challenges in reducing CO2 emission.

She proposed creating a system to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain as an integrated system.

The recording of the webinar can be viewed at the CACCI YouTube channel here.

Formal Turnover of YEGAP Chairmanship

During the Gala Dinner of the 37th CACCI Conference in Kathmandu on the night of November 7, 2023, a formal turnover of the Chairmanship of the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) was conducted. Erstwhile YEGAP Chairman Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha from Nepal, who is the Global V ice President (Growth and AI) for Frost & Sullivan, formally handed over the leadership of YEGAP to Mr. Rommel Gerodias from the Philippines.

Mr. Gerodias, who was previously Vice Chairman of YEGAP, will serve in the Chairmanship position until the latter part of 2024, when an election of a new Chairman will take place. With more than 18 years of experience in various industries, Mr. Gerodias is an expert and highly accomplished professional in the field of Management, Business Development, Training, Marketing, Sales, Entrepreneurship and Leadership. His expertise is in the field of Entrepreneurial Chemistry, Food & Beverage, Food Safety & Management Consulting; Proficient in communication with proven success in business development from the ground up in various businesses. He is a highly motivated and success-driven individual with a positive attitude and passion for excellence. Locally and internationally known leader in entrepreneurship advocacy and leadership.

2023 37th CACCI Conference – The Program

The 37th CACCI Conference hosted by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is taking place on November 6-7, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. CACCI members and colleagues are invited to REGISTER ONLINE for the conference. 

With the theme Chambers of Commerce – Helping Businesses Get SET for the Future, the conference will have plenary sessions focusing on Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, and Trade, as three important tenets to better business. CEOS and business leaders are featured in the CEO Forum, during which they can share insights on development challenges and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific Region. As well, there will be several breakout sessions focusing on specific industries and sectors, including ICT, Tourism, Food and Agriculture, SMEs, Young Entrepreneurs, and Water, Energy, and Environment. The Conference’s final roster of Nepalese dignataries and foreign speakers can be viewed below.

Registration is US$400 per person, inclusive of:

• Attendance to ALL sessions during the 2-day conference
• Welcome Reception Dinner/ Cocktails on 6 November 2023.
• Gala Dinner on 7 November 2023.
• Coffee breaks & 2 lunches over the 2 days
• Roundtrip airport transfers

Groups of 10 or more may contact FNCCI directly to request a group rate. Hotel booking, visa, and other relevant details may also be found on the conference website.

REGISTER HERE

Sunday 5 November 2023 

02:00pm onwards Registration open at Conference Venue in the Hyatt Regenccy Hotel  

Monday 6 November 2023

“Chambers of Commerce – Helping Businesses Get  SET for the Future”

(S)  Sustainability is critical for SMEs to gain a competitive advantage in today’s market, to be able to manage business risks, grow their brand and enhance their access to capital. According to the OECD, SMEs collectively contribute to over 50% of global Greenhouse Gas emissions from business globally. The majority of SME owners are concerned about the impacts of climate change but they need help to make this transition. Chambers can offer this support to current and potential new members looking to decarbonise their businesses and contribute to a sustainable economy. 

(E) Entrepreneurship and particularly inclusive entrepreneurship supports people with new ideas to solve some of our most entrenched challenges. By supporting entrepreneurs embrace new technologies, include and support diverse groups of entrepreneurs and allow for innovation to flourish we will see new business models emerge to move us toward a truly just economy. 

(T)  Trade support is a critical service Chambers provide to the business community. Trade not only helps business supply the world with the goods and services we all desire, it also builds and maintains cross border relationships. Chambers offer a range of services including mediation, ease of doing business by digitising processes as well as connecting SMEs through networking and business matching opportunities. Through this work Chambers are truly strengthening global multilateralism and in-turn global peace. 

09:00am-10:30am Opening Ceremony (Main Hall)

• National Anthem of Nepal
• Nepali Cultural Performance
• Welcome Remarks: Mr. Chandra Prasad Dhakal, FNCCI President (Nepal) & Mr. Peter McMullin AM, President, CACCI (Australia)
• Remarks by: Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, Vice President, CACCI / Former President, FNCCI ( Nepal)
• Remarks by: Special Guest Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Honorable Finance Minister of Nepal
• Keynote Speaker: Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Former Prime Minister of Nepal
• Address by Chief Guest: Mr. Ramchandra Paudel, Right Honorable President of  Nepal
• Vote of Thanks: Mr. Anjan Shrestha, Senior Vice President, FNCCI( Nepal)
• Group Photograph & Tokens of Appreciation

10:30am-10:45am Coffee Break

10:45am-12:00pm Plenary Session 1

SUSTAINABILITY: Developing Clean and Renewable Energy for a Greener World
(Main Hall)

This session will feature speakers who will share their views on how to ensure a sustainable supply of renewable energy, improve access to modern energy services, identify possible areas of regional cooperation to achieve a clean energy integration to build a greener world, and how chambers can play the role as a voice of change at COP28 in Dubai.

Speakers – 10 minutes each

• Mr. Sushil Chandra Tiwari, Secretary, Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, Government of Nepal. (Nepal)
• Mr. Khurram Sayeed, CEO, Planet Energy Pvt. Ltd / Vice President, CACCI (Pakistan)
• Mr. Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairman, Asian Council on Water, Energy, and Environment (ACWEE) (Nepal)
• Dr. Alireza Yavari, Deputy President for International Affairs, ICCIMA / Vice President, CACCI (IRAN)
• Mr. Homer Yu, Vice President, Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC) (Hong Kong)
• Moderator: Mr. RV Shahi, Ex-Secretary, Ministry of Power India (India)

Tokens of Appreciation

12:00pm-01:15pm Plenary Session 2

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Driver for Regional Economic Growth
(Main Hall)

Discussion will focus on how to promote the entrepreneurial spirit in the region – particularly young and women entrepreneurs – through, for instance, mentorship and access to capital and markets, in order to make them effective and sustained contributors to the economic growth of their respective communities and the national and regional economy as a whole.

Speakers – 8 to 10 minutes each

• Mr. Michael Lee, Chair, Membership and Partnership Alliance Committee, YEGAP / CEO, CreBiz Factory (South Korea)
• Mr. Allen John Ku, Vice-President, EVERIII & Partners / Director, Startup Island Taiwan (The Intersection of Innovation & Technology) (Taiwan)
• Mr. Sanjeeb Panthee, Good Return  (Nepal)
• Ms. Sudha Shivkumar President, FICCI Ladies Organization (Women Entrepreneurs) (India)
• Prof. Pramod B. Shrestha Ph.D. Entrepreneurship and the Metanarrative of Economic Growth: An Overview, Ph.D. (Engineering Management, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada) Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University (Nepal)
• Ms. Narin Shahrokhi Kabir, ICCIMA (Iran)
• Moderator: Mr. Suraj Vaidya, Past President, FNCCI / President, Vaidya’s Organization of Industries & Trading Houses (Nepal)

Tokens of Appreciation

01:15pm – 02:30pm Lunch

02:30pm – 03:30pm

 Policy Advocacy Working Group Meeting
(Main Hall)

• Session Chair: Mr. Peter McMullin AM, President, CACCI (Australia)
• Presenter (virtual): TEPAV (Turkey) on “Sector Specific, Green Transformation Model for Value Chain Formation Among CACCI Member Countries”

03:30pm – 05:00pm

Discover Business Opportunities Through CACCI
(Main Hall)

• Session Chair: Mr. Jemal Inaishvili,  President Emeritus, CACCI (Georgia)
• Special Remarks: Mr. John Denton AO, Secretary General, ICC (Video) (Australia)
• Country Presenters: (1) Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), Mr. Lennon Tan (Singapore)
• (2) FNCCI, Mr. Kush Kumar Joshi, Past President, FNCCI /Managing Director, Nepal Ekarat Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd. (Nepal)
• (3) Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture (ICCIMA) – VIRTUAL (Iran).

05:00pm – 6:30pm Business Matching Sessions

07:00pm – 08:30pm Welcome Reception/Dinner 

CACCI internal meetings: 

03:30pm – 04:30pm Budget Commission Meeting (Bhaktapur Hall) (Not open to the public) 
05:00pm – 06:30pm 97th CACCI Council Meeting (Bhaktapur Hall) (Not open to the public) 

Tokens of Appreciation

07:00pm-08:30pm Welcome Reception (Cocktails followed by casual dinner)

Tuesday 7 November 2023

08:30am-09:00am Registration

09:00am-10:15am Parallel Breakout Session – Group 1

Asian ICT Council on “Envision the Future of AI”
(Main Hall 1)

Invited speakers will be requested to share their perspectives on the session theme “Envision the Future of Artificial Intelligence”: what are the challenges, opportunities, and benefits for industries and businesses

Speakers – 8-10 minutes each

• Mr. Sam Shen, Global Business Director, Taiwan Smart Solutions Alliance (TSSA) (Taiwan)
• Mr. Parag Shrestha, Managing Director, Fuse machines Inc.  (Nepal)
• Mr. Homer Yu, Vice President, Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC) (Hong Kong)
• Mr. Umesh Raghubanshi, Vice President, Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation)   (Nepal)
• Prof. Andrew Koh, President, Singapore Chapter, Government Blockchain Association (Singapore)
• Session Chairman: Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha, Immediate Past Chairman, CACCI YEGAP / Global Vice President (Growth & AI) at Frost & Sullivan (Nepal)

Tokens of Appreciation

Asian Council on Food and Agriculture on “Food Security and Access: Ensuring Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems”
(Main Hall 2)

Invited speakers will be requested to elaborate on their views on how to ensure equitable and sustainable food systems through food security and food access.

Speakers -8-10 minutes each

• Mr. Rommel Gerodias, President, A101 Innovation Inc.“Food Safety”(Philippines)
• Mr. Sumit Kedia, Executive Director, Kedia Organization / Commodity Council Advisor , FNCCI (Nepal)
• Mr. Igor Piasetskii, Representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russian Federation in India. (Russia)
• Mr. Hem Raj Dhakal,Vice President (Commodity), FNCCI (Nepal)
• Session Chairman: Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, Vice President, CACCI / Former President, FNCCI (Nepal)

Tokens of Appreciation

10:15am-11:30am Parallel Breakout Session – Group 2

Young Entrepreneurs Group Asia-Pacific on “Digital Transformation and Adoption of AI: Driver for Innovation in Entrepreneurship, Trade and Sustainability”
(Main Hall 1)

This session will feature speakers who will examine how digital transformation and the adoption of AI will serve to drive and enable innovation in entrepreneurship, trade and sustainability.

Speakers – 8-10 minutes each

• Mr. Michael Lim, Founder, Beyond Value (Australia)
• Mr. Aabhushan Jyoti Kansakar, Board Member, Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) (Nepal)
• Mr. Saurabh Jyoti, Chairman, Syakar Trading Co. P. Ltd. (Nepal)
• Session Chairman: Mr. Rommel Gerodias, President, A101 Innovation Inc. (Philippines)

Tokens of Appreciation

Asian Council on Tourism on “Green Tourism for Sustainable Future”
(Main Hall 2)

Invited speakers will share their experiences and best practices in promoting green tourism in their respective countries for a sustainable future.

Speakers – 8-10 minutes each

• Mr. Yogendra Shakya, Chairman, Club Himalayan Resort, Nagarkot (Hotel Ambassador) (Nepal)
• Dr. Dhananjaya Regmi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board (Nepal)
• Mr. Binayak Shah, President, Hotel Association Nepal (Nepal)
• Session Chairman: Mr. Anura Lokuhetty, Chairman, Red Apple Travels & Holidays Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. (Sri Lanka)

Tokens of Appreciation

11:30am-12:45pm Parallel Breakout Session – Group 3

SME Development Council on “Private sector and government cooperation for SMEs change management”
(Main Hall 1)

This session will feature speakers who will elaborate on their countries’ experience in promoting the growth and development of SMEs and the government policies in place to achieve this objective amidst a changing market environment.

Speakers – 8-10 minutes each

• Mr. Stuart Thomson, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Good Business Foundation / Chief of Staff, Office of the President, CACCI(Australia)
• Ms. Jyotsna Shrestha, Vice President (Associate), FNCCI(Nepal)
• Ms. Juna Mathema, Chairperson, Startup and Innovation Forum, FNCCI (Nepal)
• Session Chairman: Mr. George Abraham, Chairman, The GA Group Pte. Ltd.(Singapore)

Tokens of Appreciation

Asian Council on Water, Energy and Environment on “Clean & Green Energy: CO2 Zero Emission”
(Main Hall 2)

Invited speakers will share their views and perspectives on the importance of promoting clean and green energy and what their respective countries are doing in this regard.

Speakers – 8-10 minutes each

• Mr. Melvin Tan, Managing Director, Cyclect Pte. Ltd. / Vice President, SMF(Singapore)
• Mr. Ganesh Karki, President, Independent Power Producers Association, Nepal (IPPAN) (Nepal)
• Mr. Sher Singh Bhat, Former Deputy MD of Nepal Electricity Authority (Nepal)
• Session Chairman: Mr. Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairman, Asian Council on Water, Energy and Environment, CACCI (Nepal)

Tokens of Appreciation

12:45pm-02:30pm Lunch

02:30pm- 03:45pm Plenary Session 3

TRADE: Helping Businesses Become Global Trade Players
(Main Hall)

Invited speakers will elaborate on their thoughts and ideas on how to assist businesses, particularly the SMEs which comprised majority of chambers’ constituencies, adequately equipped to participate in the international market through, for instance, digital transformation, mediation and dispute resolution capability, and labor mobility and skills development to meet new business and market demands.

Speakers – 8 to 10 minutes each

• Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, Former Finance Minister of Nepal (Nepal)
• Ms. Deborah Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Disputes Cetner (Mediation/Dispute Resolution) (Australia)
• Mr. James Shi Chu, Secretary General, Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC), Taiwan (Taiwan)
• Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Executive Chairman, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (Nepal)
• Dr. Gunveena Chadha, Assistant Secretary General and Coordinator International Division, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) (India)
• Moderator: Mr. Sheikh Fazle Fahim, Vice President, CACCI / Former President, FBCCI (Bangladesh)

Tokens of Appreciation

03:45pm – 04:00pm Coffee Break 

04:00pm – 05:30pm Plenary Session 4

CEO FORUM: Development Challenges and Opportunities in the Asia-Pacific Region
(Main Hall)

Company CEOs and business leaders will be invited to share their insights on what they think are the development challenges and opportunities faced by the region, including – but not limited to – food safety and security, tourism, supply chain resilience, climate change, cooperation in healthcare, the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and China’s economic growth.

Speakers – 8-10 minutes each

• Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, President Emeritus, CACCI / Former CEO, Poti Sea Port (Georgia)
• Mr. Samir Modi, Immediate Past President, CACCI / Executive Director, Modi Enterprises (India)
• Mr. Lennon Tan, President, Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) (Singapore)
• Mr. Padma Jyoti, Chairman, Jyoti Group / Past President, FNCCI  (Nepal)
• Moderator: Mr. Peter McMullin AM, President, CACCI (Australia)

Tokens of Appreciation

06.30pm Gala Dinner

Wednesday 8 November 2023

Optional Post-Conference City-Tour
Departure of delegates

REGISTER HERE

Webinar on Advancing ESG Agenda: Net Zero Emission Supply Chain Through Carbon Footprint (CFP) – Register now!

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry cordially invites members to join the webinar on Advancing ESG Agenda: Net Zero Emission Supply Chain Through Carbon Footprint (CFP) to be held on 19 October 2023 from 15:00-16:50 Tokyo time.

Jointly organized by the Asian Bankers Association (CACCI’s subsidiary organization) and the Association of Credit Rating Agencies in Asia (ACRAA), the 110-minute webinar will feature as Speakers a Japanese government official, a petrochemical company staff, a commercial banker and a rating agency representative.

THE SUBJECT: What is the Carbon Foot Print (CFP)?

A carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide) released into the atmosphere by an individual, organization, product, service, or event. The carbon footprint consists of two components: direct emissions and indirect emissions.

Direct emissions are the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions produced by energy use and transportation. Indirect emissions are those associated with the production, supply, and consumption of products and services.

They take into account the entire life cycle of a product and assess the greenhouse gas emissions at each stage of production, processing, transportation, use, and disposal of raw materials.

Measuring and reducing the carbon footprint is an important part of sustainable development and climate change action. Based on the measured data, effective greenhouse gas reduction strategies can be developed.

WEBINAR’S OBJECTIVE

This webinar will focus on and share different expert perspectives on how financing schemes can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain.

Participants will:

(a) gain an in-depth understanding of financing schemes to promote zero-emissions throughout the supply chain; and
(b) find concrete steps to adopt sustainable business strategies to run the business and protect the global environment

THE PROGRAM

15:00 Introductory Remarks
Speaker: Mr. Atsushi Masuda, Chairman of ACRAA, Counselor for International Affairs, Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR).

15:05 Carbon footprint and net zero emission target for the entire supply chain
Speaker: Tomoki Sano, Deputy Director, Environmental Policy Division, Industrial Technology and Environment Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

15:25 Outline of carbon footprint and sustainability link loan framework by NAGASE & CO., LTD.
Speaker: Mr. Yasuyuki Aizawa, Corporate Sustainability Office Manager, NAGASE & CO., LTD.

15:45 Business management support for zero emission by financial institutions Speaker: Mr. Naoya Orita. Vice President/Head of Sustainable Finance Japan, Sustainable Business Division, MUFG Bank, Ltd.

16:05 How to evaluate the alignment of Supply Chain Finance Framework with Sustainability Linked Loan Principles
Speaker: Ms. Atsuko Kajiwara, Managing Executive Officer, Head of Sustainable Finance Evaluation Group.

16:25 Panel discussion and Q&A Session.

16:50 Closing Remarks.

Please register HERE and share this invitation with colleagues.

About ACRAA:

ACRAA was formally organized on 14 September 2001 at the Asian Development Bank headquarters by 15 Asian credit rating agencies from 10 countries. As of September 2022, membership has increased to 28 members from 15 countries. An initiative of the ABA, ACRAA unites domestic credit rating agencies in a regional cooperative effort to develop and promote interaction and exchange of ideas, information, and skills among credit rating agencies in Asia to enhance their capabilities and their role of providing reliable market information. ACRAA also aims at promoting the adoption of best practices and common standards that ensure high quality and comparability of credit ratings throughout the region, following the highest norms of ethics and professional conduct.

28th CACCI Tourism Newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to share with you the 28th Volume of CACCI Tourism Newsletter, it is available to view or download here.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the tourism sector in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials, preferably with accompanying photos to teresaliu@cacci.biz.

Thank you, and with best regards.

David Hsu
Director-General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI)

CACCI Newsletter on Food and Agriculture available

Taipei – We are pleased to share with you the 20th Volume of CACCI Food & Agriculture Newsletter. It is available to view or download HERE.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the tourism sector in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials, preferably with accompanying photos to teresaliu@cacci.biz.

Thank you, and with best regards.

Sincerely yours,

David Hsu
Director-General
CACCI

Water, Energy & Environment Newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the 11^th edition of the Asian Council on Water, Energy and Environment (ACWEE) newsletter is now available to read or download here.

The latest issue includes features on the world’s water crisis and renewable energy, as well as projects to help fight plastic pollution, mobilize financing for energy transition in Asia, and sponge cities for water efficiency.

We hope that this edition– and future ones– may serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among members of the water, energy, and environment sectors in the region.

If you wish to contribute articles or other materials that can be published in the next newsletter, you may send them to the CACCI Secretariat’s at cacci@cacci.biz

Thank you and best regards.

David Hsu
Director-General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry

Proposed CACCI Joint Seminars on “International Trade Terms” for new changes in 2023

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) plans to organize for the second half of 2023, in cooperation with interested Primary and Affiliate Members, four different one-day seminars on International Trade Terms 2020 (Incoterms 2020) and related themes.

The four proposed programs are:

(1) New Revision of the International Trade Terms (one day)

(2) Developments in Demand Guarantees and Standby L/C World (one day)

(3) Advanced Seminar in Incoterms 2020 and their Linkage to Documentary Credits  (one day)

(4) Advanced Seminar on Payment and Security Instruments in Foreign Trade, Trade Finance (one day)

As the Incoterms 2020 have been applicable since January 1, 2020, being familiar with all changes and their impact is a must in the international trade and finance world.  Moreover, new changes were implemented during 2023 that might require further study.

Interested chambers can choose from the suggested topics and preferably organize a two one-day courses. The programs can be adjusted according to the Chamber’s needs. For instance there could be more comprehensive one-day course just on documentary credits and their financing, with news such as ISBP 821 and new ICC Opinions on some practical issues. New topics can be added or deleted. In fact, more time will be allocated to practical case studies and discussions.

By attending the seminars, participants will be able to:

(1) get a further understanding on the main aspects of contract of sale, related risks, main problematic issues;
(2) familiarize themselves with trade terms as per Incoterms and above all with new revision Incoterms 2020 – their practical impact on international trade and finance; and
(3) learn about the relationship of payment terms to trade terms – Incoterms 2020.

The seminars will be conducted by Mr. Pavel Andrle, Secretary to the Banking Commission of ICC Czech Republic as well as Member of UCP 600 Consulting Group.

In this regard, we would like to know whether your Chamber is interested in hosting the proposed seminars under a cost-sharing arrangement as outlined in the Annex 1.

Please let us know if your Chamber is interested to host the proposed seminars under the proposed cost-sharing arrangements by filling out the attached Response Form and returning it to us through our Fax No.: (886 2) 2760-7569 or e-mail: cacci@cacci.biz by September 15, 2023.

CACCI Joint Seminars on “International Trade Terms” in April 17-18, 2023 in Hanoi

CACCI VP Dr. Alireza Yavari’s Business Dinner with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mr. Ali Sabri

On the evening of 5th August 2023, Dr. Alireza Yavari, the Vice-President of CACCI, attended a business dinner banquet planned by the Business Magnates Association (BMA) in Tehran. It was at this event that Dr. Yavari had the honor of engaging in a comprehensive discussion with the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. Ali Sabri.

The crux of their conversation delved into the commercial activities prevalent in the APAC region.

The three primary topics discussed were:

1. APAC Region Trade: The importance of commercial activities in the APAC region was highlighted, with an emphasis on enhancing trade relations among CACCI’s member states.
2. Tourism in Sri Lanka: Focus was on Sri Lanka’s growing tourism sector, covering:

• The rise in foreign investments in hotels, especially luxury brands like Shangri-La.
• The involvement of Emirati investors in the hotel sector.
• The popularity of boutique hotels.

3. Economic Strategy of Sri Lanka: Minister Sabri discussed:

• The nation’s success in reducing inflation from 70% to 6.7% swiftly.
• Steps taken included raising interest rates, removing subsidies, and introducing social security for the poorest 20%.
• These efforts led to Sri Lanka’s inclusion in the IMF program, reflecting economic stability and a confirmed $8 billion funding over four years from institutions such as the IMF and ADB, promising steady economic growth and recovery.

Excellent webinar on Hong Kong After Covid-19 held on July 14th 2023

The Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC) hosted a well-attended webinar on “Hong Kong After CoVid-29’ on July 14, 2023, 2:00 PM Hong Kong Time.

Co-organized with the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), the one-hour webinar featured as Speaker Professor Terence Chong, Associate professor of Economics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Serving as Moderator was Mr. Ernest Yuen, KCC Chairman and Vice President of CACCI

Professor Chong made a presentation on the current economic and financial sector situation in Hong Kong, the policy measures the territory has adopted to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and to achieve sustainable economic recovery and sustainable growth, and the trade, investment, and business opportunities it currently offers, particularly to investors from other counties in the region.

In his presentation, Professor covered the following topics:

(1) An overview of the current state of Hong Kong economy

(2) The growth in the number of tourists after the opening up of Hong Kong in 2023

(3) The current state and future prospects of Hong Kong’s Banking and Financial sector

(4) Hong Kong’s housing market prospect

(5) The engine of growth for Hong Kong economy in the second half of 2023

Professor Chong highlighted the following points in his report:

• The Hong Kong economy posted a growth of 2.3annual growth during the first quarter of 2023, after recording negative quarterly growths in 2022 from -1.2% to -4.6%.
• The Hong Kong unemployment rate has started to decline in 2023 to reach the low levels of about 3% prior to the pandemic period, with the number of employed persons going up since the start of the current year.
• Inflation rate has also been controlled to the 2.0% level in May 2023
• China and Hong Kong exports have also been slowly improving from their 2019-2020 levels;
• Fiscal expenditures on average stay higher than prior to the pandemic period due to the government’s pandemic-related spending
• The number of arriving tourists has started to go up in 2023 from almost zero in the previous three years, as Hong Kong begins to open up.
• Passenger traffic at the airport continues to show a net outflow of Hong Kong residents in 2023 although the situation has slightly improved compared with the previous three years.
• The traffic of visitors from Mainland China has remained more or less steady, while passenger traffic from other countries has shown improvement during the early part of 2023
• The banking sector remained healthy, with their balance sheets showing a gradual growth during the past two years
• Bank loans to the private sector have also remained high indicating a steady demand from businesses.
• The Hong Kong 3-month Interbank rate has followed the same trend shown by the US Fed Funds Rate
• The Hong Kong housing price index as well as the Hong Kong Property Market price index have slightly dipped but stayed at a level higher than prior to 2020, indicating a continuing demand
• For the second half of 2023, business confidence is rising, as reflected in the positive annual growth in retail sales during the first half of the year.
• The Hong Kong government is currently working on the integration of the Hong Kong economy through the development of the Greater Bay Area, which covers regions that have their respective strengths in finance, technology, and manufacturing.

Only registered participants received a copy of the presentation.

The video recording of the webinar is available here.

CACCI Profile – November edition available

We are pleased to announce that the November 2023 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click here to read or download.

This month’s issue features the highlights of the recently concluded 37^th CACCI Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal. It also includes news on the WCF General Council Meeting in Geneva in late November, and on the recent meeting of CoNGO President Liberato Bautista with CACCI Secretariat officers.  Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz

First Semester 2023 Issue of the CACCI Journal of Commerce and Industry

We are pleased to announce the First Semester 2023 issue of the CACCI Journal of Commerce and Industry is now available online.

It is our ardent hope that this publication will continue to serve as an effective platform for the exchange and sharing of information and ideas among CACCI members on issues impacting on the region’s commerce and industry.

We would also like to take this opportunity to invite all members to contribute articles for the next issues of the Journal. Kindly send your materials to the CACCI Secretariat through our e-mail address at cacci@cacci.biz

CACCI Director-General Calls on Turkey’s Representatives in Taipei

Turkey’s Representative in Taipei Mr. Muhammed Berdibek (center) received CACCI Director General Mr. David Hsu (left)  and Deputy Director-General Mr. Amador Honrado Jr. (right) on July 21, 2023 at the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei.

During the visit, Mr. Hsu introduced CACCI and the Asian Bankers Association (ABA), one of the Product and Service Councils established under the CACCI umbrella, to Mr. Berbidek. Hel also outlined programs of CACCI and highlighted the active involvement of the Union Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) since it joined CACCI as a Primary Member in 2009. Among others, Mr. Hsu informed  Mr. Berbidek that TOBB has hosted two annual gathering of CACCI and three CACCI Presidential visits, and that incumbent TOBB President Mr. Rifat Hisarciklioglu has served as CACCI Vice President since 2014.

Mr. Berbidek expressed his appreciation for the visit of Mr. Hsu and Mr. Honrado and offered his office’s assistance in helping CACCI members from other countries – especially those from Taiwan – who may be interested in exploring business opportunities in Turkey, and in establishing contacts with relevant government agencies in the country.

Asian ICT Council’s newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the July 2023 issue of the Asian ICT Council Newsletter is now available to read or download here.

The latest issue includes a report on the successfully concluded webinar on Cross-Border Digital Skilling, and features several articles covering AI, smart industries, and digital transformation. We hope that this edition– and the future ones– may serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among members of the ICT sectors in the region.

If you wish to contribute articles or other materials that can be published in the next newsletter, you may send them through the CACCI Secretariat’s e-mail address at cacci@cacci.biz

Webinar on Hong Kong Economy After Covid-19 – Register now!

CACCI cordially invite its members and friends to the upcoming Investment Forum “Hong Kong Economy After Covid-19” scheduled to take place on July 14,  2023 at 14:00 SGT.

Jointly organized by Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC) and CACCI (ABA’s parent organization), the 90-minute Forum will feature as Speaker Professor Terence Chong, Ph.D., Associate Head of New Asia College, Executive Director of Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics, Finance Co-Director of Global Economics and Finance Program & Associate Professor of Economics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Professor Chong’s presentation will elaborate on the following topics:

(1) Current economic and financial sector situation in Hong Kong.

(2) Policy measures the territory has adopted to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and to achieve sustainable economic recovery and sustainable growth.

(3) Trade, investment, and business opportunities it currently offers, particularly to investors from other counties in the region.

THE AGENDA

14:00 Opening Remarks by Moderator, Mr. Ernest Yuen, Chairman of the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce and CACCI Vice President.

14:05 Feature Presentation by Professor Terence Chong, Ph.D.

15:00 Q&A Session

15:25 Closing Remarks by Moderator, Mr. Ernest Yuen

15:30 End of the Forum

Please register HERE.

XIX CACCI Health & Education newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to share with you the 19th Volume of CACCI Health & Education Newsletter, it is available to view or download here.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the tourism sector in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials, preferably with accompanying photos to teresaliu@cacci.biz.

CACCI Profile – June edition available

We are pleased to announce that the June 2023 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click here to read or download.

This month’s issue features updates from President Peter McMullin on his recent trip to Geneva to participate in the 13^th World Chambers Congress, as well as a brief summary on the Presidential Visits he led to Taipei and Hanoi last May. Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

Webinar on CPTPP June 28 – Register now

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) invites you to the upcoming webinar on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), scheduled to take place on June 28 at 2:00 PM, Taipei Time.

CPTPP is a trade agreement among Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. It evolved from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which was never ratified due to the withdrawal of the United States.

The eleven signatories have combined economies representing 13.4 percent of global gross domestic product, at approximately US$13.5 trillion, making CPTPP one of the world’s largest free-trade areas by GDP, along with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, The European single market, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Jointly organized by CACCI and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the webinar will feature expert speakers from Japan, Taiwan, and Australia who will share their perspectives on the following topics:

(1) Current status of the CPTPP (the signatories, newest members, current applicants, potential applicants, etc.)

(2) Rationale of the Agreement

(3) Benefits expected from the Agreement

(4) What are the challenges, issues, and/or criticisms for the implementation of the Agreement going forward? How may these challenges be overcome?

AGENDA

14:00
Opening Remarks by the Moderator, Mr. Lennon Tan, President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation

14:05
Special Remarks by Dr. Roy Chun Lee, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

14:10
1^st Presentation by Mr. Noriyuki Mita, Director of Strategy & Planning Division at Basic Materials Business Group, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

14:30
2^nd Presentation by Dr. Huai-Shing Yen, Associate Research Fellow and Senior Deputy, Executive Director at the Taiwan WTO and RTA Center, Chung Hwa Institution for Economic Research (CIER)

14:50
3^rd Presentation by Hon. Professor Andrew Stoeckel, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis at the Australian National University

15:10
Q&A Session

15:25
Closing Remarks by the Moderator

Registration is FREE. Click HERE.

Webinar on Philippines Foreign Investments a success

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) jointly organized an Investment Forum on the Philippines on June 20, 2023.

The 90-minute online Forum focused on the theme “Philippines: An Enviable Destination for Foreign Investments”. It featured speakers from both the Philippine government and business sectors who made presentations on the current economic situation in the Philippines and the trade, investment, and business opportunities to foreign investors and companies.

The speakers and their respective topics included the following:

• Dr. Ceferino Rodolfo, Vice Chairman and Managing Head, Board of Investments, Department of Trade and Industry (Doing Business in the Philippines)
• Mr. Perry E. Ferrer, Vice President for Industrial Affairs / Director, Digital Science and Technology, Philippine Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (Information Technology / Innovation)
• Arch, Felino A. Palafox, Jr., Vice President for Trade Affairs and Director for Environment and Natural Resources and Climate Change, PCCI (Infrastructure / Smart City
• Mr. Salvador Salacup, Co-Chair, Agriculture Committee, PCCI (Agriculture
• Ms. Lisa S. Go, Chief, Investment Promotion Office, Department of Energy (Renewable Energy)
• Mr. Tereso O. Panga, Director General, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Investment Opportunities in Ecozones)

The Forum opened with a Welcome Remarks by Mr. George T. Barcelon, President of PCCI, followed with the Opening Remarks by Mr. Peter McMullin AM, President, CACCI

The Closing Remarks were given by Mr. Jude G. Aguilar, Chairman, International Affairs Department and Co-Chairman, 49th PBC&E Organizing Committee, PCCI.

Only registered participants received the presentations (in PDF format).

The video presentation of the webniar can be viewed below or at the CACCI YouTube Channel.

CACCI Director-General Meets with the Japanese Representatives in Taiwan

Ms. Mayumi Eda, Director for Economic Affairs, and Ms. Yuko Arita, Chief, Trade Inquiry Unit and Director for Economic Affairs at the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office, received CACCI Director General Mr. David Hsu on June 9, 2023 at their headquarters.

Mr. Hsu, who was accompanied by Ms. Yumiko Ebata, Vice President, Corporate Relations Department, CTBC Bank Co., Ltd, briefed Ms. Eda and Ms. Arita on the programs of CACCI and highlighted the active involvement of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) since the Confederation was established in 1966 with JCCI as one of its Founding members. Among others, Mr. Hsu informed  that JCCI has hosted 10 annual gathering of CACCI and two CACCI Presidential visit, and that four of the past CACCI Presidents were from Japan.

Ms. Eda and Ms. Arita expressed his appreciation for the work of CACCI and its efforts in helping the Japanese business community – through JCCI – reach out into the Asian market.

New Zealand Representative in Taiwan Calls on CACCI Secretariat

Mr. Mark Pearson, Director, New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei (center), visited the CACCI Secretariat headquarters on June 6 and met with CACCI Director-General Mr. David Hsu (2nd from left) and other Secretariat officers Deputy Director-General Mr. Amador Honrado (3rd from right), Deputy Director-General Mr. Mig Moreno (leftmost), Senior Officer Ms. Abby Moreno (rightmost), and Senior Officer Ms. Teresa Liu (2nd from right).

The meeting provided the Secretariat the opportunity to give Mr. Pearson a brief introduction on CACCI and the participation of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NZCCI) and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (WCC) in CACCI activities over the years, as well as the upcoming activities that CACCI is co-organizing with the two chambers for the rest of the year. Mr. Pearson expressed his strong support for CACCI and offered his assistance in promoting the Confederation’s programs to enhance regional economic cooperation.

CACCI Profile – May edition available

We are pleased to announce that the May 2023 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click here to read or download.

This month’s issue features updates from President Peter McMullin on his recent Presidential Visits to Taiwan and Vietnam, and participation in CoNGO’s RCAP meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

Philippines looks on resumption of FTA talks with EU

The Philippines is pursuing the resumption of free trade negotiations with the European Union (EU), Philippine Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual has announced.

During a meeting, Pascual told members of the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) about his country’s intention to return to the negotiating table over the Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Pascual said an FTA with the EU will help the Philippines secure additional duty-free market access and provide a conducive framework for attracting more significant investments from the EU.

He also highlighted the government’s efforts to facilitate international partnerships and collaboration through the recently-ratified Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement that will encourage foreign direct investment inflows.

“I’d like to reemphasize our growth strategy centered around enhancing trade and investment.

Our objective is to foster job creation and poverty reduction by uplifting the global position of our export sectors and driving investments into strategic areas,” Pascual said.

The EU-ABC, a major voice of European businesses in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, comprises nine European Chambers of Commerce in South-East Asia and major European multinational corporations across multiple sectors such as manufacturing, services, healthcare and logistics.

Xinhua

CACCI VP Khurram Tariq Sayeed calls on TAITRA President

CACCI VP Khurram Tariq Sayeed, along with Pakistan Delegates & CACCI DG CACCI David Hsu with TAITRA CEO & President Simon Wang in Taipei

Khurram Tariq Sayeed, Vice President Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry (CACCI) and Former Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Indutry (FPCCI) along with Pakistan Delegates & DG CACCI David Hsu called on Simon Wang, CEO & President of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), at his office in Taipei on May 19.

The two discussed in detail various initiatives TAITRA has taken over the years to increase bilateral trade between Taiwan and Pakistan. TAITRA and FPCCI have also signed a MOU for cooperation in the past. Mr. Wang said that TAITRA will be sending a delegation of Taiwanese businesspersons to Pakistan shortly and Mr. Sayeed assured him that FPCCI will facilitate and extend all possible cooperation to the delegates. The two sides also discussed the possibility of participation of Pakistani businesspersons in the trade shows being held in Taiwan under TAITRA.

CACCI Elected Member of the Steering Committee of CoNGO’s Regional Committee for Asia-Pacific

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) has recently joined as member of the Steering Committee of the Regional Committee for Asia Pacific (RCAP) of the Conference on Non-Government organizations (CoNGO), an international organization of NGOs from around the world with Consultative Status under the United Nations, of which CACCI is a member.

RCAP elected CACCI to the Steering Committee during RCAP’s meeting on May 19, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. RCAP recognized CACCI’s very important work in the Asia-Pacific Region and its acknowledged status in civil society and business circles,  and of course its positive responses to RCAP initiatives.

Currently composed on nine members (with CACCI as the latest one to join), the RCAP aims to facilitate Asia-Pacific NGOs’ participation in all UN and CoNGO activities globally and regionally. It will cooperate with UN.ESCAP and other UN bodies and agencies in Asia and the Pacific. It will promote better cooperation among CoNGO members as well as other civil society organizations in Asia-Pacific.

FPCCI Members Visit CACCI Secretariat

Members of the delegation from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) who joined the CACCI Presidential visit to Taiwan held on May 17-18 called on the CACCI Secretariat on May 19. Headed by CACCI Vice President Mr. Khurram Sayeed, the Pakistani businessmen met with the Secretariat officers and staff led by Director-General David Hsu and were given a briefing on CACCI and its activities and explored possible areas where they can cooperate with and get support from the Secretariat in seeking business opportunities with other CACCI members.

CACCI VP Khurram Tariq Sayeed meets with Former President of Pakistan

Khurram Tariq Sayeed, receives Mr. Asif Ali Zardari on his arrival at FPCCI Lahore office

Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, Former President of Pakistan and Co-Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party recently paid a visit to the Lahore office of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). Khurram Tariq Sayeed, CACCI Vice President and former FPCCI Vice President, briefed the former president on CACCI and its activities. They also discussed in detail the issues being faced by foreign investors in general and in particular in the Sindh Province, especially in the Renewable Energy Sector among others. Former President assured to resolve all issues impending investments in the Sindh province.

STUF United Fund and CACCI Secretariat discuss joint projects

Representatives of STUF United Fund led by CEO Mr. John Lin (4^th from left) visited the CACCI Secretariat on March 28 2023 to discuss with CACCI Director-General Mr. David Hsu (3^rd from left) and other CACCI executives the possible support of CACCI for the NGO Leadership Forum that they propose to organize in Taiwan in September 2023.

Mr. Lin informed Mr. Hsu that they plan to invite as Keynote Speaker for the Forum Mr. Liberato Bautista, President of the Conferences of NGOs with Consultative Status in UN ECOSOC (CoNGO). Just like CACCI, STUF United Fund has Consultative Status in the UN ECOSOC and is a member of CoNGO.  It was established in 2009 as a US-registered nonprofit organization that supports international charity work.

The organization focuses on the areas of Disaster Relief, Culture and Education, Public Health, and Environmental Protection. STUF aims to create sustainable changes through connecting and working with NGO/NPO (non-government organization, nonprofit organization), government departments, UN agencies, and the corporate sector. STUF’s charity work has been in 5 continents, 32 countries.

Young Entrepreneurs YEGAP newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to announce the release of the 23^rd edition of Asia-Pacific Entrepreneur, the newsletter of the Young Entrepreneurs Group of of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) under the chairmanship of Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha from Nepal.

We hope that this edition– and the future ones– will continue to serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among young entrepreneurs in the region.

If you wish to contribute articles or other materials that can be published in the next newsletter, you may send them through the CACCI Secretariat’s e-mail address at cacci@cacci.biz

Empowering Women, Empowering Economies: The Vital Role of Social Entrepreneurship

By Anna Marie Periquet

My entrepreneurial journey has been full of opportunities to learn from others and share my experiences as an entrepreneur. It was therefore truly a privilege to be invited to speak on corporate social responsibility to a group of women social entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their communities through their innovative entrepreneurial endeavors.

Women social entrepreneurs play a crucial role in promoting social wellness and creating positive change in society. As they focus on improving the lives of marginalized communities, their work can have a significant impact on the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. I was inspired to hear success stories of women social entrepreneurs who have overcome challenges and achieved success in their ventures. Their stories highlight the positive impact that social entrepreneurs can have on wellness and its many dimensions.

Empowering social enterprises is vital for achieving sustainable economic growth and development. In recent years, social entrepreneurship has emerged as a powerful tool for promoting women’s empowerment and economic participation.

However, there are various obstacles that hinder women’s economic participation and entrepreneurship, including cultural and financial barriers. This highlights the need for policies and initiatives that address these barriers and create a conducive environment for women’s economic empowerment.

Every day, somewhere in the world, women social entrepreneurs are breaking the glass ceiling and defying the odds. While some of these women make headlines for their extraordinary achievements, many others work tirelessly behind the scenes, driving change and inspiring others without any recognition.

Regardless of the level of attention they receive, these women are trailblazers who challenge the status quo and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society. Their determination and resilience have a profound impact on other women, empowering them to pursue their dreams and defy the limitations imposed by society.

Through their actions, they are changing the narrative and proving that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and unwavering commitment. I would therefore like to extend my utmost respect to successful women social entrepreneurs who have not only created jobs, driven innovation but also made valuable contributions to their local economies.

As we recognize the vital role of women’s social entrepreneurship, it is crucial to acknowledge and celebrate their remarkable achievements. The impact of women’s social entrepreneurship on our economies has never been more crucial, and we owe it to these inspiring women for paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Thank you to the Miriam College – Henry Sy, Sr. Innovation Center (MC-HSSIC) for inviting me to impart insights on my journey as an entrepreneur and advocate for social responsibility.

Always. Believe and Live.

Anna Marie Periquet is an independent advisor and value creator for corporate brand reputation, communications, corporate social responsibility, and corporate wellness in the Philippines and Asia Pacific region. She is the Founder of Believe&Live, an advocacy for health and wellness in the workplace. She is also the founder and former chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia Pacific (YEGAP) of the CACCI.

CACCI Profile – April edition available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the April 2023 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click HERE to read or download.

This month’s issue features CACCI’s newest member: the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF). It also features President Peter McMullin’s latest meeting with the Chairman of KADIN in Jakarta, and the recently concluded CACCI webinar on Cross-Border Digital Skilling. Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

Women Entrepreneur Council Newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to share the 26th Volume of CACCI Women Entrepreneur Council Newsletter, it is available to view or download here.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the tourism sector in the CACCI region. Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues. Kindly forward your materials, preferably with accompanying photos to teresaliu@cacci.biz.

Successful Trade Finance Training held in Hanoi and HCMC

The Institute of Information Technology for Business under Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ITB-VCCI) organized two training sessions on various international trade and finance topics taught by Pavel Andrle, long term expert of ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) commissions on banking and commercial law and practice. The training sessions were sponsored by CACCI.

Each session consisted of one full day and one half day course held in two different Vietnamese cities. The first session was held on April 17 and 18, 2023 in Hanoi, and the second session was held on April 19 and 20, 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City. The ITB-VCCI hosted training gathered mostly exporters, importers, traders, also bankers and specialists working in other related fields such as logistics, tax, customs and law.

As observed by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Khiem – Vice Director of ITB/VCCI: “We are pleased that our long term cooperation with CACCI and ICC trainer Pavel Andrle continues. We had again great success, more than 60 participants in Hanoi and 110 participants in Ho Chi Minh City attended the course! It is wonderful that we could make it again as in-person event which makes it interactive. Participants particularly liked the focus on practical issues and real business scenarios. Recently, some vietnamese exporters suffered significant difficulties which might have been arguably prevented if the proper analysis of risks in the transaction was done and right decisions/measures were taken. The continuing learning and updating is a must and we are glad to be able to pass some of the knowledge to our members.“

First Day

The very comprehensive course was focused on main payment methods used in international trade, i.e. payment in advance, on open account terms and by a documentary credit or documentary collection. Pavel Andrle, the trainer, informed participants about risks from perspectives of users: exporters and importers. Many mistakes, errors and mishandling issues were discussed which was particularly well received by the audience. Participants very appreciated the opportunity to learn how to avoid problems in their daily business transactions. The first part of the course also included topics such as financing methods based on documentary credits (discounting, post-financing, UPAS credits, negotiation).

Afternoon session of the first full day course then covered receivable finance and its various techniques such as factoring, invoice discounting, supply chain financing.

The last part was devoted to security instruments, i.e. demand guarantees and standby letters of credit. Trainer highlighted importance of understanding technical terms of the instruments, above all differences between demand (independent) guarantees and standbys and accessory ones (suretyships). The proper wording of a suitable instruments is the key to success. Detailed technical knowledge is a must for any user of such instruments to be well protected. ICC rules bring a lot of certainly and clearity to where otherwise quite murky practices might prevail.

Second Day

The second half day course addressed the practical impact of the most recent revision of Incoterms, i.e. Incoterms 2020. Despite the fact that there are only a few substantial changes in these ICC rules on trade terms, the new publication brings more clarity to some previously debated issues (e.g. proper use of DAT term) and makes the rules easier to read and understand.

New Incoterms 2020 change the scope of the insurance coverage which the seller is to arrange for the buyer under CIP (ie. more extensive coverage Institute Cargo Clauses A or its equivalent is needed now) and also rename and extend the intended scope of usage for the previously used term DAT, now DPU. Incoterms 2020 also brought in a new option for FCA when the seller needs a shipped on board bill of lading (e.g. in case a documentary credit is used as the means of payment for the delivery of the goods). Evidently, a request for a shipped on board bill of lading does not match the seller´s delivery obligations under FCA, however, at least, the new opinion in Incoterms 2020 gives the seller a clear right to claim the bill of lading from the buyer (who is in turn obligated to instruct the carrier to issue the bill of lading to the seller).

Mr. Pavel Andrle, who is ICC certified expert on Incoterms 2020, explained all eleven trade terms with main focus on choosing and describing the relevant documentation. Documents requested (e.g. by the documentary credit) often do not match the seller´s delivery obligation under the chosen Incoterm which creates significant risks for the seller or the buyer. One needs to know and take measures to minimise relevant risks.

The training course was a success given the large number of participants and the active participation of the audience that raised many relevant questions. Above all, various case studies and stories of what went wrong resonated with the audience. To know how to conduct international transactions properly is a must to minimize risks and thus avoid significant losses.

Prevention is better than cure!

CACCI webinar on Cross-Border Cooperation in Digital Skilling and Innovation held April 18, 2023

The Foundation for Commerce and Culture Interchange (FCCI), the Computer Skills Foundation (CSF) Taiwan, and the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) India and CACCI held the webinar “Cross-Border Cooperation in Digital Skilling and Innovation” on April 18, 2023.

Cooperation across countries in training for digital skilling and innovation has become a global trend and is fast becoming a necessity. In the Asia-Pacific region, the standards for ICT skills are set per country, with certifications provided by national organizations. There are no regional or international standards currently in place.

The recently concluded webinar discussed what the current standards are for digital skills across different countries, and what can be done to facilitate cross-border skilling by addressing the following questions:

• Who is offering the services and programs in this area?
• What are the current issues being encountered?
• What can enterprises do to improve the recruitment of a digitally skilled workforce?
• How can we bridge the digital divide in education and improve digital literacy?
• How can we enable digital skilling and innovation on a regional or international level?

Moderated by Dr. Dennis Hu, Chair of CACCI’s Asian ICT Council and President of FCCI, the webinar featured as speakers Dr. J.B. Xiao, Secretary-General of CSF; Ms. Alison Wall, Chief of Staff of Australia’s Digital Skills Organization (DSO);  Dato Palani, Chair of the ASEAN Future Workforce Council based in Malaysia; and Sh. Subhanshu Tiwari, Executive Director of NIELIT replacing NIELIT Director General Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi, whio cold not join at the last minute due to another urgent matter)

The speakers each gave a 10- to 12-minute presentation introducing their respective organizations and detailing their capacities and services. This was followed by a panel discussion that featured panelists from the business or enterprise side, including Mr. George Abraham, Chair of CACCI’s SME Development Council; Mr. Charly Gordon, Global Policy Lead for the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Ms. Charmaine Leong, President of the Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association (PYEA). The panel discussed the needs of digital skills for development in the Asia-Pacific region, programs for strengthening digital skills and innovation, and mutual recognition of digital skills for talents and HR in Asia, among other issues.

The presentation files were available only to registered participants.

The video recording of the webinar can also be viewed at the CACCI Youtube Channel.

Governor of Pakistan’s KPK Province calls on CACCI VP Khurram Tariq Sayeed

The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province of Pakistan, Hon. Haji Ghulam Ali visited the residence of the late business leader & former Vice President of CACCI, Mr. Tariq Sayeed, during his Adnan Jalil. Mr. Khurram Tariq Sayeed, CACCI Vice President and former Vice President of FPCCI, welcomed the Governor along with prominent business leaders and FPCCI office bearers.

Mr. Sayeed congratulated Hon. Haji Ghulam Ali for assuming the charge as Governor of KPK and hoped that the province will progress under his able leadership. The Governor, in turn, paid great tribute to late Tariq Sayeed and attributed much of his success to his leadership. He also congratulated Khurram Tariq Sayeed on assuming his charge as Vice President CACCI.

Later, the Governor also visited the office of Mr. Khurram Tariq Sayeed at FPCCI. Mr. Sayeed briefed the Governor about CACCI and its objectives and emphasized that Pakistan must create a conducive environment for regional trade. He asked the Governor to play a role in the resumption of trade with India, starting with essential items.

In the end, Mr. Sayeed thanked the Hon. Governor for his visit and presented him with a CACCI memento.

President Lennon Tan Represents SMF in the CACCI Council

With its recent admission as the newest Primary Member of CACCI, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) has gained a seat in the CACCI Council, the governing body of the Confederation, where it is represented by SMF President Mr. Lennon Tan. The Council is composed of heads and/or duly designated representatives of Primary Members and the incumbent president of CACCI.

Mr. Tan is the Group Chairman of ADERA Global. He started his career as an engineer in the Petrochemical industry before spending 10 years with the American multinational 3M. In 2001, he decided to pursue his dream of being an entrepreneur.

After taking a small smart card manufacturing business in China, he tapped on technology and innovation to transform the manufacturing outfit into the top 10 global smart card producers in the world, and thereafter transforming the company’s capabilities to lead in the fields of artificial intelligence, biometric authentication, automation, fintech and data analytics, supporting major sectors ranging from banks, insurance, government, healthcare, telecommunications and transport worldwide.

The group was awarded ASEAN Business Award Overall Winner for Priority Integration Sector (ICT) in 2018. In 2016, Mr. Tan was awarded ASEAN Teochew Entrepreneur Award  and in 2017, he was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Financial Technology Enablement) from global professional services firm Ernst & Young. He is also President of the Teochew Entrepreneurs Club, sits on the judging panel of Women Entrepreneur Awards, and serves as advisor to the Women Entrepreneur Club.

With about 5,000 corporate members, comprising SMEs, MNCs and Affiliate Members, the SMF is the largest national organisation representing the interests of manufacturing and manufacturing-related industries in Singapore since 1932. It is considered a forefront trade federation serving the manufacturing community by driving digitalisation, innovation-led productivity, business transformation and internationalisation towards enhancing the competitiveness of its member companies.

CACCI and The Good Business Foundation sponsor the Asia-Pacific Mediation Competition

The Good Business Foundation (GBF) and Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) have recently announced that they are Principal Partners of the 7th annual Asia-Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition (APCMC). The APCMC is co-hosted by the Australian Disputes Centre and the International Chamber of Commerce. This year, the competition will be held online from 26 – 28 August 2023.

An initiative of Peter McMullin AM in 2018, the APCMC reflects the objectives and the values of GBF and CACCI and creates a unique opportunity for university students to practice their negotiation skills in a commercial mediation setting; an essential area of dispute resolution in international commercial law.

The APCMC seeks to empower tomorrow’s business leaders and legal minds, equipping them with skills to better meet the dispute resolution needs of international commerce in an expanding and increasingly complex marketplace. Through this competition, students learn to effectively combine the use of negotiation strategies, mediation and collaborative problem-solving skills to successfully represent their client’s interests and seek settlement.

The Competition acts as a regional preliminary round to the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition, held annually at the ICC Global Headquarters in Paris, France. There is a cash prize and reserved place in the prestigious Paris Competition 2023 for the winning team from the ADC-ICC regional event. In addition, all finalists and prize winners are eligible for an internship opportunity with the Australian Disputes Centre to further their learning.

The aims of the Competition are to:

1. Create an exceptional opportunity for students to showcase their negotiation skills in a commercial mediation environment.
2. Develop students’ skills in collaborative commercial problem solving, analytical judgement and persuasion.
3. Connect aspiring students to strong professional networks.

Teams are drawn from leading Universities in Australia, Asia, the South Pacific, Africa, Middle East and the Americas, with support provided by international mediators and lawyers who volunteer to support the students’ learning.

We warmly welcome University teams and professional volunteers from across the CACCI region to participate in this international competition.

For student participants, the competition is open to all undergraduate Business, Law and Social Science students and are under 30 years of age. More information can be found HERE.

APCMC participants can expect:

• A chance to win a reserved place to compete in the 19th Annual ICC Mediation Competition in 2024, the world’s largest moot exclusively devoted to international commercial mediation
• A cash prize for the winning team
• Internship opportunities for all APCMC award winners
• Access to a series of live webinars presented by leading practitioners on negotiation, mediation and the importance of wellness to prepare our APCMC participants for the competition ahead
• Invitation to numerous exciting networking events to meet other students and ADR professionals
• The opportunity to make connections both locally and internationally
• Direction and feedback from distinguished judges and mentors to improve students’ negotiation skills in the context of a mediation that is mediated by a professional mediator
• The opportunity to participate in multiple networking and fun activities such as the Impromptu Speech Competition!

Intrigued to see the competition in action? You can watch the APCMC 2022 Grand Final at the APCMC website HERE.

Teams comprise of 2 – 4 university students, and your university may enter more than one team, competition rules are available through this link.

If you are interested in being a part of this fantastic educational opportunity, please Register HERE.

CACCI Newsletter on Food and Agriculture available

Taipei – We are pleased to share with you the 19th Volume of CACCI Food & Agriculture Newsletter. It is available to view or download HERE.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the tourism sector in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials, preferably with accompanying photos to teresaliu@cacci.biz.

Thank you, and with best regards.

Sincerely yours,

David Hsu
Director-General
CACCI

CACCI Tourism newsletter available

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the tourism sector in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to teresaliu@cacci.biz.

Thank you, and with best regards.

Sincerely yours,

David Hsu
Director-General
CACCI

37th CACCI Conference in Phnom Penh on October 30-31, 2023

This year’s 37th CACCI Conference will be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on October 30-31, with the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce as the host organization.

The Cambodian Chamber is currently deciding on the venue for the conference. The Conference theme and topics, program, and speakers are also still being discussed and will be finalized at a later date. CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM has said that suggestions from the host chamber, member chambers, and the Office of the CACCI President cover a wide range of relevant topics, and will be taken into consideration during planning discussions.

During the CACCI Planning Committee Meeting held on March 16, H.E. Oknha Nguon Mengtech, Director-General of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said that it was an honor for the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce to once again host a CACCI Conference, after several years since the last time it organized an annual gathering of CACCI in 2004. He pointed out that the Chamber is happy to host the 2023 event following its successful hosting of the ASEAN meetings in 2022. He added that he and the Chamber looked forward to once again meeting and welcoming the officers and members of CACCI for the 37th CACCI Conference.

37th CACCI Conference 

            30 – 31 October 2023, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
(As of Luly 25, 2023) 

30 October 2023 

09:00am-17:00pm Registration  

09:00am – 10:15am Parallel Breakout Sessions 

Group One 

I. Asian ICT Council on “Envision the Future of AI” 

Suggested Speakers: 

(1) Desmond Tay, Managing Director of GUUD Pte. Ltd., and Council Member of Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF)  

(2) Charles Huang, Vice President, Taipei Computer Association (tbc) 

(3) Graeme Muller, CEO, NZTech (tbc) 

(4) Oliver Tien, Chief Adviser, Asia Pacific Assistive Robotics Association, Singapore (tbc) 

Session Chairman: Dr. Dennis Hu, President, Foundation for Commerce and Culture Interchange 

II. Asian Council on Food and Agriculture on “Food Security and Access: Ensuring Equitable  and Sustainable Food Systems” 

Suggested Speakers: 

(1) Abdus Salam, Managing Director, Organic Bangladesh Ltd.  

Session Chairman:  Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, Vice President, CACCI and Former President, FNCCI 

10:15am – 11:30am Parallel Breakout Sessions 

Group Two 

I. Young Entrepreneurs Group Asia-Pacific  

Suggested Speakers: 

(1) Narin Shahrokhi Kabir, Member, Iran CCIMA 

Session Chairman: Rommel Gerodias, President, A101 Innovations Inc. (Philippines) 

II. Asian Council on Tourism on “Green Tourism for Sustainable Future” 

Session Chairman: Anura Lokuhetty., Chairman, Red Apple Travels & Holidays Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. 

11:30am-12:45pm Parallel Breakout Sessions  

Group Three 

I. SME Development Council 

Session Chairman: George Abraham, Chairman, The GA Group Pte. Ltd. 

II. Asian Council on Water, Energy and Environment on “Clean & Green Energy: CO2 Zero Emission”

Suggested Speakers: 

(1) Melvin Tan, Managing Director of Cyclect Pte.Ltd. and Vice President of SMF 

Session Chairman: Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Executive Chairman, Hydro Solutions Pvt. Ltd. 

12:45pm-02:00pm Lunch 

02:00pm-02:45pm Policy Advocacy Working Group Meeting

02:45pm-04:45pm Discover Business Opportunities Through CACCI 

Invited presenters: JCCI, SMF, PNGCCI, Cambodia CC 

04:45pm-6:00pm Business Matching Sessions

07:00pm-09:30pm Welcome Reception/Dinner 

CACCI internal meetings (not open to the public): 

02:45pm-03:45pm Advisory Board Meeting 

03:45pm-04:45pm Budget Commission Meeting

05:00pm-06:30pm 97th CACCI Council Meeting 

31 October 2023 

“Chambers of Commerce – Helping Businesses Get  SET for the Future”

(S)  Sustainability is critical for SMEs to gain a competitive advantage in today’s market, to be able to manage business risks, grow their brand and enhance their access to capital. According to the OECD, SMEs collectively contribute to over 50% of global Greenhouse Gas emissions from business globally. The majority of SME owners are concerned about the impacts of climate change but they need help to make this transition. Chambers can offer this support to current and potential new members looking to decarbonise their businesses and contribute to a sustainable economy. 

(E) Entrepreneurship and particularly inclusive entrepreneurship supports people with new ideas to solve some of our most entrenched challenges. By supporting entrepreneurs embrace new technologies, include and support diverse groups of entrepreneurs and allow for innovation to flourish we will see new business models emerge to move us toward a truly just economy. 

(T)  Trade support is a critical service Chambers provide to the business community. Trade not only helps business supply the world with the goods and services we all desire, it also builds and maintains cross border relationships. Chambers offer a range of services including mediation, ease of doing business by digitising processes as well as connecting SMEs through networking and business matching opportunities. Through this work Chambers are truly strengthening global multilateralism and in-turn global peace. 

09:00-10:00 Opening Ceremony  

• Welcome Remarks by:  Neak Okhna Kith Meng 

President, Cambodia Chamber of  

Commerce 

• Welcome Statement by: Peter McMullin AM 

President, CACCI 

Suggested Keynote Speakers: 

• Minister of Commerce of Cambodia  

10:00am – 10:15am Coffee Break 

10:00am – 10:30am Press Conference 

10:30am – 11:30am Plenary Session 1    

SUSTAINABILITY: Developing Clean and Renewable Energy  

for a Greener World 

This session will feature speakers who will share their views on how to ensure a sustainable supply of renewable energy, improve access to modern energy services, identify possible areas of regional cooperation to achieve a clean energy integration to build a greener world, and how chambers can play the role as a voice of change at COP28 in Dubai. 

Suggested Speakers 

• Dr. Alireza Yavari, Deputy President for International Affairs, ICCIMA 

• Rishabh Shroff, Chairman, YEGAP Committee on Policy Advocacy (Topic: ESG standards) 

• Mr. Khurram Sayeed, CEO, Planet Energy Pvt Ltd., Vice President, CACCI 

• Narin Shahrokhi Kabir  

• Dr. Muhammad Khazaei, Secretary-General, ICC-Iran 

Moderator:  

• Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chairman, Asian Council on Water, Energy, and Environment (ACWEE) 

11:30am – 12:30pm Plenary Session 2   

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Driver for Regional Economic  

Growth 

Discussion will focus on how to promote the entrepreneurial spirit in the region – particularly young and women entrepreneurs – through, for instance, mentorship and access to capital and markets, in order to make them effective and sustained contributors to the economic growth of their respective communities and the national and regional economy as a whole. 

Suggested Speakers:  

• Diana Tjoeng, Asia Regional Manager for Good Return (Impact Fund, Cambodia) (Topic: Access to Capital) 

• Michael Lee Chair, Membership and Partnership Alliance Committee, YEGAP, and CEO, CreBiz Factory 
•   
• Sudha Shivkumar President, FICCI Ladies Organisation (Topic: Women Entrepreneurs) 
•  

• Nunki Juniarti, ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship Jakarta 

• Mrs. Mukta Nandini Jain, Chairman, CACCI Women Entrepreneurs Council 
•  
• SHE Investments (Cambodia Women Groups) (Topic: Inclusive entrepreneurship) 

Suggested Moderator: 

• Mangesh Lal Shrestha, Immediate Past Chairman, CACCI Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia Pacific (YEGAP); Global Vice President (Growth & Artificial Intelligence) at Frost & Sullivan, 

12:45pm – 02:15pm Lunch  

02:30pm – 03:45pm Plenary Session 3   

TRADE: Helping Businesses Become Global Trade Players 

Invited speakers will elaborate on their thoughts and ideas on how to assist businesses, particularly the SMEs which comprised majority of chambers’ constituencies, adequately equipped to participate in the international market through, for instance, digital transformation, mediation and dispute resolution capability, and labor mobility and skills development to meet new business and market demands. 

Suggested Speakers 

• Deborah Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Disputes Centre (Topic: Mediation/Dispute Resolution) 

• Mr. James Shi Chu, Secretary General, Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC), Taiwan 

• Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)   

• Ullas Marar, Global Programme Manager at the ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoEs). (Suggested topic: ICC’s Digital Export Enablement Program (DEEP) running across ASEAN countries and supported by Google) 

• Dato Palani, Chair, ASEAN Future of Work Council (“Labour mobility and skills development to meet new business demands” 

• Dennis Hu, President, Foundation for Commerce and Culture Interchange; Chairman, CACCI ICT Council 

• Representative from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of  

Australia (Topic: Digitization of SMEs: Experience from Fiji) 

Suggested Moderator:  

• Sheikh Fazle Fahim, CACCI Vice President and Former President, FBCCI 

03:45pm – 04:00pm  Coffee Break 

04:00pm – 05:15pm Plenary Session 4 

CEO FORUM:     Development Challenges and Opportunities  

in the Asia-Pacific Region 

Company CEOs and business leaders will be invited to share their insights on what they think are the development challenges and opportunities faced by the region, including – but not limited to – food safety and security, tourism, supply chain resilience, climate change, cooperation in healthcare, the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and China’s economic growth, 

Suggested Speakers: 

• Jemal Inaishvili, President Emeritus, CACCI and Former CEO, Poti Sea Port  

• Samir Modi, Immediate Past President of CACCI’ Executive Director, Modi Enterprises 

• Lennon Tan, President, Singapore Manufacturing Federation 

• John Denton AO, Secretary General, ICC WCF 

• Su-Wei Chang, President, TMY Technology 

• Nola Watson, President, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

Suggested Moderator:  

• Peter McMullin AM, President, CACCI 

06.00pm Gala Dinner  

1 November 2023  

• Optional Post-Conference City-Tour 
• Departure of delegates 

CACCI Profile – March edition available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the March 2023 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click HERE to read or download.

This month’s issue includes updates from CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM on his recent activities. It also features the recently concluded CACCI Planning Committee meeting, during which some details of this year’s 37^th CACCI Conference were discussed and decided.

Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

Successful Nepal Business Outlook webinar

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) held the webinar on Nepal Business Outlook on March 24 , 2023 in association with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Organized as part of the webinar series on “Discover Business Opportunities with CACCI”, the FNCCI session featured Mr. Manoj Paudel, a young entrepreneur and economist currently serving as the Co-Chair of the International Investment Promotion Committee at FNCCI.

SUMMARY

The one-hour webinar was moderated by Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, Managing Director of the Panchakanya Group, and currently CACCI Vice President. CACCI President Mr. Peter mcMullin AM delivered the Welcome Remarks.

Starting with a description of the FNCCI, its services, and its role in the Nepalese economy, Mr. Paudel then proceeded to introduce Nepal’s key economic statistics so that the audience could understand the current macroeconomic conditions of Nepal.

According to Mr. Paudel, Nepalese economic growth is emerging from the sudden economic slowdown of 2020 due to the pandemic, a drastic experience that negatively impacted most countries of the region as well.

He pointed out that nowadays, Nepal projects a high rate of growth for the next couple of years led by hydropower, tourism, industrial manufacturing, agriculture, mining, services, and information technology and communication.

Mr. Paudel also explained how the country’s FDI legal framework has evolved since its inception in 1950 to today’s, when the government has created active contact windows, even in collaboration with FNCCI to facilitate foreign investment in Nepal.

He noted that Nepal’s major imports currently are refined oil, semi-finished iron, and mineral fuels among many other products. On the other side, Nepal’s major exports are animals and vegetable fats, oils and waxes, textiles, coffee, tea and spices, etc..

Mr. Paudel indicated that the business outlook for Nepal is good based on the increasing flow of FDI during the decade prior to the pandemic.  While the pandemic adversely impacted FDI flows, the figures are expected to return to high levels.

Furthermore, Mr. Paudel argued that the key selling points making Nepal a profitable investment are Nepal’s strategic location, 100% ownership in almost all sectors, including companies’ ownership of land, and 100% repatriation of investment which also allows for the repatriation of 75% of the employee’s salary.

In conclusion, Mr. Paudel recommended that foreign investors take advantage of FDI Help Desk which has been set up to facilitate investments in Nepal.

Mr. Paudel’s comprehensive and highly informative presentation was followed by a lively Q&A discussion with the audience.

The presentation (in PDF format) was distributed to registered participants only.

The video recording of the webinar can also be viewed at the CACCI Youtube Channel

CACCI holds Virtual Planning Committee Meeting

Members of the 2023 CACCI Planning Committee led by CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM met virtually on March 16, 2023 at 4:30 PM, Taipei Time to discuss preparations for the 37th CACCI Conference to be hosted by Cambodia Chamber of Commerce in the latter part of 2023.

A total of 29 delegates from seven countries attended the Meeting, including representatives from Australia, Cambodia, India, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Turkey, and Taiwan.

In his Opening Remarks, H.E. Oknha Nguon Mengtech, Director-General of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said that it was an honor for the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce to once again host a CACCI Conference, after several years since the last time it organized an annual gathering of CACCI in 2004. He pointed out that the Chamber is happy to host the 2023 event following its successful hosting of the ASEAN meetings in 2022. He said he and the Chamber looked forward to once again meeting and welcoming the officers and members of CACCI for the 37th CACCI Conference.

CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM joined Director-General Mengtech in thanking the meeting participants for joining the discussions, pointing out that their presence demonstrated their continued commitment to the Confederation.

Following discussions during the meeting, the planning committee decided to hold the 37th CACCI Conference on October 30-31 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Cambodian Chamber initially proposed two venues for the conference: Sofitel and Sokha Hotel. The Committee requested Cambodia Chamber to decide which of the two hotels should be the venue, and to advise the Committee of its decision later.

A discussion was also carried out on the theme and topics for this year’s conference. Taking into consideration the suggestions from the host chamber as well as member chambers FICCI, FPCCI, FNCCI, and the Office of the CACCI President, Mr. McMullin noted the wide range of relevant topics and said these will be discussed later offline, and members will be advised as soon as the final theme and topics are agreed upon. Similarly, speakers and the conference program will be finalized at a later date.

Following the conference planning, CACCI Director-General Mr. David Hsu reported to the Committee the recent and upcoming activities and programs of CACCI for 2023, which include CACCI Presidential Visits, Investment Forums, and webinars on CPTPP and digital skilling, among others.

CACCI Secretariat Visits Indonesian Representative Office in Taipei

CACCI Secretariat executives headed by Director-General Mr. David Hsu called on key officers of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei (IETO) led by Head of Investment Ali Fauzi and Director of Investment Bayu Nugroho on March 28, 2023. During the meeting, IETO officers briefly described the main tasks and functions of its various departments. For their part, the visiting CACCI executives introduced the objectives of CACCI and its activities to promote regional cooperation, and cited the active role played by KADIN Indonesia in achieving CACCI’s objectives. They also offered the assistance and resources of CACCI in promoting the activities and programs of IETO not just in Taiwan but in other countries in the region, including those major trade and investment exhibitions being held in Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia-Pacific and beyond.

YEGAP is partner organization for FIN Portugal boutique networking event in Braga

YEGAP is pleased to be a partner organiza­tion for FIN Portugal, a boutique networking event organized by the Young Entrepreneurs Association Portugal-China (AJEPC).

The 7th edition of FIN Portugal is set to take place at Altice Forum Braga in Braga, Portugal from June 1-2, 2023. It will bring together a series of activities that promote networking and knowl­edge sharing, such as conferences with international speakers, workshops, business matching meetings, plus a Networking Cocktail, and Gala Dinner.

FIN is part of a larger project that connects four continents in a yearly cycle: Latin America (FIN Brasil, Florianópolis, Brazil – 28th and 29th of March), Africa (Luanda, Angola – April 20th and 21st and Maputo, Mozambique – May 5th), Europe (Braga, Portugal – June 1st and 2nd), Asia (Macao, China – October 17th and 19th to 22nd).

This project, promoted since 2017 by AJEPC, is focused on creating a continuous network connection between continents, allowing all participants to expand their network and businesses. The project takes different forms according to the territories in which it operates, always maintaining the same focus – networking.

The Portugal event focuses on making connections with a highly motivated team that pro­motes the meeting between supply and demand and that is always available to collaborate with participants in the pre-event so that the days of the event can run as smoothly as possible with maximum results. The focus is on the quality of the participants and the high-level connections made with the goal of increasing the participants’ business or institutional networks.

After online and hybrid editions to face the pandemic restrictions, the 2023 edition will only be in person, to maximize the connections created between participants.

Prices start at €225 Participant tickets, which include 1 participant badge, access to the Exhibition Area, access to the Seminar Area, access to Business Matching Meetings, access to Workshops, access to Company Presentation slot, Networking Cocktail, and Gala Dinner.

Exhibitor tickets, meanwhile, are priced at €380 and include 1 exhibitor badge, 1 exhibition counter at the Exhibition Area, access to the Seminar Area, access to Business Matching Meetings, access to Workshops, access to Company Presentation slot, Networking Cocktail, and Gala Dinner. Individual and extra tickets for the Gala Dinner and Networking Cocktail are also available for purchase.

Registrations can be made on the FIN Portugal website HERE.

For more information please visit the following links:

linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/ajepc/

twitter – https://twitter.com/AJEPC_ptcn

facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AJEPortugalChina/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ajepc_/

Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@ajepc624

Governor Sindh unveils “Tariq Sayeed Avenue” to honor late CACCI VP

On March 13, 2023 in Karachi, Pakistan, the Honorable Governor Sindh Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori accompanied by Karachi Administrator Dr. Saifur Rehman, FPCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, Senior Vice-President Suleman Chawla, CACCI Vice-President Khurram Tariq Sayeed, Akhtar Tessori, Special Assistant to CM Sindh Pir Noorullah Qureshi, and Jam Kaim Ali unveiled “Tariq Sayeed Avenue” at an impressive ceremony held at FPCCI Karachi Office.

Former FPCCI Presidents and Vice-Presidents, Diplomats, a large number of FPCCI members, businessmen, industrialists, and media personalities also participated in the commemorative ceremony.

Khurram Tariq Sayeed thanked Governor Sindh & Administrator Dr. Rehman for honoring lifelong services of his father, Late Tariq Sayeed, a former CACCI Vice-President, to the Pakistani business community.

During the ceremony honoring Late Tariq Sayeed’s achievements, the Governor highlighed Mr. Tariq Sayeed’s selfless dedication to serve the entire business community of Pakistan and fearless defence of the business sector. The current FPCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh thanked the Sindh Administration for honoring Late Tariq Sayeed for his exemplary services to the business community for more than 5 decades.

CACCI Executives pay courtesy call to Vietnam representative office in Taiwan

CACCI Executives led by Director-General Mr. David Hsu, former Director-General Mr. Ernest Lin, and Deputy Director-General Mr. Amador Honrado paid a courtesy call to the representative office of Vietnam in Taipei in March 14 2023, ahead of a planned CACCI Presidential Visit to Hanoi in May.

Mr. Hsu took the opportunity to introduce CACCI – as well as the Asian Bankers Association (ABA) – to Mr. Dung and the active participation of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Vietnamese banks in CACCI and the ABA, respectively. He sought the assistance of Mr.  Dung in facilitating the implementation of CACCI’s and ABA’s activities that may be held in Vietnam (e.g., Presidential visits, annual Conferences, etc.) in the future.

Mr. Dung was joined in the meeting by Mr. Vu Van Cuon, Head of Commercial Division, and Mr.  Le Quang Tuan Assistant to Representative / In-Charge of Investment.

Kowloon Chamber officers visit CACCI Secretariat

A delegation from the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC) paid a visit to the offices of the CACCI Secretariat on March 13, 2023 during a recent trip to Taipei. KCC is CACCI’s Primary Member from Hong Kong.

Leading the delegation was current KCC chairman Mr. Ernest Yuen Ka Lok, one of CACCI’s Vice Presidents. He was joined by former KCC Chairman Mr. Conrad Lee along with several others.

During their visit, CACCI Director-General Mr. David Hsu and Deputy Director-General Mr. Amador Honrado talked about upcoming CACCI activities, specifically the virtual Investment Forum series that spotlights CACCI member countries. Mr. Yuen expressed interest in taking part in the series and elaborating on the economic and investment climate in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will now join the current lineup, which thus far includes a session featuring Nepal in March, the Philippines in June, and New Zealand in the latter half of the year.

CACCI Trade Facilitation newsletter available now

We are pleased to send you herewith the Tenth Volume of the newsletter published by the Asian Council on Trade Facilitation under the Chairmanship of Mr. R. B. Rauniar.

This issue (click HERE to download) features articles on Azerbaijan and Qatar boosting their trade links, Chinese investing in Mongolia to facilitate trade with Rusia, ASEAN continuous efforts to facilitate trade, Tehran hosting Russian trade missions, and India boosting trade with the USA.

There are other reports from Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, about WTO compliance and geopolitical trade complications generated by the Ukranian war.

We hope that this publication will provide you with adequate information about the latest advances in trade facilitation among countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Members are encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues. Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to mig.moreno@cacci.biz.

CACCI SME newsletter available now

CACCI is pleased to share with its members and friends the Twelfth Volume of the Newsletter of the SME Development Council under the Chairmanship of Mr. George Abraham.

This issue (click HERE to download) features articles on Australia’s sanctions guidance for SMEs and changes in SME financing procedures; Azerbaijan’s recent policy to increase SME funding; Bangladesh’s continued support for SMEs in many areas; and on India’s digitalization drive to reach SMEs.

There are also news about Malaysia’s SMEs, Turkey’s SMEs, Vietnam’s measures to finance SMEs, and Singapore’s national budget boosting SMEs, among many other important news from the region.

This edition shows that the road ahead for SMEs in the region is positive after being negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members are encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues. Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to mig.moreno@cacci.biz

CACCI President encourages Entrepreneurship in Bogota

CACCI President Peter McMullin AM had the pleasure to meet with Gabriel Petrus on the morning of March 1, 2023 in Bogota to discuss how entrepreneurship can play a key role in social, environmental and economic prosperity.

For President McMullin, the nurturing of the entrepreneurial spirit is a foundational reason for his CACCI Presidency. His father started a dry cleaning store in Smith Street, Fitzroy in Australia which expanded into a multinational business in the Spotless Group.

President McMullin AM strongly believe that given the right opportunities, entrepreneurs from all over the world can show us what #goodbusiness can and should look like.

Count Peter, CACCI and The Good Business Foundation in!

Proposed CACCI Joint Seminars on “International Trade Terms” for 2023

CACCI plans to organize this year, in cooperation with interested Primary and Affiliate Members, 4 different one-day seminars on International Trade Terms 2020 (Incoterms 2020) and related themes as described below.

The four proposed programs are:

(1) New Revision of the International Trade Terms (one day) DOWNLOAD

(2) Developments in Demand Guarantees and Standby L/C World (one day) DOWNLOAD

(3) Advanced Seminar in Incoterms 2020 and their Linkage to Documentary Credits  (one day) DOWNLOAD

(4) Advanced Seminar on Payment and Security Instruments in Foreign Trade, Trade Finance (one day) DOWNLOAD

In this regard, CACCI would like to know whether member Chambers are interested in hosting the proposed seminars under a cost-sharing arrangement as outlined in the Annex 1.

As the Incoterms 2020 have been applicable since January 1, 2020, being familiar with all changes and their impact is a must in the international trade and finance world.  By attending the seminars, participants will be able to: (1) get a further understanding on the main aspects of contract of sale, related risks, main problematic issues; (2) familiarize themselves with trade terms as per Incoterms and above all with new revision Incoterms 2020 – their practical impact on international trade and finance; and (3) learn about the relationship of payment terms to trade terms – Incoterms 2020.

The four draft programs of the proposed seminars can be downloaded.  Interested chambers may choose either two programs or combine the four programs for the two-day seminars.

The seminars will be conducted by Mr. Pavel Andrle, who is Secretary to the Banking Commission of ICC Czech Republic as well as Member of UCP 600 Consulting Group.

Please let CACCI know if your Chamber is interested to host the proposed seminars under the proposed cost-sharing arrangements by filling this Response Form and returning it to CACCI through our Fax No.: (886 2) 2760-7569 or e-mail: cacci@cacci.biz by March 17, 2023.

CACCI Profile – February edition available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the February 2023 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click here to read or download.

This month’s issue includes a new section called President’s Update, through which Mr. Peter McMullin AM keeps members posted about the activities and goals he is currently undertaking as CACCI President. It also features the announcement and details of the first Presidential Visit to Taipei, Taiwan and Hanoi, Vietnam scheduled this May. Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

CACCI VP calls on Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Commerce

On February 18th, 2023, a delegation led by Mr. Khurram Tariq Sayeed, CACCI Vice President & Former Vice President of FPCCI, recently called on the Federal Minister of Commerce of Pakistan, Mr. Syed Naveed Qamar.

Mr. Sayeed briefed the Commerce Minister that CACCI is a powerful and influential non-governmental organisation composed of the National Chambers of 25 countries of Asia & the Western Pacific region that has been granted consultative status under the United Nations. CACCI’s objective is to cut across national boundaries to link Asia- Pacific businesspersons and promote the economic growth of its member countries; which account for 40% of the World population & 20% of the world’s GDP and has a trade volume of US$ 11 Trillion.

CACCI Vice President Mr. Khurram Tariq Sayeed (right) presents a memento from CACCI to Mr. Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Commerce of Pakistan.

Mr. Sayeed emphasized that Pakistan must create a conducive environment for regional trade, stating that no country can flourish without it. He cited examples of successful regional blocks like the EU, ASEAN & NAFTA, and recommended to resume trade with India starting with essential items. He also stressed the need to introduce renewable energy projects to reduce the import bill and basket price of energy, as well as restore investor confidence by removing the CVT on foreign assets to boost foreign investment & remittances.

In the end, Mr. Sayeed thanked the Commerce Minister for meeting with the delegation and presented him with a memento from CACCI.

CACCI issues legal clarification

CACCI VP Shrestha Elected President of Nepal’s Biggest University Alumni Association

CACCI VP Shrestha Elected President of Nepal’s Biggest University Alumni Association – CACCI Vice President Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha has recently been elected as President of the Tribhuvan University Alumni Association Nepal (TUAAN), Nepal’s biggest and oldest university Alumni Association. TUAAN is a social, non-political, non-profit voluntary organization of professionals who graduated from Tribhuvan University (TU), a public university located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu. Established in 1959, TU is the oldest university in Nepal. In terms of enrollment, it is the 12th largest university in the world. The college offers 1000 undergraduate and 500 postgraduate programs across a wide range of disciplines.

Dr. Dennis Hu Named New Chairman of the CACCI ICT Council

The Asian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Council, one of the Product and Service Councils established under the CACCI umbrella, has a new Chairman under the person of Dr. Dennis Hu. Dr. Hu is President of the Foundation for Commerce & Culture Interchange (FCCI), Taiwan and concurrently Senior Adviser of Taipei Computer Association (TCA), Taiwan. He replaces James Chiao, Chairman and CEO of SmartCities Consulting Technology Co. Ltd., who served the position for two years.

Dr. Yu established FCCI in 2010 for promoting international cooperation and collaboration in Smart++ industries development, i.e., Smart City, Smart Healthcare, Smart Agriculture, etc.

At TCA, where he has been connected since 1991, Dr. Hu has devoted and focused his efforts on international marketing, research of industry and technology tren d, and government ICT policies.

Dr. Hu initiated and joined many cross-border cooperation with India, Australia, China, Myanmar, Singapore, and New Zealand, among other countries. He has also been invited to be the Director-General in ADC 2.0 CSR Development Office which was initiated by Acer Group Funder Dr. Stan Shi for narrowing the digital divide in the APEC region.

YEGAP Executive Member from Japan Meets TWC and CACCI Secretariat

Mr. Hiromi Aoki, Member of the Executive Committee of CACCI’s Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) (center), visited the CACCI Secretariat Office on February 7 2023 during his recent visit to Taipei.

Mr. Aoki, who is President and Chief Executive Officer of Suntech Co. Ltd., was in Taipei on a business trip and took time to meet CACCI officers led by Director-General Mr. David Hsu (left) and Deputy Director-General Mr. Amador Honrado (right).

During their meeting, Mr. Aoki re-affirmed his strong of YEGAP and its activities and expressed his strong interest to take part in the upcoming events of both CACCI and YEGAP, including the proposed CACCI Presidential visits lined up for the year as well as the 2023 CACCI Conference and suggested he will organize a delegation from Japan YEG to join them as well.

Mr. Aoki also had the opportunity to meet up with Mr. Richard Lin, YEGAP Executive member from Taiwan, as well as with members of the Third Wednesday Club of Taipei.

CACCI Presidential Visits to Taiwan and Vietnam in May 2023 – Join in!

CACCI wishes to inform that CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM is inviting all CACCI Officers and Members to join him in his planned Presidential visits scheduled to take place in May 2023 covering the following two cities:

Taipei, Taiwan – May 17 – 18
Hanoi, Vietnam – May 22 – 23

The host chambers for the above two visits are: Taiwan – Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) and the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) Vietnam – Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

The itinerary of the Taiwan Visit is present below and information about the recommended hotel, The Regent is available HERE.

The itinerary of the Vietnam Visit is also presented below and the information about the recommended hotel, The Duparc, is available HERE.

Both country visits are intended to give the CACCI President and members of his delegation the opportunity to gather first-hand information on the business situation in the host countries; further build up the image of CACCI by making courtesy calls on heads of state, economic ministers, and other high-ranking government officials to seek support for CACCI; and meet the top businessmen in the host countries, particularly those from industries or sectors that the host countries wish to promote.

The host chambers have been requested to arrange their respective programs for the visits. We will inform the proposed itinerary, along with other relevant information (e.g., hotel accommodation), as soon as these are available.

In the meantime, should you wish to meet with specific businessmen in any of the three host countries, visit specific local companies or organizations, or conduct specific activities during the trip, please let CACCI know so your request can be conveyed to the host chambers for their consideration.

CACCI encourages its members to join President McMullin on his upcoming visits to Taiwan and Vietnam, and take advantage of the opportunity not only to establish contacts with key representatives from the private and government sectors of these countries, but also to learn first-hand the business conditions and opportunities they offer.

CACCI Officers and Members can confirm their participation by filling out this Confirmation Form and returning it to CACCI through our Fax No. (886 2) 2760 7569 or e-mail at cacci@cacci.biz, preferably by March 31. Should you have further questions, please email to cacci@cacci.biz.

CACCI President Meets with YEGAP Officers

CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM on February 8 2023 met online with YEGAP Chairman Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha from Nepal and YEGAP Vice Chairman Mr. Rommel Gerodias from the Philippines.

Mr. McMullin AM congratulated YEGAP on its recent activities, particularly its strong participation in the 36^th CACCI Conference held in Melbourne, Australia in November 2022. He said that during his Presidency, he would rely on YEGAP for CACCI activities that he hopes would ensure the long-term future of the Confederation. He indicated his intention to engage the young entrepreneurs in CACCI’s efforts to deal with issues and challenges faced by the business community and expressed his hopes that YEGAP members would take the leadership role in this regard.

Both Mr. Mangesh and Mr. Gerodias updated the CACCI President on the activities undertaken by YEGAP in the past year to restructure and revive the group in order to make it an effective venue for identifying suitable programs geared towards entrepreneurial development for young and start-up entrepreneurs. They also explained how they plan to widen the scope of YEGAP membership by also inviting young business leaders from countries other regions outside Asia-Pacific to become members, as well to participate more actively with the activities of other regional and international organizations such as the ICC WCF, the B20, and the ASEAN-BAC, among others.

CACCI Participates in 21st JBC Meeting

Representatives from CACCI led by President Peter McMullin AM and SME Development Council Chairman George Abraham attended the 21st Meeting of the Joint Business Councils (JBC) of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) held virtually on January 24 2023.

During the meeting, Mr. Abraham briefed the JBC members on the recent and upcoming activities of CACCI, including a summary report on the 36th CACCI Conference held in Melbourne, Australia. As an Associate Member of the JBC, CACCI is invited to participate in the series of JBC meetings usually held by the ASEAN-BAC, chaired this year by KADIN Indonesia, in preparation for the annual ASEAN Summit Meeting.

YEGAP Vice Chairman Meets up with CACCI Secretariat Executive

Mr. Rommel Gerodias, Vice Chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) (left), on January 23 2023, met up with with CACCI Deputy Director-General Mr. Amador Honrado (right), during the latter’s recent visit to Manila, Philippines.

They discussed possible activities that Mr. Gerodias can undertake in 2023, especially in his capacity as YEGAP Vice Chairman representing Southeast Asia, including recruitment of new YEGAP members from the region. Mr. Honrado also took the opportunity to give Mr. Gerodias additional YEGAP pins for his new recruits.

CACCI Vice President Khurram Tariq Sayeed calls on Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong

Khurram Tariq Sayeed, Vice President Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry (CACCI) & Former Vice President FPCCI called  in January 2023 on the Consul General of Pakistan in Hong Kong Mr. Bilal Ahmad Butt at the Consulate General of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region.

Also present on the occasion was Mr. Ali Awan, Trade Development Officer Pakistan Consulate, Hong Kong. Mr. Sayeed briefed the Consul General on the aims and objectives of CACCI and discussed various proposals to increase trade and investment among CACCI member countries particularly between Hong Kong & Pakistan.

He briefed the Consul General that CACCI’s objective is to cut across national boundaries to link Asian businesspersons and promote economic growth of member countries; which account for 40% of the World population & 20% of the world’s GDP. However; he pointed out that the share of Pakistan’s trade volume within CACCI member countries is quite low and Pakistan trade missions must play a more proactive role in shoring up trade volume by encouraging exchange of delegations and organizing trade shows.

He assured the Consul General that CACCI will facilitate and extend all possible co-operation to increase trade between Hong Kong & Pakistan.

CACCI Profile – January edition available

We are pleased to announce that the January 2023 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click here to read or download.

This month’s issue features the recent meeting between YEGAP Founder Ms. Anna Periquet and CACCI Deputy Director-General Amador Honrado. Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

CACCI Secretariat Calls on Philippine Representative Office in Taipei

CACCI Director- General Mr. David Hsu (Left photo, left) calls on Members of the Board of Directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei led by Chairman and Chief Representative Atty. Silvestre H. Bello III in December 2022. Mr. Hsu introduced CACCI to Atty Bello and other MECO Board Members, highlighting the active role that the Philippine business community – through the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its leaders and members – has played in the growth and the development of CACCI since its establishment in 1966. Atty. Bellow expressed interest in collaborating with CACCI and the Secretariat in pursuing trade and investment opportunities for the Philippines not just in Taiwan but also in other Asia-Pacific countries that are part of the CACCI membership.

Former CACCI Presidents given citations during Melbourne conference

Special citations were presented to former CACCI Presidents for their exemplary commitment to and continued involvement in the Confederation They were honored during the Gala Dinner of the 36th CACCI Conference held on November 29, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.

The honorees included the following:

(1) A Distinguished Service Award was given to Mr. Kenneth W. Court, outgoing Chairman of the CACCI Advisory Board, in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments during his tenure in CACCI in various capacities, including as CACCI President from 1988 to 1990, as CACCI President Emeritus since 2010, and as Chairman of the CACCI Advisory Board since 2013.

(2) The title of President Emeritus was conferred on former CACCI Presidents who have remained active in CACCI even after their term as President has ended. The conferees included:

• Harvey Chang from Taiwan, who served as CACCI president from 2006 to 2010
• Benedicto Yujuico from the Philippines, who served as CACCI President from 2010 to 2014
• Jemal Inaishvili from Georgia, who served as CACCI President from 2014 to 2018

(3) Harvey Chang was also named the new Chairman of the CACCI Advisory Board for 2023-2024, taking over the position from Mr. Ken Court.

CACCI Profile – November edition available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the November 2022 issue of CACCI Profile is now available. Please click here to read or download.

This month’s issue features CACCI President Samir Modi’s participation in the WCF General Council Meeting in Paris as well as Vice President Peter McMullin representing CACCI at the B20 Summit in Indonesia . Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible, through cacci@cacci.biz.

Vice President McMullin Represents CACCI at the B20 Summit Indonesia 

CACCI Vice President Mr. Peter McMullin from Australia attended the B20 Summit Indonesia 2022 held in Bali, Indonesia on November 13-14 representing CACCI. Organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the two-day event brought together global business leaders to make policy recommendations to the G20 to address key challenges for businesses around the world. Known as the business arm of the G20, the B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum for the global business community.

The theme for this year’s Summit was ‘Advancing Innovative, Inclusive, and Collaborative Growth’. The B20 aims to achieve this through making policy recommendations to G20 countries on seven key policy areas, including trade and investment; energy, sustainability, and climate; digitalization; finance and infrastructure; future of work & education; integrity and compliance and women in business. Above photo shows Mr. McMullin (center) with members of the Australia-Indonesia Business Council.

CACCI Immediate Past President Modi calls on Singapore Manufacturers Federation

CACCI Immediate Past President Mr. Samir Modi called on Mr. Lennon Tan, President of the Singapore Manufacturers Federation (SMF) at the SMF headquarters in Singapore on November 22, 2023.

He was accompanied by Mr. George Abraham, Chairman of the CACCI SME Development Council. Mr. Modi and Mr. Abraham briefed Mr. Tan and his colleagues on CACCI and its activities and encouraged them to take an active part in the various meetings, events and programs held by CACCI for the benefit of its member chambers and businessmen in the region as a whole.

B20 Indonesia Digitalization Task Force Issues Recommendations to Drive Global Growth

The Digitalization Task Force formed by B20 Indonesia issued a policy paper during that spelled out its recommendations to make digitalization as a major driver of global economic growth. The recommendations were formulated during the G20 – B20 dialogue forum held in July this year in Jakarta. The recommendations were made following a series of discussions held during the six months prior to the July forum.

In its policy paper, the Digitalization Task Force identified four main obstacles that contribute to the digital divide and prevent inclusive digital transformation.

These include:

1. Different levels of readiness hamper the ability of countries and businesses to utilize digitalization as a key driver for national building and economic development
2. The lack of digital infrastructure and literacy
3. Insufficient support for MSMEs digital transformation
4. Issues of cybersecurity and basic rights in digital era.

Considering all the hindrances mentioned above, the Task Force said it believes that digitalization is one of the world’s most pressing issues to tackle. Hence, it makes a strong case for the following four policy recommendations:

1. Drive university connectivity by ensuring future-proof connectivity for all, fostering universal access to participate in the digital economy and government services, ensuring inclusion and eliminating the digital divide
2. Basic foundations for sustainable and resilient digital economy by accelerating development of digital infrastructure
3. Ensure a digital-ready mindset for individuals and MSMEs, and enabling MSMEs through access to digital platform by fostering tech-enabled workforce and companies
4. Promote risk-based, interoperable, and technology-neutral cybersecurity standards and best practices that support companies’ efforts to protect their network, by defining cyber security protocols, promoting enhancement of cybersecurity practices and education to private users and companies, including MSMEs.

“The essence of our work as Indonesia’s B20 Digitalization Task Force is to ensure that digitalization could drive future growth while bridging the digital divide, which eventually leads to an inclusive digital transformation,” said Chair of B20 Indonesia Digitalization Task Force Ririek Adriansyah, who is also the President Director of PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom).

CACCI Secretariat officers attend Philippine Investment Forum in Taipei

Officers of the CACCI Secretariat led by Director-General Mr. David Hsu was invited to participate in the Philippine Investment Forum jointly organized by the Philippine Trade & Investment Center Taipei and the Board of Investments of the Philippines on October 24, 2022.

Held at the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Hotel, the two-hour Forum featured high-level officials from relevant Philippine government agencies who made presentations on priority industries for investment in the Philippines that might be of interest to Taiwanese investors. Discussions focused mainly on the Science, Technology & Innovation (STI)-centered industrial policy of the Philippine Department pf Trade and Industry which aims to accelerate the development of globally competitive and innovative industries with strong linkages to domestic and global value and supply chains.

Representat8ives from the Philippine side were led by Atty. Silvestre H. Bello III, Chairman and Resident Representative, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO); and Dr. Ceferino S. Rodolfo, Undersecretary, Industry Development and Trade Policy Group., Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Managing Head, Board of Investments.

Representatives of two Taiwanese companies with operations in the Philippines were also present to give testimonials on their experience dealing with the Philippine government and the local workforce and the successes they achieved in their businesses in the country. These included Mr. Clement Yang, Chairman of Medtechs Group; and Mr. George Lien, Vice Chairman, Tong-An Asset, TECO Group.

CACCI Director-General Calls on Hungarian Trade Office in Taipei

Mr. Balázs Szabó, Investment and Trade Director at the Hungarian Trade Office in Taipei (2nd from left), and his Assistant Ms. Tamara Vér (left) warmly received CACCI Secretariat executives led by Director-General Mr. David Hsu (2nd from right) and Deputy Director-General Mr. Amador Honrado (right) on October 21, 2023 to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the two organizations.

Mr. Hsu took the opportunity to introduce CACCI and the Asian Bankers Association (ABA) to Mr. Szabó and Ms. Ver, who both expressed interest in the activities of CACCI and ABA and the potential for the two organizations to help businessmen from Hungary and from CACCI member countries to connect with each other explore business opportunities in banking and other industry sectors. Mr. Hsu also informed the Hungarian trade officers of the upcoming Conferences of CACCI and ABA and encouraged them to participate. For his part, Mr. Szabó hinted on the possibility of organizing a forum for CACCI members to enable them to learn more about the market environment in Hungary.

Former FPCCI VP meets with Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan

Khurram Tariq Sayeed, Former Vice President & Focal Person of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) to CACCI met with the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan H.E. Neil Hawkins during his visit to Federation House. Mr. Sayeed briefed the High Commissioner on the upcoming visit of FPCCI high profile delegation to be led by President FPCCI Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh to Melbourne, Australia to attend the 36th Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) conference from 28th – 30th November 2022.

The High Commissioner assured FPCCI of his full support and co-operation in making the FPCCI trip a success and appreciated the efforts being undertaken by CACCI in promoting regional trade and investment among the CACCI member countries.

Various other proposals to increase trade and investment among CACCI member countries as well as bilateral trade between Pakistan and Australia came under discussion. The meeting was also attended by Senior Vice President FPCCI Suleman Chawla, Former President FPCCI Mian Anjum Nisar, Vice Presidents FPCCI Shabbir Hassan Mansha, Eng. M.A.Jabbar & Haji Yaqoob, Former Vice President & CACCI Budget Commission Member Sheikh Sultan Rehman & Saquib Fayyaz Maggo.

“Smart Solutions for Better Business: Is Your Enterprise Future-Ready?” held on October 4, 2022

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), in cooperation with the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association Taiwan (CIECA-Taiwan), the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT), and the Taiwan Smart Solutions Association (TSS), concluded a webinar on “Smart Solutions for Better Business: Is Your Enterprise Future-Ready?” on October 4, 2022.

The webinar provided an introduction to the many categories of smart solutions and how these can be applicable and beneficial to various fields of business. Smart solutions purveyors also presented specific smart solutions and talked about successful case studies that utilized them.

SUMMARY REPORT

The 90-minute session was moderated by Herman Sameisky,  a technical communicator and data analyst who has previously worked for Google and Amazon and currently serves as the International Director of the Taiwan Smart Solutions Association (TSS).

(1) James Chiao, Chairman of the Asian ICT Council at CACCI and the Smart Cities Committee at CIECA-Taiwan; Founding President of Taiwan Smart Solutions Association (TSS); and CEO of Smart Cities Consulting, Ltd, Co.  talked about the COVID-19 Pandemic’s impact on and opportunities for businesses. He discussed the digital transformation of businesses, that it is about efficiency and adding value to the end-user. Companies are using digital transformation to deliver better customer experiences, better decision making, improve their efficiencies and create more personalized solutions to every need that customers have.

However, he also stressed that every business is different, and recommended a Smart Business Strategic Plan for anyone planning to transition. In particular, a project management office (PMO) must be established to facilitate public-private partnership, manage the data exchange platform, and plan, test and manage the testing fields. A customized stakeholders participation plan also needs to be developed to facilitate effective communication of the action plans among stakeholders.

James then went on to introduce the many categories of smart solutions, including the use of AI and machine vision in smart traffic enforcement, mobility, and parking; and applications in smart tourism, health, governance, disaster prevention, emergency management, education, and agriculture.

He further emphasized the potential of Taiwan’s smart solutions, and how glocalization is a win-win business model for international partnerships.

The session then delved into case studies of smart solutions for businesses.

(2) Joni Kuo, Chairman of Softfoundry International Pte Ltd.,  introduced FacePro  “5G+AR Remote Xpert” Smart Service,” which enables experts to remotely guide on-site personnel with 4K ultra-high-definition video from the first perspective and conduct troubleshooting and maintenance, which not only improves maintenance efficiency and ensures safety, but also results in a sharing of expertise and technology.

FacePro’s Xpert system has application cases in various industries, including in manufacturing, aerospace, petrochemical, smart construction, and agriculture, among others.

According to Joni, there are four main challenges most enterprises face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic: global competition, high cost of travel in terms of both time and money, shortage of experts, and unplanned downtime losses. Addressing these challenges, FacePro can deliver remote expert guidance, digital workflow, hands-free digital assist, visualization of industrial IoT data, and build a knowledge base.

She went on to recount several use case examples: 1) remote Cosco Shipping deployed FacePro for ship inspection, remote maintenance, shipbuilding and repairing, remote guidance and support, etc; 2) SK Innovation used the RCS system for its global manufacturing site; 3) Hyundai E&C used in smart construction; 4) Porsche China launched their new Remote Technical Support System (RTS) using the FacePro Xpert system.

(3) Mike Tsai, speaking on behalf of Healthcare Systems Consortium (HSC) CEO Shao-Jen Weng,  focused on how hospitals and health systems are positioning their organizations for the future in a post-pandemic world, and the top 10 healthcare industry trends and innovations that impact healthcare companies worldwide.

HSC is a platform that allows hospitals, enterprises, research institutes, government agencies, and universities to exchange information and find opportunities for collaboration. Funded by Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the platform helps match hospitals and enterprises based on their needs. HSC helps with resource optimization, and the use of lean medical technologies and smart technologies to solve hospital problems. They likewise help enterprises seek out which hospitals their products may be most needed by.

Hospitals in Taiwan are run under its National Health Insurance system, and usually have limited resources to improve conditions for their patients. Thus, they turn to smart solutions to help with management, monitoring resources, and avoiding problems such as overcrowding. In some instances, smart systems are also far more reliable and less time consuming, as in the case of the surgical instrument tracking system that uses machine learning or deep learning to account for the instruments and make sure they aren’t, for example, accidentally left inside a body during an operation.

In hospitals, a wide range of smart solutions can be integrated to provide better healthcare experiences. Despite the cost, the upgrade is usually deemed necessary for institutions to keep up with both competitors and the wider sector. However, Mike emphasized that there are also smaller smart technologies and products that may be put in place which will help save patients’ lives, and which may not require such a high cost to implement.

(4) Bruce King, Marketing Director of GoodLinker Co., Ltd., looked into the common barriers manufacturing SMEs face in reaching digital transformation to be smarter and more efficient. Over 90% of SMEs in Taiwan have yet to embrace digitization, and it’s usually due to three reasons: the prevalence of handwritten reports, old machines, and lack of IT talent. These all contribute to the lack of data collection and analysis, which is the foundation of digitization, and a step towards digital transformation- something GoodLinker is looking to help companies reach.

The company currently has a Cloud SaaS Service or IIoT Platform that is a cost-effective, simple, safe, and eco-friendly digital tool for quantitative management. It offers real-time monitoring, can generate history reports, and alerts when there is a malfunction in the production line. The system likewise includes paperless 24/7 recording and remote monitoring, with data that can be downloaded for analysis.

Bruce gave the use case example of a meatball factory and explained how the first step was setting up the data collection infrastructure in order to obtain data from the machines: sensor and wiring construction, followed by plug-n-play to the Goodlinker system with no code required. Based on the data collected, a year after using the system, the company reported a 62% reduction in the waste rate of raw materials, which translated to a cost reduction of about $300,000 USD a year. The Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) rate also increased by 6.44%.

According to Bruce, they have serviced over 40 users not only in Taiwan, but also Southeast Asia, and have proven that the solution can be used in different industries. He added that they have also proven that the manufacturing industry is willing to use cloud solutions so long as these can solve their problems in a cost-effective way. Users, he said, prefer a total solution with full service over a product, and called on  channels with SME customers, system integrators, and industry experts and consultants to team up with GoodLinker and provide smart solutions to enterprises.

The session ended with a short Q&A.

The presentation were available to registered participants only.

The video presentation of the webinar can be viewed at the CACCI YouTube channel.

Webinar on Mongolian Banking’s status and opportunities

The Asian Bankers Association (ABA), one of the Product and Service Councils established under the CACCI umbrella, is inviting CACCI members to join the webinar on “Mongolian Banking: Current status and opportunities” to be held on October 17, 2022, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Taipei time.

As the first of the webinars on “Connecting and Exploring Opportunities with ABA” series prior to this year’s virtual 38^th ABA General Meeting and Conference, the October 17 webinar will be conducted by Mr. Lkhagvasuren Amar, CEO of the Mongolian Bankers Association (MBA).

This one-hour webinar will provide valuable information to bankers, investors and financial experts to explore and learn about the current status of the banking market in Mongolia and the opportunities available.

The topics for discussion include:

(1) MBA profile
(2) Key statistics (demographics, culture, GDP per capita)
(3) Financial & banking system (ex. types of banks, operational objectives, financial markets)
(4) International trade and foreign investment policy (fiscal and regulatory framework)
(5) Strengths (economic development, areas of economic growth, main branches of industry, investment infrastructure and business opportunities)
(6) Challenges ahead

The Agenda

I. Introduction by Moderator, Oliver Hoffman, Erste Group Bank AG’s Managing Director & Head of Asia (2 minutes)

II. Welcome Remarks by Eugene Acevedo, ABA Chairman & President/CEO of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) (2 minutes)

III. Presentation by Lkhagvasuren Amar, Mongolian Bankers Association’s CEO (40 minutes)

IV. Q&A (16 minutes)

To join the meeting, interested parties may register HERE:

We encourage you to register and share the invitation with colleagues.

“A storm ahead? View on the Asian economy” webinar

The Asian Bankers Association (ABA), one of the Product and Service Councils established under the CACCI umbrella, is inviting CACCI members to join the 90-minute webinar on “A storm ahead？An updated view on the Asian economy” to be held on 13 October, 2022 at 02:00 PM, Taipei time.

The webinar, organized in association with the Association of Credit Rating Agencies in Asia (ACRAA), will feature Atsushi Masuda, ACRAA Chairman & Counselor for International Affairs, Japan Credit Rating Agency Ltd. (JCR) and Lina Wang, Senior Analyst of  Sovereign Rating, China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co. (CCXI).  Lin Zhang, Assistant Director of Research Institute, CCXI will join the Q&A session.

The topics to be discussed are explained as follows:

I. Four questions on the possible scenario for the global economy by Atsushi Masuda (45 minutes)

This session will take up the following four questions on the possible scenario for the global economy;

(1) Is the Great Moderation over?

(2) Will recession come?

(3) Will inflation stay?

(4) Will default rate mount?

The presentation will focus upon the Asia region excluding PRC in the context of recent developments in the global economy. At this moment, inflation pressure is growing beyond “temporary” but still it is projected to stabilize once geo-political factors and outright US Dollar appreciation will be corrected. It may be safe to think the Great Moderation ends really this time in view of revived inflation and higher volatilities in the markets. Fear of recession has been also surfacing in view of possible further tightening on gas supply from Russia and concerted monetary tightening worldwide, but the argument of similarity to the 2007 situation is not valid at this moment.

II. The recovery of China’s economy – Steering through turbulent waters by Lina Wang (25 minutes)

The speech will focus on the recovery of China’s economy amid multiple external and internal challenges. The speech will go through the fundamentals and outlook of China’s macroeconomy with key economic components and supporting data. Looking ahead, China’s economy will rebound in the second half of 2022 while downside risks persist. The policy space of China may be restrictive with tightening monetary and financial conditions globally. The evolution of coronavirus infections will remain an important risk. Meanwhile, China continues to face policy challenges to balance long-term policy goals with growth targets. Restoring confidence and spurring vitality of market entities is key to adding growth momentum.

III. Q&A session (20 minutes)

Audience will be able to issue questions to the speakers.

We therefore encourage you and your colleagues to register for this webinar by clicking HERE.

CACCI Director-General Meets with Representative of Korean Mission in Taipei

Mr.  Chung Byung-Won, Representative of the Korean Mission in Taipei met with CACCI Secretariat officers led by Director-General Mr. David Hsu on September 23, 2022 at the former’s office. Mr. Chung was briefed by Mr. Hsu on CACCI and its various activities to help promote networking and business cooperation among businessmen in the region, and the active role played by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry – one of the founding members of CACCI – in achieving this objective.

Mr. Hsu also informed Mr. Chung of the CACCI Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) in which Mr. Michael Lee, a young businessman from Korea engaged in education and consultancy, is actively involved as Chairman of its Membership and Partnership Alliances. He likewise took the opportunity to introduce the Asian Bankers Association, one of the Product and Service Councils of CACCI, and the involvement of Korean banks in it.

CACCI Director-General Calls on Australian Representative in Taiwan

CACCI Director-General Mr. David Hsu and other CACCI Secretariat executives on September 21, 2022 called on Ms. Jenny Bloomfield, Australia’s Representative in Taiwan, and her colleagues Mr. Brent Moore, Deputy Representative and Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner, and Mr. Dan Bowman, Executive Director, Economic and Policy Section.

During the visit, Mr. Hsu briefed Mr. Bloomfield about CACCI and the participation of Australian businessmen in its activities through the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). They also took the opportunity to inform Ms. Bloomfield of the upcoming 38th CACCI Conference to be held on November 28-29, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the host organization. They told her that CACCI members who plan to join the Melbourne Conference – especially members of the CACCI Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia Pacific (YEGAP) – have expressed interest to meet Australian young entrepreneurs and relevant local government officials and visit Australian companies., including start-ups and those involved in innovative industries.  The CACCI officers also introduced to her the CACCI study on “Rebuilding the World Trading System” and presented her a copy of the study.

In response, Ms. Bloomfield offered the assistance of her office in setting up meetings of interested CACCI officers and members with Australian businessmen, business organizations, or government officials while they are in Melbourne for the Conference. She pointed out that Australia is a reliable supplier of energy and resources not only to Twain but other Asian countries as well, and that Australian interests with many Asian countries intersect across many areas such as education and vocational skills, energy innovation and investment, biotechnology, and smart cities, among others

CACCI webinar on Smart Solutions for Better Business: Is Your Enterprise Future-Ready? – Register now

CACCI is pleased to invite members and friends to join the webinar on “Smart Solutions for Better Business: Is Your Enterprise Future-Ready?” which will be held on October 4, 2022 at 2:00 PM Taipei time (GMT+8).

To register please click HERE.

The webinar, which is co-hosted by the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA-Taiwan), Importers Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT), and Taiwan Smart Solutions (TSS), aims to introduce successful cases of smart solutions in various fields of business. Experts will be invited to present various smart solutions applicable to business and provide the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration among businessmen in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 90-minute session will be moderated by Herman Sameisky, the International Director of Taiwan Smart Solutions Association (TSS). Mr. Samiesky is a technical communicator and data analyst who has previously worked for Google and Amazon.

(1) James Chiao, Chairman of the Asian ICT Council at CACCI and the Smart Cities Committee at CIECA-Taiwan; Founding President of Taiwan Smart Solutions Association (TSS); and CEO of Smart Cities Consulting, Ltd, Co.  will talk about the COVID-19 Pandemic’s impact on and opportunities for businesses. In particular, he will discuss the digital transformation of businesses, how smart solutions can optimize them, and how glocalization is a win-win business model for international partnerships.

The session will then delve into case studies of smart solutions for businesses.

(2) Joni Kuo, Chairman of Softfoundry International Pte Ltd., will introduce FacePro “5G+AR Remote Xpert” Smart Service,” which enables experts to remotely guide on-site personnel with 4K ultra-high-definition video from the first perspective and conduct troubleshooting and maintenance, which not only improves maintenance efficiency and ensures safety, but also results in a sharing of expertise and technology.

(3) Shao-Jen Weng, CEO of Healthcare Systems Consortium (HSC), will focus on how hospitals and health systems are positioning their organizations for the future in a post-pandemic world, and the top 10 healthcare industry trends and innovations that impact healthcare companies worldwide.

(4) Bruce King, Marketing Director of GoodLinker Co., Ltd., will look into the two common barriers manufacturing SMEs face in reaching digital transformation to be smarter and more efficient. He will also tackle the benefits of Industry Internet of Thing (IIoT), and the service model with glocalization eco-system. Examples of different industry application cases will also be presented.

(5) The session will conclude with a Q&A.

You are encourage to share this invitation with colleagues and friends.

To register please click HERE.

CWEC Chairperson Meets with Businesswomen Group from Iran

Mrs. Mukta Nandini Jain, Chairperson of the CACCI Women Entrepreneurs Council (CWEC), met virtually with of key officers of the Khorasan Razavi Businesswomen Association (KHBWA) led by Chairwoman Mrs. Azar Kianinejad on August 26 to discuss possible areas of cooperation. Also in attendance were officers of the CACCI Secretariat headed by Director-General Mr. David Hsu.

KHBWA is interested to know more about CWEC and learn from the experiences of women entrepreneurs from CACCI member countries in running their businesses and how to address the challenges currently faced by business women in Iran. Mrs. Jain proposed, as an initial activity, the holding of an online webinar between the two organizations and have the opportunity to meet with each other and exchange views on areas of mutual concern.

Mrs. Kianinejad also extended an invitation to Mrs. Mukta and members of the CWEC to visit Khorasan Razavi to allow face-to-face meetings and know each other better. Founded in 2013, KHBWA works under the umbrella of the Khorasan Razavi Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, which is a provincial member of Iran  Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), a CACCI Primary Member.

KHBWA deals with empowering businesswomen and women entrepreneurs in Khorasan Razavi province, which is located in the North East part of Iran. It has more than 30 active members who are either a CEO of SMEs, a board member of them, or potent enough to manage their own business.  The CWEC was organized in October 2005 during the 70th CACCI Council Meeting held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Its primary objective is to promote the growth and development of women entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific region. CWEC is currently under the chairmanship of Mrs. Mukta Nandini Jain, former national president of the FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO).

YEGAP Talks #3 Features YEGAP Chairman Mangesh Lal Shrestha

Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha, Chairman of the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP), was the featured speaker of the third session of YEGAP Talks held virtually on September 16, 2022.  In his presentation, Mr. Lal Shrestha – who is the Global Vice President (Growth & Artificial Intelligence) at Frost & Sullivan – did not only share his journey as an entrepreneur, but also focused on the transformation from an entrepreneur to a corporate entrepreneur, or what he called as an intrapreneur.

In particular, he shared his experience as a Corporate Entrepreneur by being part of the team tasked with transforming a global organization through visionary leadership, innovation, and change management. Throughout his professional life, Mr. Lal Shrestha has been involved in projects and enterprises that promote his passion for youth & entrepreneurship development along with innovation to contribute and improve social-economic era. Looking forward, he said that there is now a gradual convergence of entrepreneurship and corporate entrepreneurship.

The one-hour conversation with Mangesh can be viewed here.

CACCI meets with Malaysian Friendship & Trade Centre

CACCI Secretariat officers led by Director-General Mr. David Hsu joined the luncheon meeting hosted by CTBC Bank on September 15, 2023 for representatives of the Malaysian Friendship & Trade Centre in Taiwan, namely, Director Ms. Syakella Zakaria, Director for Economics Ms. Syajaratud Durri Abdullah, and Director of Trade Ms. Aninawati Saleh. Among others, Mr. Hsu discussed with the Malaysian officers on how to get Malaysian business organizations can get more actively involved in CACCI activities.

Excellent Introduction to Chamber Model Initiative (CMI) Workshop held on September 13, 2022.

The webinar session on Introduction to Chamber Model Initiative Workshop hosted by Dubai Chamber of Commerce in coordination with CACCI on September 13, 2022 was an informative and useful session that provided the opportunity to learn important ideas and concepts on how to further strengthen chambers’ organization and objectives amidst ongoing changes and emerging challenges in the regional and global market environment.

The attendance to the workshop was the first step in finding “a pathway and tangible solutions to enable your chambers to start innovating continuously while putting your constituencies’ needs at the forefront of service development.”

To further assist you in this regard moving forward, we provide hereunder the video recording of the Workshop as well as to a number of other useful materials :

• The new link for Dubai Chambers’ Chamber Model Innovation webpage
• The new link for The Chamber model Innovation Playbook
• Registration Link for CMI Around the World Session 1: Organized by WCF/ICC and Dubai Chambers, “CMI Around the World” series provide a perfect platform for peer Chambers to learn about CMI case studies and learnings from pioneering Chambers in CMI.

Should you have further questions, please contact us at the Secretariat through cacci@cacci.biz, or the following members of the Dubai Chambers team:

• Natalia Sycheva  natalia.sycheva@dubaichamber.com
• Fatma Almadani  fatma.almadani@dubaichamber.com
• Hind Taha hind.taha@dubaichamber.com

ACWEE Signs MOU with ISGM From Iran

The Asian Council on Water, Energy and Environment (ACWEE), one of the Product and Service Councils established under the CACCI umbrella, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Iranian Society for Green Management (ISGM), a non-profit organization registered un the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), CACCI Primary Member from Iran.

The signing ceremony was held virtually, with ACWEE Chairman Mr. Gyanendra Lal Pradhan from Nepal and ISGM President Mohammad Hasan Emami signing on behalf of their respective organizations.

ISGM President Mohammad Hasan Emami in his Message at the signing ceremony said that since its establishment 16 years ago, the ISGM has been active on green intelligence, carbon footprint calculation, water footprint calculation, green hospital, green hotel, green industry, product life cycle assessment, as well as expert training, green assessor and issuing green certification for organizations. He added that ISGM has also tried to strengthen the green culture in Iran by holding national and international conferences and producing books and articles. He said that ISGM considered it an honor to be able to influence sustainable develop at the national and international level with the support of ACWEE. “Our goal of signing the MOU is to develop common experiences and knowledge and support the economy and environment together,” he remarked.

ACWEE Chairman Mr. Gyanendra Lal Pradhan in his Welcome Statement noted that given the continuing rapid economic growth of Asian countries, the development of clean water, energy and environment is crucial for the further development of their economies. Hence, he said he was very pleased to sign an MOU with the ISGM, pointing out that the ACWEE and ISGM share the same objective: Both organizations aim to serve as platforms to help promote the interest of their members, which are composed mainly of businessmen in the water, energy, and environment sector from their respective regions, Mr. Lal Pradhan said. To achieve this common aspiration, ACWEE and ISGM have therefore agreed to come together to sign the MOU to further concretize partnership between the two organizations, he added. He said that the ACWEE certainly looks forward to working with ISGM in pursuing the tenets of the MOU that will redound to the benefits not only of their respective members, but the whole global village as well.

In his Welcome Remarks, CACCI Director-General Mr. David Hsu pointed out that water, energy, environment and green natural resources have been important subjects to mankind particularly since the start of the 20th century. The growing climate change and the recent floods and drought happening in many countries and regions around the world have further highlighted the worsening situation. Mr. Hsu added that many agencies are committed to addressing the problem or to mitigating its negative impact on the environment, and expressed his hopes that the signing of the MOU between ISGM and ACWEE will help contribute to achieving this important objective.

For his part, CACCI Deputy Director-General Mr. Amador Honrado said that as one of the Product and Service Councils of CACCI, the ACWEE plays an important role in promoting the development of the water, energy and environment in the Asia-Pacific region and encouraging business interaction among CACCI members in this sector. He thanked ISGM for reaching out to CACCI – and to the ACWEE in particular – in its efforts to have greater cooperation with other organizations in CACCI member countries with similar objectives as its own, and expressed confidence that the signing of the MOU between ISGM and ACWEE will be mutually beneficial to both organizations and to their respective members.

Under the MOU, ISGM and ACWEE agree to:

1. Facilitate interaction between their members in order to encourage strategic alliances and networking among themselves.
2. Jointly develop and promote training and capacity-building programs to enhance the professional and institutional capability of their members and other institutions that share the same objectives.
3. Co-organize, collaborate, and assist each other in conferences and forums on water, energy and environment and related topics and issues.
4. Explore other areas of cooperation such as information exchange, publications, research and studies and other appropriate endeavors deemed beneficial to their respective members.

CACCI Joins 20th Meeting of the Joint Business Councils

Mr. George Abraham, Chairman of the CACCI SME Development Council, represented CACCI at the 20th  Joint Business Councils (JBC) Meeting held virtually on September 9, 2022. The meeting provided opportunity to JBC members to provide updates to the ASEAN Business Advisory Council on their recent and upcoming activities.

Mr. Abraham briefed them mainly on preparations for the 36th CACCI Conference to be held in Melbourne, the activities of its various Product and service Councils such as the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia Pacific (YEGAP) and the Asian ICT Council, the Workshop on Introduction to the Chamber Model Innovation jointly held with the Dubai Chambers, participation in the B20 Indonesia activities as well as in other events conducted by other organizations. CACCI is an Associate Member of the JBC.

YEGAP Holds Orientation for New Members

The restructured and revitalized Yung Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) held a virtual orientation meeting with new YEGAP members on August 24^th 2022.

Moderated by Mr. Michael Lee, Chairman of the YEGAP Committee on Membership and Partnership Alliances (2nd from right, top row), the meeting provided the new members the opportunity to introduce themselves and their respective businesses and activities, their motivation for joining YEGAP, and what they expect from their membership in the Group.

YEGAP Chairman Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha (2nd from right middle row) was also on hand to welcome the new members and to elaborate on YEGAP’s vision and aspirations. YEGAP is one of the Product and Service Councils established under the CACCI umbrella and aims to provide a venue for young entrepreneurs in CACCI member countries to get actively involved in entrepreneurial development and help promote regional economic cooperation in Asia-Pacific.

Former FPCCI VP Khurram Tariq Sayeed called on CACCI VP & Kowloon CC Chairman Ernest Yuen

Khurram Tariq Sayeed, Former Vice President FPCCI called on the CACCI Chamber Vice President & Chairman Kowloon Chamber of Commerce Ernest Ka Lok Yuen at the Kowloon Chamber in Hong Kong on May 25, 2022.

Present during the meeting were Vice Chairmen Kowloon Chamber Lin Wei Qiao & Wyler Wong Lai Tang, Vice President Kowloon Chamber Dr. Leslie P.Y. Wong, Secretary Cezarine Lee & Trade Development Officer Pakistan Consulate Hong Kong Ali Awan among others.

Various proposals to increase trade and investment among CACCI Chamber members as well as bilateral trade between Pakistan and Hong Kong came under discussion. Mr. Sayeed identified Real Estate and IT sectors as having great potential for investment in Pakistan. He once again extended invitation of FPCCI to CACCI Chamber delegation to visit Pakistan to further enhance interaction between CACCI Chamber and Pakistan.

Invitation to the Introduction to Chamber Model Innovation Workshop

CACCI invites Chamber members to participate in the virtual Introduction to the Chamber Model Innovation (CMI) Workshop to be conducted jointly by CACCI and the Dubai Chambers on September 13, 2022, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Taipei Time.

As chamber members are well aware, the world has seen drastic changes in the regional and international market environment as a result of the global pandemic. At the same time, the speed of technology adoption by business and society continues to accelerate. Today, chambers of commerce are facing the new realities where members’ needs evolve rapidly, making the old services increasingly irrelevant.

Chambers therefore need to review their approach and strategy of developing and delivering services, with the view to enabling their organization not only to survive but also to thrive going forward amidst current changes and challenges in the regional and world markets.

CACCI is therefore joining the WCC/ICC initiative led by Dubai Chambers by organizing the CMI Workshop on September 13 to provide a pathway and tangible solutions to enable CACCI member chambers to start innovating continuously while putting their constituencies’ needs at the forefront of service development. Attached herewith is the latest Workshop Program for your perusal.

The CMI framework was pioneered by Dubai Chambers and further refined by the WCF Task Force Chamber 4.0. The methodology could assist chambers in two major ways, namely: (a) redefine the value of chambers to their current and prospective members; and (b) help chambers to focus on businesses’ needs, to become a data driven and resilient organization, and a more attractive employer for the best talent in their respective markets.  By attending the Workshop, you and your colleagues will join fellow leaders in the chambers’ community in exploring tips, tools and guidance to implement CMI within your Chamber.

We encourage as many officers and staff members from your Chamber to attend the Workshop. Chamber’s participants  can register for the workshop by clicking HERE.

If you have further question, please contact us at cacci@cacci.biz.

Introduction to the Chamber Model Innovation Workshop for CACCI Members

13 September 2022, 2:00pm – 03:30pm, Taipei Time

Moderator
Peter McMullin, Vice President, CACCI

2.00 – 2.20 pm Opening remarks
Samir Modi, President CACCI
Hassan Al Hashimi, Vice President, International Relations at Dubai Chambers

2.20 – 2.50 pm Chamber Model Approach
Natalia Sycheva, Head of Strategy at Dubai Chambers

2.50 – 2.55 pm CMI Playbook: Explained
Natalia Sycheva, Head of Strategy at Dubai Chambers

2.55 – 3.10 pm Experiment Case study from Dubai Chambers
Fatma Almadani, Senior Specialist, Strategy at Dubai Chambers

3.10 –3.30 pm Q&A

CACCI Profile – August edition available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the August 2022 issue of CACCI Profile is now available! Please click here to read or download.

This month’s issue highlights the meeting between President Samir Modi and Asian ICT Chair James Chiao on a potential webinar introducing smart solutions for businesses. It also includes a recap of the first-ever orientation for new YEGAP members. Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible through cacci@cacci.biz.

YEGAP Talks with Mangesh Lal Shrestha from Kathmandu

CACCI is inviting members and friends to the third session of  YEGAP Talks to be held on September 16th 2022 at 3PM (Taipei Time) where stories and experiences of successful young Asian entrepreneurs are shared with participants.

To be moderated by Michael Lee, CEO of CreBiz Factory, South Korea, the one-hour webinar format session will feature Mangesh Lal Shrestha, Global Vice President for Growth of Frost & Sullivan, a company engaged in ICT, Digital, Data Center, AI, Consulting, Distribution, Software, System Integration, Managed Service, BFSI, Telecom, and Agrotech. Based in Kathmandu, but always flying everywhere, Mangesh will share his inspiration, his entrepreneurship journey, the challenges he faces, the complexity of international business and the rewards.

We hope you register HERE for the next YEGAP Talks with Mangesh scheduled on September 16^th 2022 at 3PM (Taipei time.)

Khulan Davaadorj discussed Entrepreneurship in Mongolia in YEGAP Talks #2

The second session of  YEGAP Talks held on August 19^th 2022 presented another webinar focused on stories and experiences of successful young Asian entrepreneurs such as Khulan Davaadorj, Founder and CEO of LHAMOUR.

Moderated by Michael Lee, CEO of CreBiz Factory, South Korea, the one-hour second session featured Khulan Davaadorj, Founder and CEO of LHAMOUR, Mongolia’s first organic skincare line. Khulan started LHAMOUR with the vision to be a leading role model, demonstrating to the world market that Mongolia can produce high-quality products. While her entrepreneurship journey has been difficult, her strong values propelled her to her present success.

You can view the fulll video recording of the August 19^th YEGAP Talks with Khulan here.

We also hope you register HERE for the next YEGAP Talks show scheduled on September 16^th 2022 at 3PM (Taipei time) with Mangesh Lal Shrestha, CEO of Frost & Sullivan, a company engaged in ICT, Digital, Data Center, AI, Consulting, Distribution, Software, System Integration, Managed Service, BFSI, Telecom, and Agrotech in Kathmandu.

ACCI renews Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on August 1^st 2022 hosted Mr. Arshad Rasjid, chair of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, Dr. Siswo Pramono, and a delegation of Indonesian business leaders.

During the delegation’s visit, the Chamber oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KADIN dedicated to further enhancing trade and investment linkages through the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).

The signing renews an MOU first signed in 2016. The MOU was signed by KADIN chairman Arshad Rasjid and ACCI chief executive Andrew McKellar and reaffirms their commitment to further promote growth and prosperity between Australia and Indonesia, one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

The agreement is expected to help elevate the two organisations’ already strong levels of cooperation and comes amid the Chambers’ work in facilitating further commercial opportunities in both Australian and Indonesian markets. ACCI’s leadership in further advancing a forwardleaning Indonesia policy will be further on display when the Chamber represents Australian business at the forthcoming B20 Summit in Indonesia. Australia and Indonesia are the only members of the B20 in South East Asia.

ACCI chief executive Andrew McKellar said: “The world needs less protectionism and more collaboration. We need meaningful cooperation and real teamwork to address the new global challenges of today. “The renewed Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry reaffirms our commitment to enhance the collaborative partnership between our countries. “ACCI and KADIN are pleased to take this step forward today alongside partners and friends to advance our common purpose of promoting Australia-Indonesia commercial relations,” Mr. McKellar added.

ACCI News

YEGAP Talks with Khulan Davaadorj, Founder and CEO of LHAMOUR

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) is pleased to invite you and your friends to attend the second YEGAP TALKS Session to be held virtually on August 19, 2022 at 3:00 PM, Taipei Time (GMT + 8).

YEGAP TALKS is a virtual talk show devoted to the stories and experiences of young entrepreneurs.

As a platform organized by CACCI’s Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP), YEGAP TALKS is open to one and all, with the aim of bringing together young people and entrepreneurs, to share their stories in the hope of inspiring one another and creating a better future.

Our second session will feature Khulan Davaadorj, Founder and CEO of LHAMOUR, Mongolia’s first organic skincare line. Khulan started LHAMOUR with the vision to be a leading role model, proving people that Mongolia can produce high quality products. Join us and listen to Khulan talk about her entrepreneurship journey and what propelled her to her present success.

Register for the second session on August 19 HERE.

 The Program:

(1) Welcome Remarks by David Hsu, CACCI Director-General (1 min)
(2) Introduction of Speaker by Michael Lee, YEGAP Executive Committee Member and Session moderator (3 mins)
(3) The Young Entrepreneur’s Journey of Khulan Davaadorj (15 mins)
(4) Interview with Khulan (20 mins)
(5) Q&A with the audience (10 mins)

Speaker:

Khulan Davaadorj
Founder & CEO, LHAMOUR, Mongolia

Khulan Davaadorj is a Mongolian entrepreneur who founded her company called LHAMOUR LLC in 2014, with the aim to produce natural and healthy products with unique Mongolian raw materials in the most environmentally friendly way. She started Mongolia’s first ever organic skincare brand LHAMOUR with the vision to be a leading role model, proving people that Mongolia can produce high quality products. A lot of the focus in the last decades was on political reforms and natural resource exploitation. There is no single brand or product from Mongolia that is globally recognized and even in Mongolia the image of local products has widely been seen as low quality. Khulan wants to change this image as she sees that she can use traditional ways to be incorporated into modern forms, which can be accepted globally, especially with the global increase of demand for organic and healthy products.

Mike Lee (Session Moderator)
CEO @CreBizFactory, South Korea

Michael is a young entrepreneur engaged in education and consulting businesses. He has extensive experience helping young entrepreneurs launch their business at the local, national and internationally level. As member of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Michael also works with chambers and business associations promoting private businesses in North and South America, as well as networking with global institutions such as B20. Michael is a member of YEGAP’s Executive Committee.

You are encouraged to share this invitation with your friends and business partners.

For further information, please contact cacci.yegap@gmail.com.

Iran YEGAP Member enlisted as Judge Panelist at Global Benchmarking Award Final 2022

The 8th Global Benchmarking Award was held virtually on August 4 with the purpose of encouraging organizations to demonstrate how benchmarking is a drive for their success and an integral part of their advancement.

The award is designed by the Global Benchmarking Network (GBN), a network of organizations with interest in the practice of benchmarking. The award is organized by Partnerships (Australia), BestPrax Club (India) and COER (New Zealand). This year, Dubai Police was selected as the winner by the judges. The members of the board of GBN attended the award in their capacity as judges. Mr Khashayar Ataie from Iran was one of the judges. Mr. Ataie is also a member of CACCI’s Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific. Other judges were from the Netherlands, the US, the Philippines, India, and New Zealand.

Introduction to Tehran Youth Association of Entrepreneurs

Tehran Youth Association of Entrepreneurs, which was established with the official permission of the Iran Chamber of Commerce and the full supervision of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce
in 2017 is the only official association of Iran Chamber of Commerce for the youth of the country whose members are from Tehran Chamber of Commerce.

They are active in providing cooperation, mutual thinking and organized activities among young entrepreneurs in order to create a favorable environment for young entrepreneurship, business
networking and doing joint work, training and skill building in the field of management and entrepreneurship.

Also, this association, with its official presence in some government organizations and departments of Iran, follows up on potential issues and problems of the country’s young producers and businessmen. They also provide numerous welfare, sports, and consulting services that support the country’s youth in the path of progress.

Like youth chambers in other parts of the world, this organization operates on the four pillars of education, social responsibility, networking in entrepreneurship and deputy preparation and has expanded its relationship with the corresponding associations at the national and international levels, which led to the signing of memorandums of understanding like the arbitration center of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, insurance, etc., all of which directed toward serving of the youth.

To get familiar with the association, more info is available on https://www.instagram.com/tccimjunior/

CACCI President Meets with ICT Council Chairman on Proposed Smart Solutions Forum

CACCI President Mr. Samir Modi (rightmost, top row) meets virtually with Mr. James Chiao, Chairman of the CACCI ICT Council (leftmost, middle row), and CACCI Secretariat executives to exchange views on the proposed webinar series on International Smart Solutions this year.  The series aims to establish a communication platform between smart solution providers and international enterprises, provide consulting services, understand the problems faced by enterprises, and solve their problems through the Taiwanese smart solution platform. The inaugural session I scheduled to held on August 31, 2022.

XVIII CACCI Health & Education newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to share with members and friends the 18^th Volume of the CACCI Health & Education Newsletter by clicking HERE.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the health and education sectors in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to wendy.yang@cacci.org.tw .

CACCI Profile – July edition available

CACCI is pleased to announce that the July 2022 issue of CACCI Profile is now available! Please click here to read or download.

This month’s issue highlights the inclusion of the CACCI Study on “Rebuilding the World Trading System” in the list of Best Mid-Year Reads in Economics in 2022 curated by Martin Wolf of the Financial Times. It also includes a recap of the first-ever session of YEGAP Talks, a new virtual talk show launched by CACCI’s Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP). Additionally, the newsletter features the latest news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible through cacci@cacci.biz.

CACCI Director-General pays visit to MOFA officers

CACCI Director-General David Hsu (2^nd from left), along with Senior Officer Abby Moreno (left), paid a visit to the Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on December 20, 2022 where he met with Director-General Y.C. Tsai (2^nd from right) and Deputy Director-General Isaac M. Chiu (right) of the Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs.

Mr. Hsu congratulated the two gentlemen on their new posts abroad. Director-General Tsai will be heading to Italy in January to assume his new post as Ambassador of the Taipei Representative Office in Italy. Deputy Director-General Chiu, meanwhile, will be serving as Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Surabaya, Indonesia from February.

Mr. Hsu relayed the news of the recently concluded 36^th CACCI Conference in Melbourne, as well as CACCI’s newly elected President Mr. Peter McMullin, who is based in Australia. They then touched on potential forums and activities that CACCI can spearhead under the new leadership, and also briefly discussed the important role of CACCI in bridging trade networks between Europe and Asia.

YEGAP Talks #1 with Papua New Guinea Serial Entrepreneur Vani Nades

CACCI’s Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) recently held the first session of YEGAP TALKS on July 22, 2022 at 3:00 PM, Taipei Time (GMT + 8).

YEGAP TALKS is a virtual talk show devoted to the stories and experiences of young entrepreneurs. As a platform organized by CACCI’s Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP), YEGAP TALKS is open to one and all, with the aim of bringing together young people and entrepreneurs, to share their stories in the hope of inspiring one another and creating a better future.
The first session featured Vani Nades, CEO of Emstret Holdings Limited, a provider of affordable internet services in Papua New Guinea.

A serial entrepreneur, she’s also a big advocate of youth development. David Hsu, Director-General of CACCI, started off the session with a few words introducing CACCI and YEGAP. This was followed by brief welcome remarks from Khulan Davaadorj, chair of YEGAP’s Learning & Networking Committee.

Session moderator Michael Lee introduced Vani with a short video on her company Emstret, and the work they do bringing connectivity to all parts of Papua New Guinea. Vani then went on to talk about her entrepreneurship journey — how she got started with Emstret, her struggles as a woman in a traditionally maledominated industry, and her present success and plans for the future.

During the interview with Michael, Vani talked about how she built up her confidence when she was still starting, and how she currently balances her work and family life. The session ended after a short Q&A with the audience.

The recording of the July 22 session with Vani is available on the YEGAP Talks Youtube channel. Watch it here.

Meanwhile, the next two sessions of YEGAP Talks are scheduled for August 19, with Khulan Davaadorj; and September 16, with Mangesh Lal Shrestha. Khulan is the founder and CEO of Lhamour, Mongolia’s first organic skincare brand, and was awarded Woman of the Year by Mongolia’s Prime Minister in 2016.

Mangesh, meanwhile, is Global VP of Growth at Frost & Sullivan in Nepal. He is also the current chairman of YEGAP.

ICT Chairman Invited as Guest Speaker at the “2022 Transformation Summit”

Mr. James Chiao, CEO of Smart City Consulting Co. Ltd. and Chairman of Asian ICT Council of CACCI, participated virtually as Guest Speaker during the first day of the three-day “2022
Transformation Summit” organized by Cebu IT BMP. Organization.

Mr. Chiao, who also serves as Chairman of the Smart Cities Committee of the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA), spoke on the important role of smart
city solutions in shaping the future of a city, and outlined areas where Taiwan – through its links to many experts not just in the country but in other regions as well – can help in providing the right and tailor-made smart city solutions for Cebu.

At the end of the session, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama said he would connect with Mr. Chiao to seek his assistance in making the Philippine’s second largest metropolis a Smart City just like Taipei and other cities in Taiwan

1st YEGAP Talks Session on July 22, 2022 – Register now

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) is pleased to invite members and friends to attend the first YEGAP TALKS #1 to be held virtually on July 22, 2022 at 3:00 PM, Taipei Time (GMT + 8).

YEGAP TALKS is a virtual talk show devoted to the stories and experiences of young entrepreneurs.

As a platform organized by CACCI’s Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP), YEGAP TALKS is open to one and all, with the aim of bringing together young people and entrepreneurs, to share their stories in the hope of inspiring one another and creating a better future.

Our first session will feature Vani Nades, CEO of Emstret Holdings Limited, a provider of affordable internet services in Papua New Guinea. A serial entrepreneur, she’s also a big advocate of youth development. Join us and listen to Vani talk about her life and dreams, successes and failures.

Register for the first session on July 22 at https://bit.ly/YEGAPTALKS

The Program

(1) Welcome Remarks by David Hsu, CACCI Director-General (1 min)
(2) Welcome Remarks by Khulan Davaadorj, YEGAP Learning and Networking Committee Chair (1 min)
(3) Introduction of Speaker by Michael Lee, YEGAP Executive Committee Member and Session moderator (3 mins)
(4) The Young Entrepreneur’s Journey of Vani Nades (15 mins)
(5) Interview with Vani (20 mins)
(6) Q&A with the audience (10 mins)

Speakers

Vani Nades
Founder & CEO @Emstret Holdings Ltd., Papua New Guinea

She is a leader who has made a significant contribution to the business community in Papua New Guinea. Having been in the education sector for 20 years, she has contributed greatly to the industry. Beyond her commitment to education, she has a passion for making a difference and giving hope to the community. With her experience, she provides potential for increased access to skills and opportunities for Papua New Guineans. She has founded several businesses: internet service provider Emstret Holdings Limited, entrepreneurs’ coworking hub Emstret Space Limited, Little CEO Pizza Delivery, e commerce marketplace Shopsmart PNG Limited, and the businesses’ community arm serving rural communities the Voices for Villages Foundation. “I believe wholeheartedly in Entrepreneurship as it fosters innovation, create jobs and more so promote economic development. The exciting part of it is an idea put into action that creates new business” Vani Nades

Mike Lee (Session Moderator)
CEO @CreBizFactory, South Korea

Michael is a young entrepreneur engaged in education and consulting businesses. He has extensive experience helping young entrepreneurs launch their business at the local, national and internationally level. As member of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Michael also works with chambers and business associations promoting private businesses in North and South America, as well as networking with global institutions such as B20. Michael is a member of YEGAP’s Executive Committee.

For further information, please contact cacci.yegap@gmail.com.

India’s Trade Representative in Taiwan Makes Courtesy Call on CACCI Secretariat

Mr. Dhananjay Singh Yadav, Deputy Director-General at the India Taipei Association (center) and Mr. Wen-Che Hsieh, Secretary (Commerce) (rightmost) on July 6 were received by CACCI officers led by Director-General Mr. David Hsu ((2nd from right) and officers of CTBC Bank at the CACCI Secretariat office in Taipei.

The visit provided both sides the opportunity to introduce their respective organizations to each other and identify activities where they may provide mutually beneficial support and cooperation.

Yo

Young entrepreneurs from Iran on July 5, 2022 met virtually with officers of the CACCI Secretariat to introduce themselves, as well as to have a greater understanding about CACCI and its
activities, to convey their expectations for joining the Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP), and to know the planned activities of YEGAP in the months ahead and how they can
actively participate in them. YEGAP is one of the Product and Service Councils of CACCI which aims to promote entrepreneurship not only among CACCI member countries but also in countries
outside the Asia Pacific region.

36th CACCI Conference

Thanks to the arrangements made by CACCI Vice President Mr. Peter McMullin, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and CACCI will jointly hold the 36^th CACCI Conference on November 28-30, 2022 in Melbourne, the capital of the Australian state of Victoria, which is located in the southeastern part of the country. Sitting on the banks of the Yarra River and around the shores of Port Phillip Bay, the city has a population of over 5 million.

Melbourne and the State of Victoria host some of Australia’s most prestigious events throughout the year, such as the Spring Racing Carnival culminating in the Melbourne Cup in November, the Australian Open Tennis in January, and the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, among others.

The Program

This year’s Conference in Melbourne will provide the delegates the opportunity not only to network with leading businessmen from the region but also to meet with international and regional experts who will share their views on how to address the challenges and grasp the opportunities presented by the ongoing transformation in the regional and global trade and investment environment.

Registration HERE.
Late registrant please contact CACCI Secretariat at cacci@cacci.biz

Arrival of Delegates / Registration

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

08:00am – 08:45am Registration (Foyer)
08:45am – 08:55am Official Welcome by Mr. Paul Guerra, Chief Executive, Victorian CCI (Foyer)
09:00am – 10:30am Parallel Breakout Sessions (Group One)

Group One

(1) Asian ICT Council: “Promoting Smart Solutions in the Post-Pandemic Era” (Meeting Room 216)

• Natasha Bunshaw, General Manager, National Delivery, DB Results
• Tal Nathan, Head of Go to Market Aus, NTT

Session Chairman: Mr. James Chiao, Chairman & CEO, SmartCities Consulting Technology Co.

(2) SME Development Council: “Promoting Digitalization Among SMEs” (Meeting Room 217)

• Martin Koval, Client Director, Pitcher Partners
• Sudha Viswanathan, Client Director, Pitcher Partners on “Data analytics – overcoming the challenge of legacy systems to drive better business decisions”
• Charly Gordon, Global Policy Lead, International Chamber of Commerce

Session Chairman: Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, Member, CACCI Advisory Board

(3) Asian Council on Food & Agriculture: “Recent Trends and Developments in the Food and Agriculture Sectors” (Meeting Room 218)

• Professor Susan Dodds, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Industry Engagement, La Trobe University
• Justin Lemmens, CEO, Sustainable Foods Ltd.
• Jen Taylor, Deputy Director, Science, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Agriculture and Food

Session Chairman: Mr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, Managing Director, Panchakanya Group

10:30am – 11:00am Morning Tea Break (Foyer)
11:00am – 12:30am Parallel Breakout Sessions (Group Two)

Group Two

(4) Young Entrepreneurs Group of Asia-Pacific: “Promoting Entrepreneurship in the Age of Economic Disruptions” (Meeting Room 216)

• Julia Truong, Founder & Director, JT. Production Management
• Michael Lim, Founder and Managing Director of Beyond Value
• Vani Nades, Founder & CEO, Emstreet Holdings
• Jay Thian, General Manager, Luxurily Group

Session Chairman: Mr. Rommel Gerodias, Vice Chairman of YEGAP; President A101 Innovations Inc.

(5) Asian Council on Tourism: “Post-COVID Trends and Challenges in Tourism” (Meeting Room 217)

• Shae Keenan, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Victoria
• Syed Habib Ali, Chairman, Tourism Developers Association of Bangladesh
• Gerelsaikhan Tsolmon, Head of Department of Foreign Relations and Cooperation, Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Session Chairman: Mr. Anura Lokuhetty, Chairman of Red Apple Travels & Holidays Lanka Pvt Ltd, Chairman of Luxury Villas and Hotel Management Pvt Ltd and Managing Director of Sooriya Resort and Spa.

12:30pm – 01:45pm Lunch Break (Foyer)
01:45pm – 02:45pm *Policy Advocacy Working Group Meeting (Meeting Room 218)

01:45pm-03:45pm “Discover Business Opportunities Through CACCI” (Meeting Rooms 219 & 220)

• Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Presenter: Scott Venkeer, Chief Executive, Melbourne Chamber of Commerce.
• Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) – Presenter: James Shi Chu, Secretary General
• Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) – Presenter: Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President.
• Bogota Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Representing Pacific Alliance) – Presenter: Maria Monica Conde Barragan, Vice President of International Affairs.
• Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF) – Presenter: Sheikh Fazle Fahim, Chair, IORBF & President, Developing 8 National Chambers of Commerce and Industry) (To be confirmed)

Session Chairman/Moderator: Mr. George Abraham, Chairman and Managing Director, The GA Group Pte. Ltd.

03:45pm-5:00pm Business Matching meetings (Meeting Rooms 212 & 213)

* CACCI Members Only Meetings

02:00pm-03:00pm *Advisory Board Meeting (Meeting Room 215)
03:00pm-04:00pm *Budget Commission Meeting (Meeting Room 215)
04:00pm-05:00pm *95th CACCI Council Meeting (Meeting Room 2018)

05:00pm-06:30pm       Welcome Reception/Cocktails (Courtyard)

• Mr. Paul Guerra, Chief Executive, VCCI
• Mr. Samir Modi, President, CACCI
• The Hon. John Brumby AO, Chancellor of La Trobe University and a Professor (Honorary) in the Faculty of Business & Economic, University of Melbourne

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

36th CACCI Conference

Emerging Powerhouses: How chambers of commerce will define the new economy

As the world continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses around the world are actively seeking ways to create new commercial opportunities and navigate the changing operating environment. Chambers of Commerce are ideally placed to define the new economy and assist businesses navigate it. The Conference will explore the following themes and how Chamber of Commerce can play a leadership role:  (a) How industries are transforming themselves in response to emerging demands and issues in the business environment;  (b) Explore the combinations of big and little changes in technology, workforce demographics, customer needs, competition, and legislation happening every day that can transform the business environment; and  (c) How business can leverage new and emerging opportunities for growth and profitability.

08:00am – 09:00am Registration (Foyer)
09:00am – 09:30am  Opening Ceremony (Meeting Rooms 219 and 220)

• Welcome Remarks by Mr. Paul Guerra, Chief Executive, Victorian CCI
• Welcome Statement by Mr. Samir Modi, President, CACCI
• Keynote Address by Mr. John  Denton AO, Secretary General, ICC World Chambers Federation

09:30am – 11:00am  Plenary Session 1: The Evolving World Trading System: Implications for Business (Meeting Rooms 219 and 220)

The world needs trade and investment to drive growth and development. Trade and investment activity, in turn, results from a great quantity of individual commercial decisions taken by businesses, large and small, around the world. This session will discuss how Chambers of Commerce can position themselves as global players in influencing the emerging trade system. Speakers will share their views on ways in which the world trading system, beginning with the WTO which is at its center, can better serve the needs of today’s private enterprise, and how understanding and addressing these concerns will not only be beneficial for productivity and living standards across the world, but also would encourage private enterprises, especially smaller firms, to become more active participants and advocates for trade.

• Mr. Dan Tehan, Former Australian Minister for Trade and Current Shadow Minister for Immigration (To be confirmed)
• Mr. Bryan Clark, Director, Australian Centre for International Trade and Investment
• Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Dr. Mohammad Khazaee, Director Gener for ICC Iran
• Mr. Henrik Isakson, In-charge of Trade Affairs, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise

Session Chairman/Moderator: Dr. Andrew Stoeckel, Honorary Professor, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

11:00am – 11:30am Morning Tea Break (Foyer)
11:00am – 11:30am Press Conference (Meeting Room 215)

11:30am – 12:30pm Plenary Session 2 Asian Business: Leveraging New Technologies to Drive Transformation and Growth (Meeting Rooms 219 and 220)

As more activities shift online post-COVID-19, the emerging digital has tremendous potential for further growth. This session will examine opportunities presented by new technologies (block chain, AI and machine learning, digital platforms, 3D printing, mobile payments, smart cities/smart health care, etc.) to make businesses – especially SMEs – more innovative, more efficient, less costly, increase their access to finance, and be more responsive to the changing needs of customers. Invited speakers will highlight the strengths of Asia-Pacific countries in driving innovation for sustainable and inclusive economic growth and point out how Chambers of Commerce can be a leading player in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Mr. Andrew Cumpston, State Director, Victoria State Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Mr. Mark Harwood, Chief Executive Officer, ygap
• Dr. Alireza Yavari, Deputy President for International Affairs, ICCIMA
• Mr. Aloysius Wee, Chairman, ASEAN Legal Alliance, Co-Managing Principal, Aquinas Law Alliance LLP

Session Chairman/Moderator: Mr. Peter McMullin AM, Founder, The Good Business Foundation, Vice President, CACCI

12:30pm – 01:45pm Lunch Break (Foyer)

02:00pm – 03:00pm Plenary Session 3: Sectoral Strategies for Business Recovery to Ensure Regional Prosperity (Meeting Rooms 219 and 220)

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in large and abrupt drop in economic activity. The impact has varied dramatically across different sectors of the economy. This has highlighted the need for structural reforms to support sustainable economic recovery. Invited speakers will discuss the need for an analysis of different sectors, their potential for future growth, and the support they need to help them and the economies in the region get back on track. They will also elaborate on the importance of a stronger collaboration between governments and businesses to enable economies to address many of the challenges and ensure a sustainable and inclusive recovery. Central to this will the role Chambers of Commerce in the region can take in helping achieve this objective.

• Mr. Rommel Gerodias, Vice Chairman, YEGAP, President A101 Innovations Inc.
• Mr. Stuart Thomson, Executive Director, Good Business Foundation
• Gerelsaikahan Tsolmon, Head of Department of Foreign Relations and Cooperation, Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Session Chairman/Moderator: Mr. Sheikh Fazle Fahim, Vice President, CACCI, Former President, FBCCI

03:00pm – 3:30pm Afternoon Tea Break (Foyer)

03:30pm – 04:30pm Plenary Session 4: Building Back Better: Creating a Business Model for a Resilient Future (Meeting Rooms 219 and 220)

The past two years have seen new challenges and opportunities emerging, prompting many companies to transform themselves and reinvent their business models. This session will feature business leaders who will share their views on how to capitalize on this new momentum, how to accelerate the innovation they have tapped, and how to optimize their businesses for the new global reality.  They will elaborate on how a company must have its radar tuned to changes in the external environment and quickly react to refine or reinvent its business model. The session will address how Chambers of Commerce can support businesses across the Asia-Pacific through cross-sector partnerships, and how CACCI can play a role in influencing policy decisions at all levels to create a business environment capable of meeting future challenges.

• Ms. Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO, Australian Venture Philanthropy Network
• Mr. Khurram Sayeed, Former Vice President, Federation of Pakistan CCIs, CEO, Planet Energy Pvt Ltd
• Mr. Manish Singhal, Deputy Secretary General, FICCI, Federation of Indian CCIs

Session Chairman/Moderator: Mr. Samir Modi, President, CACCI, Managing Director, Modi Enterprises

04:45pm – 05:45pm 96th CACCI Council Meeting (Meeting Room 218)
06.30pm Gala Dinner

(1) Welcome Remarks
(2) Oathtaking Ceremony for YEGAP Members
(3) Presentation of CACCI Awards
(4) Presentation of Distinguished Service Award to Mr. Ken Court, CACCI Advisory Board Chairman
(5) Presentation of Certificates of Conferment as CACCI President Emeritus to Former Presidents Harvey Chang, Amb. Benedicto Yujuico and Jemal Inaishvili
(6) Presentation of Plaque of Appreciation to Victorian CCI
(7) Turnover Ceremonies for Incoming CACCI President
(8) Video Presentation on Venue of 37th CACCI Conference

NOVEMBER 30, 2022 

(1) Optional Post-Conference City-Tour
(2) Departure of delegates

Here is the video about Melbourne, to give members an idea on what the city has to offer and what awaits ahead during CACCI’s annual Conference next year.

Registration HERE.
Late registrant please contact CACCI Secretariat at cacci@cacci.biz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcBPVFxgaUw

CACCI VP McMullin meets Indonesian Minister, KADIN, ICC & B20

CACCI Vice President Peter McMullin AM attended a range of meetings recently on his visit to Indonesia starting mid-June 2022. During the first leg of his itinerary, VP McMullin met with Indonesian International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Executive Director Lusiana S. Indomo; Executive Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Centre of Entrepreneurship Jakarta Hub Nunki Juniarti; and Mr. Haryadi Sarpini from the ICC Banking Commission in Jakarta. The meetings were productive in understanding the local business dynamics, and the measures taken by government and industry as Indonesia continues recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mr. McMullin’s also included a visit to West Java where he observed Fin Tech CROWDE’s collaborative work with medium sized farmers through a loan guarantee system providing jobs and secure incomes for rural people.

The last stage of his Indonesian trip was in Bali, where he attended the B20 Network Partners Consultation and the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Conference 2022 held from June 21-24, 2022. During this high-level setting, Mr. McMullin also had the opportunity to met with a range of important business and political leaders, including the Minister for Tourism and the Creative Economy of Indonesia, Mr. Sandiaga Uno, and KADIN Chairman Mr. Arsjad Rasjid.

After Indonesia, Mr. McMullin’s international program continued with a visit to Singapore for high level meetings with local business leaders before returning to Australia.

CACCI Profile – June edition available

Taipei – We are pleased to announce that the June 2022 issue of CACCI Profile is now available! Please click HERE to read or download.

This month’s issue includes reports on the CACCI Director-General meeting with Taiwan Representative of CACCI Member Countries, Preparations for the 36th CACCI Conference, recent meeting of the YEGAP Executive Committee, other news from Member Chambers, along with a wide range of articles relevant to business and trade.

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities.

If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents.

If you have any articles you wish to share with our members, you are welcome to send these to us, with accompanying photos if possible through cacci@cacci.biz.

YEGAP holds second Executive Committee Meeting of the year

The YEGAP Executive Committee held its second meeting for 2022 on June 14, 2022, at 2:00 PM Taipei Time, with YEGAP Chairman Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha presiding. Discussions focused on updates regarding the plans of each of the six YEGAP committees, as well as proposed YEGAP activities in preparation for the upcoming 36th CACCI Conference that will be held in Melbourne in
late November.

Among the items discussed included:

• YEGAP Breakout Session on Day 1 of the Conference, which will introduce YEGAP and talk about what the group has done so far as well as activities for the future and plans for expansion. It will also include a discussion on “Taking Asia towards an Entrepreneurship-Driven Recovery.”

• Plenary Session 3 on Day 2 of the Conference, which will focus on “Sectoral Strategies for Business Recovery to Ensure Regional Prosperity.” This session will invite speakers who will share their perspectives on the need for an analysis of different sectors, their potential for future growth, and the support they need to help them and economies in the region get back on track. The Executive Committee may be able to nominate speakers to represent YEGAP during this session.

• Oathtaking Ceremony for the YEGAP Executive Committee which will take place during the Gala Dinner on Day 2 of the Conference. It will allow the EC members to affirm their commitment to the duties associated with their role in YEGAP, and to be recognized by CACCI leaders, members, and guests.

• MOU Signing with other young entrepreneur groups from the region and outside outlining possible areas of collaboration.

• Networking sessions to be conducted with CACCI Officers and Council Members is also being considered along with fun social interaction sessions (i.e. wine and dine events), a strategic Executive Committee Meeting to be conducted offsite, site visits, as well as strategic meetings with Australian Government or Australian Young Entrepreneurs groups.

Salauddin Yousuf, CACCI Lifetime Special Member from Bangladesh wins Dairy Icon award

Director of Companiganj Agro-Industries Limited Md Salauddin Yousuf receives the ‘Dairy Icon’ award in Milk/Meat processing value category from Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul
Karim.

New CACCI Director-General Meets with Taiwan Representatives of CACCI Member Countries

CACCI Director-General Mr. David Hsu paid visits to the embassies of Thailand, Mongolia and Malaysia in May and June. The purposes of these meetings included: (1) to get a further understanding on each country’s latest economic development; (2) to introduce to them each country’s participation and involvement in CACCI’s activities; and (3) to request for their strong support of CACCI’s activities and increase the cooperation and interaction between CACCI
and these countries.

Visit to the Thailand Trade and Economic Office

a. Thailand Trade and Economic Office – Mr. David Hsu, former CACCI Director-General Mr. Ernest Lin and CTBC Financial Holding Company Consultant Mr. Joseph Huang met with Mr. Twekiat Janprajak, Executive Director, Thailand Trade & Economic Office, on May 3.

Visit to the Ulaanbaatar Trade and Economic Representative Office in Taipei

b. Ulaanbaatar Trade and Economic Representative Office in Taipei – Mr. David Hsu, accompanied by CTBC Financial Holding Company Consultant Mr. Joseph Huang and CACCI Senior Officer Ms. Wendy Yang, made a courtesy call on the Mongolian Representative Mr. Zolzaya Lkhagvasuren on June 7.

Visit to the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre, Taipei

c. Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre, Taipei – Mr. David Hsu, accompanied by former CACCI Director-General Mr. Ernest Lin and CTBC Financial Holding Company Consultant Mr. Joseph Huang, paid a visit to Ms. Sharon Ho Swee Peng, President of Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre, Taipei on June 20.

CACCI Newsletter on Food and Agriculture available

We are pleased to issue the Eighteenth Volume of CACCI Food and Agriculture Newsletter, the latest publication of the Asian Council on Food and Agriculture raedy for download HERE.

We hope this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the food & agriculture sector in the CACCI region. Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues. Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to: wendy.yang@cacci.biz .

CACCI Profile – May edition available

CACCI VP Peter McMullin call on former President Xanana Gusmao

On 20 May, Dr Jose Ramos Horta was sworn in as the new president of Timor-Leste after a solid victory on the 19 March 2022 election.

Dr. Horta clearly defeated a crowded field of 16 candidates with the critical support of the country’s pre-eminent political figure, Xanana Gusmao, who is considered the founding father of Timor-Leste.

During the inaugural events of Dr. Horta’s Presidency, CACCI Vice President Peter McMullin had the opportunity to call on former President Xanana Gusmao to congratulate him for the coalition’s success and show CACCI’s interest in continuing helping Timor-Leste’s policies for economic development and trade.

In the photo, Executive Director of The Good Business Foundation Stuart Thompson, CACCI Vice President Peter McMullin, former President Xanana Gusmao, and other guests.

CACCI and Asian Council for Small Business Philippines Conduct Virtual Meeting

Officers of the Asian Council for Small Business (ACSB) Philippines met virtually with CACCI Secretariat staff led by Director-General Mr. David Hsu on May 19 to exchange views on possible areas of cooperation.

ACSB Philippines President Ms. Arlene Martinez and Founding Trustee Ms. Yayu Javier made an introduction on their organization, including its function, operation and strategic goals, though a PowerPoint presentation. They reported that ACSB Philippines is part of the Asian Council for Small Business which, in turn, is a member of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), which is the global platform established in support of SMEs.

In its presentation, ACSB Philippines also shared that it has established partnerships with different private organizations and government agencies, including The Department of Trade and
Industry of the Philippines (DTI). Since its launch in 2021, ACSB Philippines has aimed to help the 900,000 SMEs in the Philippines explore the access to ASEAN and global markets, as well as up
skill them through technology, science-based and data-driven strategies, and business continuity management.

In response, CACCI Director-General Mr. David Hsu expressed the interest in working with ACSB Philippines, adding that CACCI is open all possibilities of cooperation. Taking the opportunity, the CACCI Secretariat also informed ACSB Philippines that there are CACCI Product & Service Councils of different industry sectors which may be of interest to ACSB Philippines to join. In addition, there are CACCI Awards programs for outstanding SMEs, young entrepreneurs, and women entrepreneurs in Asia-Pacific. Should members of ACSB Philippines be interested in joining the they may approach Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for assistance when the nomination opens, the CACCI Secretariat informed the ACSB Philippine officers.

To sum up, the two sides recognized the success of this meeting and looked forward to more cooperation in the future.

CACCI Profile – April edition available

YEGAP holds first Executive Committee meeting for 2022

The first virtual meeting of the YEGAP Executive Committee (EC) for 2022 was held on April 25, 2022, at 2:00 PM Taipei Time. Chaired by YEGAP Chairman Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha, the meeting focused on the plans of each of the six YEGAP committees, as well as upcoming YEGAP activities during the 36th CACCI Conference that will be held in Melbourne in November.

The meeting kicked off with the YEGAP committee chairs outlining their plans for their respective committees and providing updates on what they have done this far. The chairs and their
committees are as follows: Khulan Davaadorj for the Learning and Networking Committee, Jay Thian and Charmaine Leong for the Engagement, Branding & Communication Committee, Michael
Lee for the Membership and Partnership Alliance Committee, Rommel Gerodias for the Strategic Planning, Governance and By-Laws Committee, Rishabh Shroff for the Policy Advocacy Committee, and Richard Lin for the Programs & Events Committee.

The EC then proceeded to discussions on YEGAP Activities during the 36th CACCI Conference, which is scheduled to be held in Melbourne, Australia on November 28-29, 2022.

Among the items discussed were the following:

• YEGAP Breakout Session on Day 1 of the Conference, which will introduce YEGAP and talk about what the group has done so far as well as activities for the future and plans for expansion. It will also include a discussion on “Taking Asia towards an Entrepreneurship-Driven Recovery.”

• Plenary Session 3 on Day 2 of the Conference, which will focus on “Sectoral Strategies for Business Recovery to Ensure Regional Prosperity.” This session will invite speakers who will share
their perspectives on the need for an analysis of different sectors, their potential for future growth, and the support they need to help them and economies in the region get back on track. The Executive Committee may be able to nominate a speaker or speakers to represent YEGAP during this session.

• Oathtaking Ceremony for the YEGAP Executive Committee which will take place during the Gala Dinner on Day 2 of the Conference. It will allow the EC members to affirm their commitment to the duties, responsibilities and obligations associated with their role in YEGAP, and as well give formal recognition to the EC members in front of CACCI leaders, members, and guests.

A networking session to be conducted with CACCI Officers and Council Members is also being considered along with fun social interaction sessions (i.e. wine and dine events), a strategic Executive Committee Meeting to be conducted offsite, site visits, as well as strategic meetings with Australian Government or Australian Young Entrepreneurs groups.

Mangesh presented a timeline of tasks to be completed in preparation for the Conference and next steps for each committee. He proposed that EC meetings be held every 45 days hence, which the committee members all agreed to. The next meeting of the YEGAP Executive Committee Meeting will thus be held in mid-June.

CACCI appoints new Director-General

After years of service to CACCI, Mr. Ernest Lin has announced his intention to retire from his role as Director-General. Effective April 18, 2022, the role will be filled by Mr. Da-wei (David) Hsu.

Mr. Hsu was most recently Director at the Professional Training Center of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOEA). Over the years, he has served in various official capacities at the MOEA, and had been posted in various countries both in and outside the Asian region. He was the Economic Director at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Jordan from 1992 to 1995; Commercial Director of TECO in Toronto from 2000 to 2008; Economic Counselor of the Taiwan Embassy in Panama from 2002 to 2006; Economic Director at the TECO in India from 2009 to 2013; and Director of the Economic Division at the TECO in Malaysia from 2018 to 2020.

In Taiwan, some of his most notable positions at the MOEA include serving as Director of the International Cooperation Department from 1997 to 1998; as Director of the Small & Medium Enterprises Administration in 2006 to 2008; as Director of the Bureau of Foreign Trade from 2008 to 2009; and as Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Foreign Trade from 2013 to 2018.

CACCI joins NGO Committee on Language and Languages

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) joined as one of the 22 inaugural and constituting members of the “NGO Committee on Language and Languages” organized by the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status with the United Nations (CoNGO), of which CACCI is a member. The formation of the Committee was first proposed in December 2019 under the initiative of Mr. Humphrey Tonkin, President & University Professor of the Humanities, Emeritus, University of Hartford.

According to CoNGO: “Fundamental to the work of the United Nations is the spoken and written word. The United Nations is a place of negotiation and action in which language and communication underlie everything that it does. The UN Secretariat works in two languages; the General Assembly works in six; the various members of the UN family have their own language policies, intended to promote inclusion. Beyond its official languages, the United Nations interacts with the public in a host of other languages. “We need to come together,” Secretary-General Guterres recently declared, “not only to talk but to listen.” Multilingualism is honoured and encouraged in the work of the United Nations.

“Written into many international instruments created or promoted by the United Nations is the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of language. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights stresses access to education, a right to enjoy one’s own culture, a right to a fair trial, and numerous other rights that are dependent on language.

“There is currently no NGO committee that concerns itself with language and language policy, despite the fact that all international NGOs must grapple, to a greater or lesser extent, with language difference. And there are numerous NGOs directly concerned with the teaching of language, with interpretation and translation, and with communication with the public.

“An NGO Committee on Language and Languages could give its attention to UN language policy, to the work of interpreters and translators, to the use of language in the field, and to numerous other aspects of language, among them also the preservation of endangered languages and the promotion of language learning.

“Put in concrete terms, the proposed Committee will cover both language use at the UN (sexist language, the language of hate, the language of peace, human rights language) and the use of languages at the UN (provision of translation and interpretation, documentation, outreach to speakers of other languages, parity among languages, protection and promotion of indigenous languages, etc.).

The founding meeting of the Committee was held virtually on September 9, 2021, mainly to discuss basic matters, including the creation of by-laws and agreement on goals, the establishment of an initial organizing committee, decisions on frequency and topics of meetings, among others. The Committee also agreed to meet regularly for possible briefing sessions on any of the following topics:

1. UN language policies and services (with briefing by UN personnel)
2. Briefings by NGOs on language-relate issues (internal language policies, hiring of multilingual personnel, policy issues relating to languages, protection of language workers, etc.)
3. Language and education (perhaps in cooperation with the NGO Committee on Education)
4. Linguistic justice (language and human rights, non-discrimination on grounds of language, etc.) and programmes of UNESCO related to language (endangered languages, indigenous languages, language in education, etc.)
5. Sign language

The Committee held its inaugural briefing session virtually on December 7, 2021. Focusing on the theme “Multilingualism and the United Nations: Policy, Practice, and Prospects,” the inaugural session served to publicly launch the NGO Committee on Language and Languages by providing an overview of the current state of multilingualism at the United Nations as well as prospects for the future of multilingualism.

CACCI Profile – March edition available

Cambodia Chamber of Commerce President Takes Over ASEAN BAC 2022 Chairmanship

Neak Oknha Kith Meng, President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (2nd from left), receives the flag of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) from Mr. Kelvin Ng Tien Long,  Charg’e d’ Affaires of Brunei Darussalam to Cambodia (left), during the formal ASEAN BAC Chairmanship Handover Ceremony held on January 26, 2022.

Chairman Kith Meng was accompanied by ASEAN BAC members from Cambodia Mr. Sok Piseth (right) and Mr. Van Souieng (2nd from right).

CACCI Secretariat Meets with ICC Centre of Entrepreneurship Indonesia

Executives and staff of the CACCI Secretariat attended the online meeting organized by the ICC Center of Entrepreneurship (CoE) on February 15, providing them an opportunity to meet with the team in charge of the Jakarta hub of CoE. Both sides took the occasion to introduce their respective organizations to each other, and to discuss possible areas of collaboration moving forward, particularly those aimed at promoting the development and growth of SMEs and in fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship in the region, especially among the young people.

The ICC CoE harnesses ICC’s network of national committees and chambers of commerce in over 100 countries to run capacity building programmes, trainings, and community workshops to address the challenges facing entrepreneurs and SMEs. It established its first Asia Pacific hub in Jakarta, Indonesia on October 25, 2021.

CACCI Joins 19th ASEAN-BAC JBCs Meeting

Mr. George Abraham, Chairman of the CACCI SME Development Council (2nd from left, bottom), represented CACCI in the 19th Joint Business Councils’ (JBC) Meeting held online on February 14, 2022 at 09:00 AM, Cambodia Time.

Among others, the meeting was briefed on the Program – under the theme “Addressing Challenges Together” – of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce as this year’s Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC). Each of the JBC Members was also given the opportunity to report on their ongoing and upcoming activities to support the ASEAN-BAC programs.

For his part, Mr. Abraham informed the meeting of the following activities being undertaken by CACCI: (a) Promotion of the CACCI study on “Achieving a Successful World Trading System”; (b) Review of the future growth strategy of CACCI (c) Survey on Members supply resources; (d) Restructuring and revitalizing of the CACCI Young Entrepreneurs Group; (e) Partnership with the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) on the holding of the Business Forum on Regional Integration; (f) Participation inB20 Indonesia 2022 through membership in its Digitalization Task Force; and (g) Preparations for the 36th CACCI Conference. Mr. Abraham also cited possible areas on which CACCI can jointly work with other JBC members.

CACCI Profile – February edition available

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

CACCI Planning Committee Meeting scheduled on March 10

The CACCI Planning Committee Meeting has been scheduled to be conducted virtually on March 10, 2022 at 2:00 PM Taipei/ 5:00 PM Melbourne time.

The meeting will primarily discuss preparations for the 36th CACCI Conference to be hosted by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in Melbourne, Australia in November 2022. Discussion will mainly focus on the final Conference dates, Conference venue, theme, topics, speakers, and format, among others.

CACCI will soon be sending out the tentative agenda for the meeting, so that members and officers may begin to confirm their attendance. Additionally, members and officers will be asked to provide suggestions on economic, business or policy issues that are currently of great concern to the membership and business sector of the region as a whole, and thus should be tackled during the 2022 Conference.

Further information on both the Planning Committee meeting in March as well as the CACCI Conference in November 2022 will be sent out once these are available. In the meantime, members are encouraged to block out the relevant date on their schedule. For further information write to cacci@cacci.biz

“2022 Global Economic Outlook” Forum

CACCI is pleased to invite members, partners and friends to join the CNAIC 70^th Anniversary Forward-thinking Forum – 2022 Global Economic Outlook and Regional Economic Integration to be held on March 15, 2022 at 14:00-16:20 hrs., Taipei Time.

According to the “World Economic Outlook” released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2021, the global economy is projected to grow by 4.9 percent in 2022. While the global economy is seen to be on the path to recovery, many challenges remain, including the continued worldwide spread of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus; the slowdown in employment growth; the rapid rise of inflation in the US and in some emerging markets and developing economies; and food security and climate change, among others. As the global supply chain is likely to remain impacted, the outlook of the economic development seems gloomy.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which entered into force on December 30, 2018, is considered a regional trade agreement which upholds the rules-based scope and high-quality standards of the world trading system. It opens to economies which comply with its high standards, and has started accepting the second batch of membership applications in 2021. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which took effect on January 1, 2022, is currently the largest global free trade agreement with 15 member countries comprising 30 % of the global population and almost 30% of the global GDP. The development of CPTPP and RCEP as well as the regional economic integration in the future will certainly play an important role in deciding the global deployment of businesses.

To be held in a hybrid format, this Forum – which is co-organized by CNAIC and CACCI to commemorate CNAIC’s  70^th Anniversary – will feature speakers and panelists who will share their insights on the latest global economic trends and the outlook of economic integration in the region.

Participation is free of charge.

For the complete Program and to register, please click HERE.

Confirmation Message, along with the Forum link and other relevant information, will be sent to registered participants on March 11.

Winners of the 2021 CACCI Awards Announced

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) has recently announced the winners of the 2021 CACCI Awards. The announcement was made during the 94th CACCI Council Meeting held virtually on November 2, 2021.

The following were declared this year’s winners of the following Awards

The 9th CACCI Local Chamber Awards

The winner of the 9th CACCI Local Chamber Award, Big Chamber category, is Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) from Bangladesh. Considered the largest and most vibrant chamber in the country, CCCI has played a vital role in designing the fiscal policy since its establishment in 1906. It works as the bridge between the private and the public sector in designing national policy for export-import, manufacturing, industrialization, infrastructure development, trade, SME sector expansion, and employment generation to eradicate poverty as well as enhance economic development of the country.

Aydin Chamber of Commerce from Turkey was the winner for the Small Chamber category. The Chamber has been conducting studies that contribute to the city’s socio-economic development as well as developing the trade of the province. The Chamber also recognizes that one of the most important elements of trade is specialized fairs, and with this awareness, 197 fairs were organized in the last 5 years by the Chamber. It has also created a resource for the city by receiving grants from the EU and other funds to realise many projects that contributed to the well-being of its members and the province as a whole.

The CACCI Local Chamber Awards seek to recognize local chambers for their achievement in providing services to its members and to the community where its members operate.

The 8th Asia Pacific Young Entrepreneur Award

CACCI presented the 8th Asia Pacific Young Entrepreneur Award to Mrs. Yuna Aleksandrovna Nikishkina, General Director, OOO SputNik from Russia. Mrs. Nikishkina started her business in February 2015. Three years later in March 2018, her original micro-enterprise was transformed into OOO Sputnik, whose main activity has become the production games and toys for children, as well as for the deaf and the blind. Recently, she got an account on Alibaba and entered the international market with her unique products.

The Asia-Pacific Award aims to recognize excellent young entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific rim who not only are successful in their business but also advocate corporate social responsibility for the good of their country.

The 3rd Asia Pacific Woman Entrepreneur Award

The 3rd Asia Pacific Woman Entrepreneur Award was won by Ms. Munktuvshin Oyundelger, CEO, Monolab, LLC from Mongolia. Ms. Oyundelger, PhD, Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Science, utilizes her knowledge, network and professionalism to provide necessary equipment to domestic health organizations. Her company Monolab LLC has been supplying high quality, new technology medical equipment from Germany, Korea and other developed countries since 1996. It has become an official distributor of HUMAN Gesellschaft fur Biochemica&Diagnostica mbH, one of the biggest layers in the world in vitro diagnostic device market in Mongolia.

The Asia-Pacific Woman Entrepreneur Award gives recognition to successful businesswomen who are at the same time a strong advocate of corporate social responsibility.

The winners will each receive US$2,000 cash prize and a trophy.

CACCI Profile – January edition available

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

Young Entrepreneurs newsletter available

CACCI is pleased to make available the 21st edition of Young Entrepreneurs Group Asia-Pacific, the newsletter of the Young Entrepreneur Group of Asia-Pacific (YEGAP) under the chairmanship of Mangesh Lal Shrestha from Nepal.

We hope that this edition– and the future ones– will continue to serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among young entrepreneurs in the region.

If you wish to contribute articles or other materials that can be published in the next newsletter, you may send them through the CACCI Secretariat’s e-mail address at cacci@cacci.biz

Thank you and best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Ernest Lin
Director-General
CACCI

CACCI Signs MOU with AFRADEC

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Afro Asia-Pacific Development Council (AFRADEC) outlining principles and general guidelines for increased cooperation between the two organizations.

AFRADEC is composed of companies and institutions from Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions which are engaged in international trade and governance. It is a non-profit economic development platform for multi-lateral trade engagements and cultural linkages between and among businesses and institutions in the economies of Africa and the Asia-Pacific rim. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, AFRADEC has offices and representations in some other locations in Africa, North America and the Asia-Pacific which are strategic in enabling the conduct of its operations and also to enhance greater access by its patrons to opportunities in the emerging markets of the African and Asia-Pacific economies.

President Mr. Samir Modi signed the MOU on behalf of CACCI while Founder and CEO Mr. Charles-Bruno Okpuruka was the signatory on the side of AFRADEC.

One of the provisions of the MOU was the appointment of the incumbent CACCI President and two incumbent CACCI Vice Presidents as members of the AFRADEC Board of Directors, and three members of the CACCI Advisory Board as members of the AFRADEC Advisory Council, subject to their availability.

CACCI SME Council Chair Participates in ICC Trade Now webinar

ICC held a webinar on November 30 entitled Trade Finance in Asia: Harnessing Digital Solutions to help Asian SMEs Trade Now, which will leverage the insights of expert panelists in order to assess the challenges and opportunities linked to trade finance in Asia and to start shaping a collective response that can foster both intra-Asian and inter-regional trade.

In the 2021 Trade Finance Gaps, Growth, and Jobs Survey, the Asia Development Bank estimates that the global trade finance gap has increased to $1.7 trillion during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 from $1.5 trillion in 2018. In this context, current trends point towards an increase in the overall value of the trade finance gap in Asia with the global share of the trade finance gap in Asia set to increase as the participation of banks in trade finance activities declines and the approval rates for SMEs steadily decrease. It is critical that the business community, international organizations, and national governments come together to effectively address the growing trade finance gap and help unleash the full potential of businesses in Asia. Ambitious action and sustained collaboration between these stakeholders can bring new tools and opportunities to SMEs, as they continue to struggle to secure much needed trade finance products and services.

ICC is looking to spearhead this effort with ICC Trade Now, a global campaign that aims to connect SMEs to innovative trade finance solutions through tailored partnerships with cutting edge solution providers. With this campaign, ICC will help scale up and leverage game-changing services that can support SMEs in Asia and globally. This webinar will provide a forum for all relevant stakeholders to assess the challenges and opportunities linked to trade finance in Asia and to start shaping a collective response that can foster both intra-Asian and inter-regional trade.

The webinar started off with introductory remarks delivered by ICC Secretary General John Denton. This was followed by a panel discussion on Addressing the trade finance gap in Asia: challenges and opportunities for SMEs, moderated by Shinta Widjaia Kamdani, ICC Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, CEO of Sintesa Group and Vice Chairwoman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The speakers included:

• Steven Beck, Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance, ADB
• George Abraham, Chairman, CACCI SME Development Council Chairman and Managing Director, The GA Group Pta. Ltd.
• Rohit Mehrotra, Managing Director, NMK Textile Mills India Pvt Ltd
• Yvonne Badam First Vice President, Head of Trade Product Management Division, RCBC
• Yann Duval, chief of Trade Policy and Facilitation, UNESCAP

Afterward, the session moved on to ICC Trade Now, starting with an introduction by Charly Gordon, ICC Global Development Director, followed by partner presentations that included:

• Iain MacLennan, ICC TRADECOMM Project Manager, Finastra
• Frank Wendt, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, FQX
• John Collis, Co-Founder, TradeFlow Capital Management
• Lincoln Yin, Founder & CEO, RootAnt
• Lodha Vikram, Co-founder & CEO, 360tf

CACCI Tourism newsletter available

Taipei – CACCI is pleased to inform all members that the 25th Volume of CACCI Tourism Newsletter is available for download HERE.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the tourism sector in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to wendy.yang@cacci.org.tw

Thank you, and with best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Ernest Lin
Director-General
CACCI

CACCI Profile – December edition available

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities. If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

XVII CACCI Health & Education newsletter available

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the sector of health and education in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to wendy.yang@cacci.org.tw

CACCI 2021 Year-End Review

CACCI is pleased to publish the CACCI 2021 Year-End Review summarizing the Confederation’s activities over the past year.

On behalf of CACCI, we would like to take this opportunity to thank members, partners and friends for the cooperation and assistance extended in undertaking CACCI’s projects and programs in 2021. Without this help, CACCI would not have accomplished as much as it did amidst the continued challenges and difficulties that we all faced during the past year .

CACCI looks forward to the continued support of the CACCI and its activities, and we certainly hope to see our members, partners and friends under improved circumstances in 2022.

Press HERE to download the Review (PDF format.)

Sincerely yours,

Ernest Lin
Director-General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry

CACCI Journal of Commerce and Industry is now available

CACCI is pleased to announce the Second Semester 2021 issue of the CACCI Journal of Commerce and Industry is available HERE.

It is our ardent hope that this publication will continue to serve as an effective platform for an exchange and sharing of information and ideas among CACCI members on issues impacting on the region’s commerce and industry.

We would also like to take this opportunity to invite all members to contribute articles for the next issues of the Journal. Kindly send your materials to the CACCI Secretariat through our e-mail address at cacci@cacci.biz.

CACCI Joins ICC Webinar on Trade Finance in Asia

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) successfully hosted a webinar entitled “ICC Trade Now Event – Trade Finance in Asia: Harnessing Digital Solutions to Empower Asian SMEs to Trade Now” on November 30, 2031.

Organized with the support of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry (CACCI), the two-hour online session aimed to provide a forum for all relevant stakeholders to assess the challenges and opportunities linked to trade finance in Asia and to start shaping a collective response that can foster both intra-Asian and inter-regional trade. It was put together by the ICC in the context of ICC Trade Now, ICC’s dedicated global campaign to connect micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to innovative trade finance solutions.

CACCI nominated two speakers for the panel discussion on “Addressing the trade finance gap in Asia: challenges and opportunities for SMEs,” namely, Mr. George Abraham, Chairman of the CACCI SME Development Council from Singapore, and Ms. Yvonne Bada, Trade Product Management, Global Transaction Banking Group, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. from the Philippines, member of the Asian Bankers Association, one of the Product and Service Councils of CACCI. Mr. Abraham and Ms. Bada shared their perspectives and experiences on the webinar topic.

The other speakers on this topic included Mr. Steven Beck, Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance, Asian Development Bank; Mr. Rohit Mehrotra, Managing Director, NMK Textile Mills India Pvt. Ltd.; and Mr. Yan Duval, Chief of Policy Trade and Facilitation, UNESCAP.

36th CACCI Conference to be held on November 28-20, 2022 in Melbourne

CACCI is pleased to inform members that the 36th CACCI Conference will be held in Melbourne, Australia on 28-30 November 2022, thanks to the arrangements made by CACCI Vice President Mr. Peter McMullin.

CACCI will send out relevant information (e.g., exact dates, Conference venue, etc.) as soon as these are available. In the meantime, members are requested to already mark the 2022 calendar of events for the annual gathering next year.

Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria, which is located in the southeastern part of Australia. Sitting on the banks of the Yarra River and around the shores of Port Phillip Bay, the city has a population of over 5 million.

Melbourne and the State of Victoria host some of Australia’s most prestigious events throughout the year, such as the Spring Racing Carnival culminating in the Melbourne Cup in November, the Australian Open Tennis in January, and the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, among others.

Here is the video about Melbourne, to give members an idea on what the city has to offer and what awaits ahead during CACCI’s annual Conference next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcBPVFxgaUw

CACCI Profile – November edition available

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities. If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

CACCI Director-General hosts lunch for Philippine trade representative in Taiwan

CACCI Director-General and CTBC International Affairs Department Assistant Vice President Mr. Ernest Lin center) on November 23 hosted lunch for Mr. Anthony V. Rivera, newly appointed Director for Commercial Affairs, Philippine Trade and Investment Center Taipei (PTIC Taipei) (4th from left).

Also attending the lunch were other officers and staff of the PTIC Taipei, the CACCI Secretariat, and CTBC Financial Holding Co. Ltd.

CACCI Director-General hosts lunch for Indonesia trade representatives in Taiwan

A lunch was hosted on November 16, 2021 by CACCI Director-General and CTBC International Affairs Department Assistant Vice President Mr. Ernest Lin (left, left photo) for Indonesian Trade Representatives in Taiwan led by Director of Trade Department Mr, Sulistyono of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei (right, left photo).

They were joined by Director of Investment Department Mr. Ali Fauzi (5th from left, right photo) and Director of Indonesian Citizens Protection and Social Cultural department Mr. Fajar Nuradi (3rd from left, below photo) and other officers of CACCI, CIECA and CTBC Commercial Bank.

“Making the WTO More Adaptable to the Economic and Trade Realities of Today” WTO Deputy Director-General Angela Paolini Ellard

Full Remarks of WTO Deputy Director-General Angela Paolini Ellard at the 35^th CACCI Conference

Good afternoon from Geneva,

It is a great pleasure to speak to the Confederation and its members today — thank you for the invitation.

First of all, I would like to congratulate the Confederation on its 35th Annual Conference and its leadership over the past 55 years. You have made an important contribution into increasing business interaction and enhancing economic growth in the Asia-Pacific Region. Thank you also for the Policy Statement and the accompanying Report that you have transmitted to my colleague, Deputy Director-General Gonzalez.

I met with the Confederation and its members in my previous role on Capitol Hill in the U.S., and I look forward to continuing collaboration in my new capacity at the WTO.

Today, I am going to speak about how the WTO can help address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how to address some of the challenges that the Organization faces today.

Let me start with the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the global economy to a standstill for a significant period. When the pandemic struck, production and consumption across the world scaled back, and international trade appeared to be on its way to a persistent decline. However, in the summer of 2020, global merchandise trade began to recover, and by the end of the year, it was strongly rebounding in many countries and sectors, but not all.

In the first half of 2021, global trade continued to grow, as value chains recovered and demand in advanced economies increased. According to the latest WTO forecast, the volume of global merchandise trade is predicted to grow by 10.8 percent in 2021, followed by a 4.7 percent rise in 2022.

WTO rules have slowed, and even prevented, countries from taking very damaging measures. And our Trade Facilitation Agreement, although not designed with the pandemic in mind, has played an outsized role in worldwide

recovery. Countries that have embraced and rapidly implemented trade facilitating measures and infrastructure have generally proven more resilient, more adaptable, and better equipped to keep trade flowing despite COVID-19-related lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing.

However, many developing countries are not experiencing the same economic growth pattern, and this trend is deeply concerning because the economic recovery rate is predicted to be faster for countries with higher vaccination rates. For many developing countries where vaccination rates are low – on average 3 percent – the path to recovery will be long and uncertain unless urgent measures are taken.

So, first and foremost, we need to make sure that people in developing countries have broad and unfettered access to vaccines, therapeutics, and other essential products and technologies needed to combat the pandemic. This is not just a moral imperative, but also a strategic and economic one. And, as you note in your Policy Statement, “free trade is the only solution” to this problem.

In fact, contributing to the global effort to combat the pandemic, in particular ensuring equitable access to vaccines, has been one of the top priorities of the WTO administration and membership. Our work has been focused on two dimensions: supply chains and intellectual property waiver negotiations.

As regards supply chains, we all know that producing vaccines is an extremely complicated process, involving facilities in many different countries. And this implies a lot of cross-border shipments of vaccine ingredients. Think about vaccines as a puzzle that comes together only when you have all the right pieces, but those pieces are strewn all over the world.

Trade enables the cross-border transfer of technology and development of supply chains for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing. Trade helps manufacturers of vaccines and other products necessary to combat the pandemic to source highly specialized inputs that are not produced at home.

The WTO has played an important role in keeping the supply chains open and scaling up vaccine production. In this regard, I would like to highlight our work in preparing a list of trade-related bottlenecks and trade-facilitating measures on critical products to combat COVID-19. The WTO has also prepared an indicative list of critical COVID-19 vaccine inputs and a report on COVID-19 vaccines production and tariffs on vaccine inputs. This work is intended to help policymakers see the blockages and opportunities.

All of this may sound simple and straightforward, but it is not. Governments need know what exactly goes into a vaccine, and what are the products necessary to distribute and administer it, to make the necessary policy decisions to remove tariff and regulatory restrictions on imports of such goods. And while the average tariff on vaccines is merely 0.76 percent, average tariffs on vaccine ingredients, such as preservatives and adjuvants, are anywhere from 3 to 16 times higher.

Pandemic response, insofar as it concerns export restrictions, trade facilitation, and regulatory coherence, is on the agenda of our 12th Ministerial Conference, which is less than a month away. And we are also striving to develop a framework for addressing future pandemics. Ambassador Walker of New Zealand is working with Members to forge a ministerial outcome in this area.

The second stream of our pandemic-related work negotiations is focused on the proposal by India and South Africa to waive obligations under the WTO TRIPs agreement with respect to intellectual property. While those discussions are not as far along, it is essential to see a balanced and effective outcome.

Our experience with the pandemic has once again confirmed that trade has been and remains a powerful engine for economic growth. But we can’t take the ability to trade for granted. Exporting to foreign markets requires effort, and business needs to have confidence that the operational framework of trade is predictable, transparent, and relatively consistent. This is where the WTO, as the guardian of multilateral trade rules, comes into play.

But there is no way around the fact that the last few years have been difficult for the WTO and for trade’s reputation in general. The key element permeating discussions in the WTO these days is that we all acknowledge that the Organization needs reform. This was the Director-General’s message when she ran for the office, and we hear it from countless WTO Members, academics, and business representatives.

So, how can we make the WTO stronger? In my view, the best way to repair the Organization is to achieve results in key areas of our work. The upcoming 12^th Ministerial Conference is an important milestone that offers a great opportunity for us to achieve concrete outcomes.

In addition to the pandemic work that I have just described, our top priority is to conclude the fisheries negotiations, which have been ongoing for 20 years. In those two decades, we have witnessed a sharp and alarming decrease in global fish stocks, which particularly threatens vulnerable artisanal fishers and damages ocean ecosystems.

Delegations are showing increasing engagement, and many are now signaling new flexibilities. We need to capitalize on all elements of convergence that are emerging as time is short. At this stage, we need political decisions to get to a balanced and robust outcome. This is important for the livelihood of millions of fisherwomen and men from coastal communities, and for the oceans and the fish. And it’s important to the credibility of the WTO as well, so even if you are not focused on this negotiation, you should care very much about the outcome.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented growth in the digital and e-commerce sectors, which proved to be a lifeline for many businesses. It is estimated that the share of e-commerce in retail sales has risen from 16 percent in 2019 to 19 percent in 2020.

The WTO can create a harmonized policy-based framework for e-commerce to develop in an inclusive manner. At the same time, while acknowledging these benefits, many Members have also raised concerns regarding their ability to harness that potential given the digital divide. Some prevailing challenges in infrastructure, finance, resources, and governance still hinder broader e-commerce uptake. These concerns need to be addressed if e-commerce is to continue to play a supporting role in the global economic recovery. WTO Members have deepened their engagement on e-commerce issues — both under the multilaterally-agreed Work Programme on e-commerce as well as under the Joint Statement Initiative plurilateral discussions among 86 Members co-convened by three Asia-Pacific countries.

Sixty-five of our Members have completed negotiations for a Joint Statement Initiative on domestic regulation, aimed at ensuring that existing market access and national treatment commitments are not nullified by opaque and complex authorization procedures. The draft text contains a novel provision on non-discrimination between men and women in the context of authorization procedures for service suppliers. This will be the first provision of its kind in a WTO negotiated outcome.

As we know, there are many MSMEs in the services sector, and they will be the major beneficiaries of the new rules on domestic regulation and e-commerce. Another area where we see progress is environment and climate change. Of course, the WTO is not the place to establish global climate policy and how goals will be reached. But the WTO plays an important role because its rules govern measures and instruments that are relevant for implementing climate policies, such as tariffs, subsidies, and even regulation.

To transition to a low-carbon economy, countries need affordable access to advanced technologies. And open trade plays a critical role in providing such access. For example, the WTO can bring down tariffs on goods needed to get to net zero, such as solar panels and wind turbines, through an Environmental Goods Agreement.

The international community is now converging on the urgent challenges of climate and sustainability. Therefore, at MC12, we need a clear political signal from trade ministers that they recognize the importance of addressing these challenges, in particular through trade.

In addition, we need to update our rules on agriculture, an important and challenging issue for many Members. While negotiations are proving difficult, many Members believe that MC12 must have an outcome on agriculture. Members have been working on draft ministerial text circulated by the Chair of the negotiations. But gaps persist on the key issues of domestic support and public stockholding, which will set the level of ambition for the overall agriculture outcome. But if they are out of reach, we should still aim for outcomes on food security and transparency, and set a clear path for addressing other issues such as the special safeguard mechanism, cotton, export competition, and market access.

Finally, both old and new rules are toothless if there is no effective and efficient way to enforce them. We need to reform and revitalize the dispute settlement function to make sure that Members can seek redress and that there are effective remedies to violations of WTO rules.

The importance of a successful MC12 can hardly be overstated. It’s necessary to show that the WTO is back on track, fit for addressing the challenges of the 21^st century, and can deliver for Members and people relying on trade to drive a strong economic recovery. To get there, we need a strong commitment and political will from all WTO Members, and the business community, to get tangible results.

At the same time, we have to be realistic because some issues may be more difficult and won’t conclude at MC12. For such issues, MC12 may focus on working toward a future outcome, with work programs to be developed in some areas.

It is also important to work to restore trust between Members, which has been shaken over the years. This is particularly visible in the relationships between developed and developing country Members of the WTO. Some developing countries feel that they are precluded from taking full advantage from the benefits and flexibilities provided to them as developing countries. By contrast, some developed countries have expressed concerns that certain countries with a high level of development unfairly benefit from being self-designated as developing.

MC12 is a good opportunity for Members listen to each other and increase the level of trust, through specific outcomes and by setting the table for next year.

I’d like to conclude with a plea. If you value the WTO, then it is important to make the case that it is relevant and that it is worth improving and modernizing. We can’t take for granted that everyone believes in the value of trade and establishing a rules-based system governing trade.

We very much appreciate your views on what reforms are needed, as expressed in your Policy Statement. The Confederation and its members are well-placed to make outreach directly with decision-makers in the region, as well as with the public at large. We have to demonstrate where the WTO has been successful, be honest about where it has not, and be ambitious as to how we can make it better. Businesses must be a voice for good, on matters that are in their immediate interest, as well as broader issues like climate change, fisheries, and access to vaccines.

We count on you.

Many thanks for your attention. I look forward to your questions and comments, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come.

35th CACCI Conference’s video recording and presentations’ files are ready

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) would like to once again thank all its members and friends for registering in the recently concluded 35th CACCI Conference held virtually on November 2, 2021.

We hope that your participation provided you not only to learn from the various speakers’ presentations on issues surrounding the Conference theme of “Sustainable and Resilient Growth Through a Robust World Trade”, but also to know more about CACCI and its activities.

We are pleased to provide hereunder the links to the video recording of the whole proceedings as well as to the speakers’ presentations, should you wish to go through them again at your convenience.

(1) 35^th CACCI Conference’s video presentation, click HERE.

(2) 35^th CACCI Conference’s speakers, click HERE.

If you have further questions, please do let us know.

Once again, thank you and we look forward to your continued support of CACCI.

Sincerely yours,

Ernest Lin
Director-General
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry
E-mail: cacci@cacci.biz
URL: www.cacci.biz
Tel: (886 2) 2760 1139

“We need to reform and revitalize the dispute settlement function” WTO Deputy Director General Angela Ellard

During the 35^th CACCI Conference themed “Sustainable and Resilient Growth Through a Robust World Trade” on November 2, 2021, Ms. Angela Paolini Ellard, Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization, made a presentation on “Making the WTO More Adaptable to the Economic and Trade Realities of Today.”

In her presentation, Ms. Ellard made notable remarks that merit attention from CACCI members as our organization is engaged now in a drive to reform WTO. Ms. Ellard also answered some questions from the audience while Peter McMullin, CACCI Vice President, acted as the conference’s moderator.

Ms. Ellard’s remarks and the video recording of her speech are presented below. Her complete speech can be downloaded HERE.

Good afternoon from Geneva,

It is a great pleasure to speak to the Confederation and its members today — thank you for the invitation.

First of all, I would like to congratulate the Confederation on its 35th Annual Conference and its leadership over the past 55 years. You have made an important contribution into increasing business interaction and enhancing economic growth in the Asia-Pacific Region. Thank you also for the Policy Statement and the accompanying Report that you have transmitted to my colleague, Deputy Director-General Gonzalez.

I met with the Confederation and its members in my previous role on Capitol Hill in the U.S., and I look forward to continuing collaboration in my new capacity at the WTO.

Today, I am going to speak about how the WTO can help address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how to address some of the challenges that the Organization faces today.

Let me start with the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the global economy to a standstill for a significant period. When the pandemic struck, production and consumption across the world scaled back, and international trade appeared to be on its way to a persistent decline. However, in the summer of 2020, global merchandise trade began to recover, and by the end of the year, it was strongly rebounding in many countries and sectors, but not all.

In the first half of 2021, global trade continued to grow, as value chains recovered and demand in advanced economies increased. According to the latest WTO forecast, the volume of global merchandise trade is predicted to grow by 10.8 percent in 2021, followed by a 4.7 percent rise in 2022.

WTO rules have slowed, and even prevented, countries from taking very damaging measures. And our Trade Facilitation Agreement, although not designed with the pandemic in mind, has played an outsized role in worldwide recovery. Countries that have embraced and rapidly implemented trade facilitating measures and infrastructure have generally proven more resilient, more adaptable, and better equipped to keep trade flowing despite COVID-19-related lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing.

However, many developing countries are not experiencing the same economic growth pattern, and this trend is deeply concerning because the economic recovery rate is predicted to be faster for countries with higher vaccination rates. For many developing countries where vaccination rates are low – on average 3 percent – the path to recovery will be long and uncertain unless urgent measures are taken.

So, first and foremost, we need to make sure that people in developing countries have broad and unfettered access to vaccines, therapeutics, and other essential products and technologies needed to combat the pandemic. This is not just a moral imperative, but also a strategic and economic one. And, as you note in your Policy Statement, “[f]ree trade is the only solution” to this problem.

In fact, contributing to the global effort to combat the pandemic, in particular ensuring equitable access to vaccines, has been one of the top priorities of the WTO administration and membership. Our work has been focused on two dimensions: supply chains and intellectual property waiver negotiations. As regards supply chains, we all know that producing vaccines is an extremely complicated process, involving facilities in many different countries. And this implies a lot of cross-border shipments of vaccine ingredients. Think about vaccines as a puzzle that comes together only when you have all the right pieces, but those pieces are strewn all over the world.

Trade enables the cross-border transfer of technology and development of supply chains for COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing. Trade helps manufacturers of vaccines and other products necessary to combat the pandemic to source highly specialized inputs that are not produced at home.

The WTO has played an important role in keeping the supply chains open and scaling up vaccine production. In this regard, I would like to highlight our work in preparing a list of trade-related bottlenecks and trade-facilitating measures on critical products to combat COVID-19. The WTO has also prepared an indicative list of critical COVID-19 vaccine inputs and a report on COVID-19 vaccines production and tariffs on vaccine inputs. This work is intended to help policymakers see the blockages and opportunities.

All of this may sound simple and straightforward, but it is not. Governments need know what exactly goes into a vaccine, and what are the products necessary to distribute and administer it, to make the necessary policy decisions to remove tariff and regulatory restrictions on imports of such goods. And while the average tariff on vaccines is merely 0.76 percent, average tariffs on vaccine ingredients, such as preservatives and adjuvants, are anywhere from 3 to 16 times higher.

Pandemic response, insofar as it concerns export restrictions, trade facilitation, and regulatory coherence, is on the agenda of our 12th Ministerial Conference, which is less than a month away. And we are also striving to develop a framework for addressing future pandemics. Ambassador Walker of New Zealand is working with Members to forge a ministerial outcome in this area.

The second stream of our pandemic-related work negotiations is focused on the proposal by India and South Africa to waive obligations under the WTO TRIPs agreement with respect to intellectual property. While those discussions are not as far along, it is essential to see a balanced and effective outcome.

Our experience with the pandemic has once again confirmed that trade has been and remains a powerful engine for economic growth. But we can’t take the ability to trade for granted. Exporting to foreign markets requires effort, and business needs to have confidence that the operational framework of trade is predictable, transparent, and relatively consistent. This is where the WTO, as the guardian of multilateral trade rules, comes into play.

But there is no way around the fact that the last few years have been difficult for the WTO and for trade’s reputation in general. The key element permeating discussions in the WTO these days is that we all acknowledge that the Organization needs reform. This was the Director-General’s message when she ran for the office, and we hear it from countless WTO Members, academics, and business representatives.

So, how can we make the WTO stronger? In my view, the best way to repair the Organization is to achieve results in key areas of our work. The upcoming 12^th Ministerial Conference is an important milestone that offers a great opportunity for us to achieve concrete outcomes.

In addition to the pandemic work that I have just described, our top priority is to conclude the fisheries negotiations, which have been ongoing for 20 years. In those two decades, we have witnessed a sharp and alarming decrease in global fish stocks, which particularly threatens vulnerable artisanal fishers and damages ocean ecosystems.

Delegations are showing increasing engagement, and many are now signaling new flexibilities. We need to capitalize on all elements of convergence that are emerging as time is short. At this stage, we need political decisions to get to a balanced and robust outcome. This is important for the livelihood of millions of fisherwomen and men from coastal communities, and for the oceans and the fish. And it’s important to the credibility of the WTO as well, so even if you are not focused on this negotiation, you should care very much about the outcome.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented growth in the digital and e-commerce sectors, which proved to be a lifeline for many businesses. It is estimated that the share of e-commerce in retail sales has risen from 16 percent in 2019 to 19 percent in 2020.

The WTO can create a harmonized policy-based framework for e-commerce to develop in an inclusive manner. At the same time, while acknowledging these benefits, many Members have also raised concerns regarding their ability to harness that potential given the digital divide. Some prevailing challenges in infrastructure, finance, resources, and governance still hinder broader e-commerce uptake. These concerns need to be addressed if e-commerce is to continue to play a supporting role in the global economic recovery.

WTO Members have deepened their engagement on e-commerce issues — both under the multilaterally-agreed Work Programme on e-commerce as well as under the Joint Statement Initiative plurilateral discussions among 86 Members co-convened by three Asia-Pacific countries.

Sixty-five of our Members have completed negotiations for a Joint Statement Initiative on domestic regulation, aimed at ensuring that existing market access and national treatment commitments are not nullified by opaque and complex authorization procedures. The draft text contains a novel provision on non-discrimination between men and women in the context of authorization procedures for service suppliers. This will be the first provision of its kind in a WTO negotiated outcome.

As we know, there are many MSMEs in the services sector, and they will be the major beneficiaries of the new rules on domestic regulation and e-commerce. Another area where we see progress is environment and climate change. Of course, the WTO is not the place to establish global climate policy and how goals will be reached. But the WTO plays an important role because its rules govern measures and instruments that are relevant for implementing climate policies, such as tariffs, subsidies, and even regulation.

To transition to a low-carbon economy, countries need affordable access to advanced technologies. And open trade plays a critical role in providing such access. For example, the WTO can bring down tariffs on goods needed to get to net zero, such as solar panels and wind turbines, through an Environmental Goods Agreement.

The international community is now converging on the urgent challenges of climate and sustainability. Therefore, at MC12, we need a clear political signal from trade ministers that they recognize the importance of addressing these challenges, in particular through trade.

In addition, we need to update our rules on agriculture, an important and challenging issue for many Members. While negotiations are proving difficult, many Members believe that MC12 must have an outcome on agriculture. Members have been working on draft ministerial text circulated by the Chair of the negotiations. But gaps persist on the key issues of domestic support and public stockholding, which will set the level of ambition for the overall agriculture outcome. But if they are out of reach, we should still aim for outcomes on food security and transparency; and set a clear path for addressing other issues such as the special safeguard mechanism, cotton, export competition, and market access. Finally, both old and new rules are toothless if there is no effective and efficient

way to enforce them. We need to reform and revitalize the dispute settlement function to make sure that Members can seek redress and that there are effective remedies to violations of WTO rules.

The importance of a successful MC12 can hardly be overstated. It’s necessary to show that the WTO is back on track, fit for addressing the challenges of the 21^st century, and can deliver for Members and people relying on trade to drive a strong economic recovery. To get there, we need a strong commitment and political will from all WTO Members, and the business community, to get tangible results.

At the same time, we have to be realistic because some issues may be more difficult and won’t conclude at MC12. For such issues, MC12 may focus on working toward a future outcome, with work programs to be developed in some areas.

It is also important to work to restore trust between Members, which has been shaken over the years. This is particularly visible in the relationships between developed and developing country Members of the WTO. Some developing countries feel that they are precluded from taking full advantage from the benefits and flexibilities provided to them as developing countries. By contrast, some developed countries have expressed concerns that certain countries with a high level of development unfairly benefit from being self-designated as developing.

MC12 is a good opportunity for Members listen to each other and increase the level of trust, through specific outcomes and by setting the table for next year. I’d like to conclude with a plea. If you value the WTO, then it is important to make the case that it is relevant and that it is worth improving and modernizing. We can’t take for granted that everyone believes in the value of trade and establishing a rules-based system governing trade.

We very much appreciate your views on what reforms are needed, as expressed in your Policy Statement. The Confederation and its members are well-placed to make outreach directly with decision-makers in the region, as well as with the public at large. We have to demonstrate where the WTO has been successful, be honest about where it has not, and be ambitious as to how we can make it better. Businesses must be a voice for good, on matters that are in their immediate interest, as well as broader issues like climate change, fisheries, and access to vaccines.

We count on you.

Many thanks for your attention. I look forward to your questions and comments, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come. 2177 words (18+ minutes)

Term of the incumbent CACCI Officers extended for one year

During the 93rd CACCI Council Meeting held virtually on October 26, 2021, it was decided that the term of the incumbent CACCI officers be extended for one more year until the 36th CACCI Conference, which is scheduled to take place in 2022.

The one-year extension was agreed upon by the Council after taking into account of the fact that the COVID situation has not yet significantly improved.

Hence, the following incumbent officers will continue to serve in their respective positions for an additional year:

President – Samir Modi (India)

Vice Presidents

– Peter McMullin (Australia)

– Sheikh F Fahim (Bangladesh)

– Pedram Soltani (Iran)

– Ernest Yuen (Hong Kong) – replacing Wyler Wong

– Hiroshi Oshima (Japan) – replacing Teruo Asada

– Duuren Tumenjargal Nomun (Mongolia)

– Pradeep Kumar Shrestha (Nepal)

– Henry C. S. Kao (Taiwan)

– Rifat Hisarciklioglu (Turkey)

Honorary Treasurer

– Leslie Wong (Hong Kong) – replacing Ernest Yuen

Budget Commission

– Steve Hsieh (Taiwan) – Chairman

– Obaidur Rahman (Bangladesh)

– Sheikh Sultan Rehman (Pakistan) – replacing Mohammad Iqbal Tabish

CACCI will be relying on the incumbent officers for the successful implementation of CACCI programs and projects over the next year.

WTO Deputy Director-General Ms. Anabel Gonzalez delivered her remarks on the issue of WTO reforms

WTO Deputy Director-General Ms. Anabel Gonzalez delivered her remarks on the issue of WTO reforms during the launching of the CACCI study on “Achieving a Successful World Trading System” held on October 29, 2021.

Ms. Gonzalez said that she welcomes CACCI’s strong call for a successful global trading system, noting that the voice of the business community could not be more important in the trade debate.

In her remarks, Ms. Gonzalez talked about the value of the WTO, especially during a crisis; and the need for the WTO to evolve and improve.

As part of a global system characterized by a rules-based economic cooperation, the WTO in times of crisis has pulled quietly in the background to keep trade protection in check, the markets broadly open, and the governments from engaging in a mutually destructive behavior. Without the WTO, the world would be more fragmented, more uncertain, and more vulnerable to shocks. That would reduce the potential of trade to grow businesses and make them thrive, to pull hundreds of millions of people out of poverty as trade has done over the decades, and to address the twin health and economic crises that the world faces.

On the need for the WTO to evolve and improve, Ms. Gonzalez cited three big transitions that are reshaping global trade in the 21st century: (a) the transition to digital and services economy; (b) the transition to a low carbon and sustainable economy; and (c) the transition to a more inclusive economy. She stressed that the WTO must respond to all three transitions to ensure that it can continue to carry out its core mission to use trade to raise living standards, create jobs, and foster sustainable development. She pointed out that WTO’s response to the digital, low carbon, and inclusiveness transitions calls not just for the negotiation of new global routes, but also for the reform of the WTO’s capacity to implement existing agreement and settle disputes.

A panel discussion followed DDG Gonzales’ remarks. The panel was moderated by Immediate Past President of FBCCI Sheikh Fazle Fahim and featured four experts:

• Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, Senior Professor, Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka
• Martin Wolf, Chief Economic Commentator, Financial Times London
• Professor Sait Akman, Associate Professor and Director of G20 Studies Center, TEPAV
• Aaditya Mattoo, Chief Economist, East Asia Pacific Region, World Bank

In his concluding remarks, CACCI Vice President Mr. Peter McMullin pointed out that, as many of the speaker have alluded to, the world is in transition in so many ways — facing digital transition, looking at a lower carbon economy as well as an inclusive economy — and CACCI is engaged in all these issues. The decision to commission this particular study was an important one for CACCI and it proposed to promote the issues raised not only with member chambers and the nations that CACCI is really involved with, but more broadly across the globe. Mr. McMullin said that the launching webinar was an early step and invited participants to be part of the journey.

CACCI holds launching webinar for study on “Achieving a Successful World Trading System”

CACCI – in partnership with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – held a webinar on the launching of the CACCI study on “Achieving a Successful World Trading System” on October 29, 2021 at 3:00 PM, Taipei Time.

With the WTO system now described as being in “crisis,” CACCI has investigated to fix the problems within the WTO and commissioned Honorary Professor Andrew Stoeckel from the Australian National University to undertake this work.

Dr. Stoeckel identified the problems with the current trade system, namely: (a) decline of multilateralism, rising protection and the failure of the Doha negotiation; (b) three functions of WTO are not working, namely negotiating, monitoring trade policies and dispute settlement; (c) calls for ‘root-and-branch” reform; (d) rot in the system started long ago; and (e) lack of appreciation of causes – hence some solutions not advanced by reform initiatives by G20.

Dr. Stoeckel further elaborated on what has caused the trade system problems, which he said included the following: (a) the rules themselves – too many inconsistencies, contradictions, ambiguities and exemptions, as well as the issue of reciprocity; (b) mission creep – the agenda is too big while the trade rules used to remedy problems they cannot fix, and multilateralism is the strongest when the world is united around a simple clear goal; (c) “new” issues to deal with as things change – digital economy, e-commerce, internet standards and capital flows as driver of trade; and (d) declining hegemony by US and rise of China – the trade war.

As the apex regional business organization representing 150 million SMEs across 25 countries, Dr. Stoeckel said that CACCI is advancing the following 15 remedies to fix these problems:

1. Adopt a common simple purpose for the WTO system;
2. Adopt and apply a set of principles to achieve objective;
3. Establish a domestic transparency institution in each domestic capital to assess national self-interest from trade policies;
4. Stop mission creep;
5. Multilateralise all preferential trade agreements;
6. Only permit subsidies that address market failures and externalities;
7. Assess anti-dumping on both a cost and benefit basis;
8. Reassess differential treatment for developing countries;
9. Assess best arrangement for digital economy rules;
10. Reassess intellectual property;
11. Redesign the dispute settlement system;
12. Allow plurilateral agreements only if they are open to all at a later stage;
13. Do not use climate change for protection purposes;
14. Adequately reflect the views and priorities of businesses and SMEs in trade agendas and the WTO;
15. Address shortcomings in the operation of WTO.

Here is the video presentation of the “Achieving a Successful World Trading System” webinar held on October 29, 2021 at 3:00 PM, Taipei Time.

CACCI on WTO Reforms’ video and presentations

CACCI would like to once again thank all its members and friends for participating and supporting the Webinar on the Launching of the CACCI Study on “Achieving a Successful World Trading System” held on October 29, 2021.

It is our hope that your attendance in this important event provided you the opportunity to learn from the productive exchange of views among the invited speakers and panelists on the current situation in the world trading system, the reforms needed to support world trade in a post-COVID growth phase that will be needed by all, and  particularly on the four core problems in the current trading system that the CACCI study has identified, and the fifteen recommendations it has outlined aimed at making a material difference in the performance of the world trading system.

We provide you hereunder the link to the video recording of the whole proceedings and three of the Presentations in PDF format:

(1) CACCI Study on “Achieving a Successful World Trading System” video recording, click HERE.

(2) Three PDF Presentations, click HERE.

Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan discusses WTO reforms with CACCI leaders

On October 26^th 2021, Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment The. Hon. Dan Tehan MP, held an online discussion with leaders of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) to argue for the necessity of WTO reforms given the current headwinds that the world trade system is facing.

Hosted by CACCI President Samir Modi, the discussions included the participation of Peter McMullin, CACCI Vice President; Dr. Andrew Stoeckel from the Australian National University; and Bryan Clark from Australian CCI

During his presentation, Minister Tehan touched on several key issues affecting the WTO reform process now underway. He argued that “we’re going to need a lot of momentum, a lot of leadership, and a lot of impetus if we are to get the outcomes that we want.”

Minister Tehan encouraged all the business leaders from the region and beyond to have a dialogue with their trade ministers on the recommendations put forward by the CACCI study on “Achieving a Successful Trading System” before the ministers head offto Geneva for the 12^th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held on November 30 – December 3, 2021 for a discussion on WTO reforms.

Minister Tehan explained that currently there are two stages with respect to WTO reforms. First, the next two to three months will set the negotiation stage. The second stage will determine what the future of the WTO will look like.

Minister Tehan warned that a failure in WTO reforms will result in a step back towards plurilateralism where groups of countries will come together to trade among themselves.

To counter this possible outcome, Minister Tehan insisted on the need to drive an agenda of reform because the WTO is an organization which “on the whole is putting the rules in place which enable us to trade and trade effectively” he said.

Minister Tehan noted that now it is not wise to “see the baby thrown out with the bathwater.” Instead, he is looking forward to reform the existing structures.

Minister Tehan’s presentation was followed by a series of questions issued by several member chambers of CACCI.

This webinar was organized by CACCI, in cooperation with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) as the first of a series of events to promote the CACCI study. The study aims to come up with recommendations on reforms to improve the WTO in order to revitalize world trade as a fundamental mechanism for economic growth and common prosperity.

You can view the whole discussion with Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment The. Hon. Dan Tehan MP below:

Asia – Pacific businesses call for WTO reform

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), a network of national chambers from 25 economies across Asia and the Western Pacific, launched an evidence-based plan for reforming the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well as the relationships with the major global intergovernmental institutions, at a global virtual event on October 29 to stimulate discussion in the lead up the next WTO Ministerial Council. (The Launching event can be viewed below or click HERE.)

The foremost network of business groups from the Asia Pacific has launched its recommendations for reform of the WTO to ensure a global rules-based trade system for the coming century.

The current 25 CACCI member countries have a combined population of 2.7 billion, representing some 40% of the world total; a total GDP of US$15 trillion, accounting for about 25% of the world total; and a combined trade of US$8 trillion, representing about 26% of the total global trade value. CACCI represents the collective business interests of over 150 million businesses across geographical Asia, sometimes accounting for at least 97% of economic activity. These businesses employ perhaps one billion people, generating a living for them – many of them family owned and run businesses.

Small and medium business enterprises are the main engines of most economies and there is a dire need for economic recovery to restore jobs and incomes, particularly in low-income economies.

Study author, Dr Andrew Stoeckel said, “There is an imperative for better economic performance sustained into the future to service the large increase in debt around the globe. The WTO (together with its predecessor GATT) has been in situ since the end of the Second World War, regulating trade, global relations and resolving disputes on the movement of goods and services.   However, over the past decade, the global market environment has made trade liberalisation less of a priority among many countries, threatening the sustainability of the WTO.

The bottom line is that the aim of international trade is to lift living standards. The fewer the barriers to commerce – whether technical or government imposed – the more commerce there will be, lifting living standards directly and indirectly through enabling resources for government to provide public goods and pursue sustainable development goals. The current system is not delivering this.

Even the purpose of the WTO is not clear. It needs to provide an open, non-discriminatory, rules-based multilateral system.”

In this regard, CACCI believes the 15 recommendations need to be considered by WTO members in MC12.

Adopting the 15 recommendations would simplify and strengthen the multilateral trading system. It would create more certainty in trade, encouraging investment and enhance commerce across borders. Higher living standards would be the result. That will not be at the expense of other environmental and social goals if the right policies are in place to address those issues.

The focus of this study is on trade, but CACCI notes that this is but one aspect of the need for better global governance. Other pressing aspects of global governance are the pandemic and climate change. The WTO system is not the only institution where the effectiveness of global governance arrangements is called into question. CACCI supports calls for a contemporary ‘Bretton Woods’ type conference to revisit how nation-states should work together in the modern age considering how much has changed since WWII. CACCI would support such a move to examine whether the global institutions we have now, along with the WTO system, are still fit for purpose in the 21^st century.

Launching Event of CACCI Study of Rebuilding the World Trading System

https://youtu.be/k4cGy584Wzs

Quotes attributable to CACCI’s regional business leaders: 

CACCI President Samir Modi (India) said:  “the world trading system has deteriorated to its current state, and we need to remedy the situation.

“Many countries are more concerned with national security and economic self-interests, leading to a rise in nationalism and protectionism regionally and globally. And, given the growing trend to pursue bilateral economic relationships among many countries, the prevailing circumstances are expected to have further adverse impact on multilateral relationships.

“CACCI, with its initiative to ‘Achieve a Successful World Trading System’, hopes to focus efforts to the right questions and reforms to achieve this important objective.”

CACCI Advisory Board Chair and CACCI President Emeritus Ken Court (Australia) said in a time of rapid communications and decision-making, the resolution of international trade disputes needed to be simplified.

“Most CACCI member nations are medium or small players with much at stake in a global multilateral system – they depend on stable and predictable rules governing international trade and investment.

“The current system is broken and doesn’t look like it can be repaired. Our recommendations are to look at an alternate approach using economics rather than legal mechanisms as a way through the impasse.” Mr Court said.

CACCI Policy Advocacy Working Group Chair and Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry Trade Director Bryan Clark (Australia) said the WTO’s importance “had been forgotten amidst the pursuit of free trade agreements.

“One of key reasons for establishing the global rules-based trading system was to avoid a repeat of the destructive trade tensions experienced before World War II.

“But rising protectionism, the proliferation of FTAs, trade sanctions and the failure of the dispute settlement body, coupled with rising uncertainty with lower investment spells great trouble for the world.

“We desperately need the WTO members to listen to the calls from business to ensure that the institution is fit for purpose for the modern and evolving world.”

CACCI Advisory Board member Jemal Inaishvili (Georgia) said the promotion of free trade in the region had faced “a lot of challenges in the past”.

“We have seen tensions in trade relations between world and regional leaders, which were not helpful for economic growth.

“Last year we witnessed enormous disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the promotion of international free trade even more relevant and the CACCI recommendations will contribute to global recovery from the pandemic, improving health and economic outcomes for all.”

CACCI Vice President Peter McMullin (Australia) said the CACCI trade recommendations are a “vital piece of leadership at this critical stage in our collective history”.

“The world trading system is in disarray and needs a reset. The study has diagnosed the problem and suggests possible and practical solutions.

“As trade is foundational to the economic recovery, I think it is in all our interests to see the recommendations from the study are adopted by the WTO and its members.

CACCI Vice President M. Rifat Hisarciklioglu (Turkey) said greater cooperation at the WTO “can provide greater certainty for international trade and assist with global economic recover. At this time there is nothing more important.”

“Trade is the engine of economic growth and catalyser of peace, prosperity and security. The world economy needs less unilateralism and more multilateralism.”

CACCI Vice President Pedram Soltani (Iran) said “Asia, the driving force of the global trade growth in the 21st century, has to be more sensitive to the threats of protectionism. CACCI, as a multi-continent-wide organisation for the private sector, has correctly considered the headwinds of the World Trading System,” Dr Soltani said.

“The future of the world trade cannot continue to be bogged down in decades long negotiations and disputes.”

CACCI Vice President Sheikh Fazle Fahim (Bangladesh) said developing economies needed sustainable, equitable rules to achieve development goals and grow new industries with ease of market access.

“Developing economies find it difficult to expand their own emerging industries, as multinational companies have competitive advantage in the current global business environment. So, it is imperative promising economies are able to establish and maintain interconnectivity and collaboration among potential trade partners.

“The CACCI study explores all these challenges, gaps, and inconsistencies and finds an inclusive solution for world trade to become an effective system again that leaves no one behind.”

Further information: Jack Quail | Senior Media Adviser – ACCI – +61 431 299 518

(c) Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2021
Level 3, 24 Brisbane Avenue
BARTON ACT 2600
P | 02 6270 8000
E | info@australianchamber.com.au
W | www.australianchamber.com.au

To download the Summary of CACCI Policy Statement, click HERE.

To view the Summary of CACCI Policy Statement online, click HERE.

To download the Complete CACCI Policy Statement, click HERE.

To view the Complete CACCI Policy Statement online, click HERE.

2021 Virtual – Rebuilding the World Trading System

Reform Starts at Home

To download the Summary of CACCI Policy Statement, click HERE.

To view the Summary of CACCI Policy Statement online, click HERE.

To download the Complete CACCI Policy Statement, click HERE.

To view the Complete CACCI Policy Statement online, click HERE.

The Inauguration of the CACCI Study on Rebuilding the World Trading System started with a webinar hosted by CACCI President Samir Modi that featured Australian Minister of Trade Honorable Dan Tehan on October 26, 2021.

Webinar on the WTO and WTO Reforms with the Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment of Australia

CACCI is pleased to invite its members and colleagues to participate in the webinar on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and on the WTO reform efforts to be organized by the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), in cooperation with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on October 26, 2021 at 5:00 PM AEDT.

The one-hour session will feature The Hon. Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment of Australia, who will elaborate on the views and position of his Ministry on the current operation of the WTO and what reforms are necessary and how to achieve them. Attached herewith is the biography of Minister Tehan for your perusal.

The Tentative Program will be as follows:

5:00PM – 5:05PM     Opening Remarks by Mr. Samir Modi, President, CACCI

5:05PM – 5:30PM     Presentation by The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Trade Tourism and Investment, Australia

5:30PM – 5:55PM     Q & A Session

5:55PM – 6:00PM     Closing Remarks by Mr. Peter McMullin, Vice President, CACCI

The October 26 webinar is the first of a series of webinars that CACCI is organizing to provide our members the opportunity to understand and have a clear idea of what trade officials in CACCI member countries think of what the WTO should achieve and how to go about it.

To join the conference, please register HERE.

We encourage you to share the invitation with your respective members and constituencies, as well as to your other networks, who I am sure will stand to gain from the discussions.

ICC session on CACCI Study on Achieving a Successful World Trading System

CACCI Study on “Achieving a Successful World Trading System” discussed at the ICC ITPW 2021 – This year’s ICC International Trade and Prosperity Week (ICC ITPW 2021), which was organized virtually by the ICC United Kingdom on October 18-22, 2021, included a session on the CACCI study on “Achieving a Successful World Trading System”.

Held on October 22 at 09:00 AM, London time, the special session was conducted in a fireside chat format and featured CACCI President Mr. Samir Modi; Dr. Andrew Stoeckel from the Australian National University who was commissioned by CACCI to undertake the study; and Ms. Sara Gillespie from ICC Australia.

“Rebuilding the World Trading System” A Policy Statement by CACCI

To download the Summary of CACCI Policy Statement, click HERE.

To view Summary of CACCI Policy Statement online, click HERE.

To download Complete CACCI Policy Statement, click HERE.

To view Full Complete Policy Statement online, click HERE.

Invitation to the Launching of CACCI Recommendations to Improve World Trading System on 29th October 2021 (15:00 Taiwan Time ) – Register Now

Register HERE

To download the Invitation in PDF format, click HERE.

Register HERE

To download the Summary of CACCI Policy Statement, click HERE.

To view the Summary of CACCI Policy Statement online, click HERE.

To download the Complete CACCI Policy Statement, click HERE.

To view the Complete CACCI Policy Statement online, click HERE.

CACCI Profile – October edition available

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities. If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

YEGAP Executive Committee meets CACCI President Samir Modi, YEGAP Founder Anna Periquet

Members of the YEGAP Executive Committee met virtually with CACCI President Mr. Samir Modi and YEGAP Founder and Former Chairperson Ms. Anna Marie Periquet on October 18, 2021.

The meeting aimed to provide the YEGAP Executive Committee to brief Mr. Modi and Ms. Periquet on its efforts over the past six months to restructure YEGAP with the aim of making it a stronger, stable, and sustainable in the years ahead and make the Group in a position to pursue its objective of promoting entrepreneurship in Asia-Pacific countries.

YEGAP Chairman Mr. Mangesh Lal Shrestha in his Opening Remarks expressed his hopes that, through the meeting, he would hear from Ms. Periquet what her aspirations were when YEGAP was first formed in 2004, and to listen from Mr. Modi on what his vision is for YEGAP and the role it can play in helping CACCI achieve its objectives.

He proceeded to introduce the members of the YEGAP Executive Committee, mentioning first the six Vice Chairmen, with each one representing one of the major geographical regions covered by the CACCI membership (e.g., East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and Oceania). He also noted that 14 of the 25 CACCI member countries are represented among the 23 current total members the Committee.

https://youtu.be/2WO5loKI3H8

Mr. Mangesh informed Mr. Modi and Ms. Periquet that the YEGAP Executive Committee met five times over the past six months to discuss the restructuring of YEGAP and then presented the new vision mission, core values, 2021-2023 theme and tagline approved by the Executive Committee members, as well as the six committees and their respective chairs.

YEGAP Founder and Former Chairperson Ms. Periquet said that she first broached the idea of forming a Young Entrepreneurs Group in 2004 to then CACCI President Mr. K. K. Modi, the late father of Mr. Samir Modi, during a CACCI meeting in Malaysia.

She explained that she was always the youngest delegate in all the CACCI meetings that she attended before (along with her father the late Dr. Aurelio Periquet, one of the founders of CACCI). Hence, as an entrepreneur herself then, she thought of setting up a group of young entrepreneurs from CACCI member countries and bring them together during CACCI gatherings. To her surprise, Mr. Modi endorsed her proposal.

Thus, the Committee on Youth Entrepreneurship – as YEGAP was called originally – was formally set up later in 2004 during the CACCI Council Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and its inaugural breakout session was held in February 2005 during the CACCI Council Meeting in New Delhi, India.

After having chaired YEGAP for many years, Ms. Periquet said she then considered resigning from the chairmanship of the Group to give way to the younger business leaders who were active in CACCI.

She met Mangesh Lal Shrestha during the CACCI meeting in Kathmandu and saw his potential, and is therefore very happy that he took the initiative of restructuring YEGAP to make it an even stronger organization. She said that with Mangesh as Chairman and with the new members of the YEGAP Executive Committee, she is confident that YEGAP is in good hands and is definitely on the right track to successfully achieve its objective of promoting entrepreneurship in the region.

CACCI President Mr. Samir Modi thanked the Officers and Members of the YEGAP Executive Committee for convening the meeting and giving him and Ms. Periquet the opportunity to meet each one of them and to be updated on what the Committee has done to restructure YEGAP and to be briefed on what its plans to do in the next year or so.

Mr. Modi said he looked forward to working closely with the YEGAP Executive Committee to further the success of CACCI and the business community of the region as a whole, especially the budding young entrepreneurs who have bright business ideas that need to be nurtured, cultivated, fostered and developed. He expressed confidence that – with their continued support and cooperation – CACCI will be able to accomplish a lot over the years ahead, and that CACCI will be relying on YEGAP and its officers in promoting a proenterprise spirit among CACCI’s younger members whom the Executive Committee members ably represent.

CACCI holds webinar on “Incoterms® 2020 – Newly Revised ICC Rules for international trade terms”

CACCI organized a one-day webinar on October 6, 2021 on Incoterms 2020, the ICC flagship rulebook which defines the obligations and responsibilities of contract parties in relation to delivery of goods.

ICC Registered Trainer and well-known international trade finance expert Mr. Pavel Andrle, conducted the full-day webinar. A total of 67 registered participants plus other interested persons from Mongolia, Iran, Vietnam and Philippines closely followed the presentation, which focused on the role of Incoterms in sale and other relevant contracts, new changes to Incoterms 2020 from the previous Incoterms 2010, and the practical aspects of using each of the 11 trade (delivery) terms of Incoterms 2020.

Mr. Andrle explained the risks related to each delivery term in depth, both from the seller´s and buyer´s perspective. Many participants were from banks, trade finance and customer service departments.

The Participants appreciated the practical advice given by Mr. Andrle, who is a trade finance practitioner himself, regarding the documents to evidence the seller´s fulfilment of its contractual obligations, related to the delivery of goods. Such knowledge is necessary to properly link the delivery terms to the payment terms, especially when the documentary credit or documentary collection is chosen by the contract parties as the payment method.

Through this webinar, the participants – mainly exporters, importers, traders, specialists in logistics, cargo insurance, bankers and many other interested business people – learned how to keep themselves and their customers safe by being informed on solutions to specific needs, and therefore being protected against technical risks and ambiguities which frequently arise when using Incoterms in daily practice.

ASEAN Economies: The Road to Recovery

3 September 2021, 3:00 p.m., Singapore time, GMT+8

At the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the ASEAN region responded relatively well to the crisis compared with other parts of the world, with travel restrictions and country-wide lockdowns keeping the spread at bay.

In April, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecast Southeast Asia’s gross domestic product to grow at 4.4% in 2021, which would take the region back to pre-COVID-19 levels.

However, in recent months many countries are facing a second and stronger onslaught of the pandemic, and are being forced to return to tighter controls while trying to roll out the vaccine as soon as possible to get the situation under control.

What will this mean for the projected growth of ASEAN countries, and how will their economies recover as we head to 2022?

Join our complimentary webinar where leading economists from the region will share their outlook for ASEAN, leveraging insights and data points from the new macroeconomic datasets that are now available in Refinitiv Datastream.

The webinar will discuss:

• Forecasting ASEAN’s growth—the outlook for 2021 and beyond
• The road to recovery—areas of opportunity, reforms, and investments
• The role of green and social finance for the region
• A look at the ASEAN economic data expansion for Refinitiv Datastream

Speakers:

Deborah Elms, Founder and Executive Director, Asian Trade Centre

Riza Tyas, Head, Macroeconomic Group, Economic & Monetary Policy Department, Bank Indonesia

James Villafuerte, Senior Economist, Southeast Asia Regional Department, Asian Development Bank

Wendy Yamazaki, Senior Director, Government Relations and Regulatory Strategy, Refinitiv

Ramesh Subramaniam, Director General, Southeast Asia Regional Department, Asian Development Bank

The webinar is co-organized by Refinitiv and SEADS.

CACCI Profile – September edition available

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities. If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

CACCI participates in meeting between TWC-YEG and PYEA

The CACCI Secretariat joined a meeting between Taiwan’s Third Wednesday Club Young Entrepreneurs Group (TWC-YEG) and the Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association (PYEA) on August 19. Among those in attendance include, from TWC-YEG: Deputy Chairman Mr. Richard Lin; Conveners of International Affairs Committee Mr. Maick Bradford Su and Mr. Jay Thian; and Mr. Howard Yu. From PYEA, Chairman Emeritus Mr. Rommel Gerodias; PYEA National President Ms. Charmaine Cobankiat Leong; PYEA Manila – President Mr. Sergio Ortiz Luis; Vice President for Internal Affairs Ms. Melissa Varela; Mr. Jairus Ferrer; and Mr. Oliver Lee were in attendance.

Members of the two groups introduced themselves and their respective lines of business, then discussed their experiences running their enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also talked about possible areas of collaboration in the future between the two organizations.

Webinar on Chambers Connect

CACCI wishes to convey to members and friends the invitation from the International Chambers of Commerce World Chambers Federation (ICC-WCF) to its webinar on the Chambers Connect scheduled on Wednesday 28 July 2021, at 10 AM CEST.

To be held jointly with CACCI, the webinar is exclusively dedicated to CACCI chamber members and is primarily aimed at introducing the features of Chambers Connect, ICC WCF’s online community platform exclusively for chambers of commerce worldwide to and guide your first steps on the platform. This new tool aims to support ICC WCF in its work to unite the global chamber network.

Executives from the CACCI Secretariat will join the webinar to introduce CACCI’s chamber space and share their experience in using Chambers Connect.

For those of you who haven’t gotten the chance to access the platform yet, please fill in by clicking HERE.

If you have further questions in this regard, we suggest you contact the Chambers Connect Team at chambersconnect@iccwbo.org

You may register for the webinar by clicking HERE.

Once you have registered, you shall receive an automatic email containing the details and link to join the webinar.

CACCI Profile – July edition available

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities. If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

CACCI Women Entrepreneurs Newsletter available now

Taipei – CACCI is pleased to inform members and friends that the 23^rd Volume of Grow, the publication of CACCI Women Entrepreneurs Council is available HERE.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among women entrepreneurs in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to wendy.yang@cacci.biz

Taiwan TWC-YEG meets Vietnam YEA for exploratory talks

On July 14, 2021, ranking officers of the Taiwanese Third Wednesday Club’s Young Entrepreneurs Group (TWC YEG) met for the first time their counterparts from the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association (VYEA) in a cordial online meeting.

Both national organization had the opportunity to introduce their respective organizations and history, discuss the current status of their respective economies as they continue struggling against the Covid pandemic and plan future activities that could enhance real business opportunities for the benefit of their members.

The TWC YEG’s delegation was led by Mr. Richard Lin, Deputy Chairman, TWC-YEG who launched the online meeting by introducing the Taiwanese delegates, including senior officers of CACCI (Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry).

Mr. Richard Lin also presented the history, current leadership and structure of TWC-YEG and explained the industrial composition of the organization. Mr. Lin added that TWC is a respected business organization that represents the leading industrial groups of Taiwan, generating on the aggregate over half of Taiwan’s GDP.

From their part, the Vietnamese delegation was led by Ms. Hue Pham, VYEA Vice Chairwoman, who in turn introduced her delegates at the meeting. During her remarks, Ms. Hue Pham explained that VYEA is the largest business organization in Vietnam, with more than 10,000 members all over their territory.

Ms. Hue Pham added that most of the members maintain certain cooperation with government units to organize conferences or participate in overseas events. VYEA, Ms. Hue Pham said, has an excellent history of operation for 27 years.

Concerning the complications brought upon by the Covid pandemic, Ms. Hue Pham said that traffic is restricted between cities, making business operations very difficult. Consequently, many SMEs are struggling, because lack of emergency capital prevents them from weathering the current stoppage in normal business operations.

During the virtual meeting, Mr. Amador Honrado, CACCI Deputy Director General also had the opportunity to introduce CACCI and its current YEG plans. At the end of his presentation, Mr. Honrado invited VYEA members to join the future YEG activities that CACCI is preparing to launch in coordination with many YEGs affiliated to national chambers of commerce and industry in nations and territories across the Asia Pacific region.

Mr. John Tran, VYEA Vice Deputy of Int’l Affairs Department, was very explicit in his recommendation to build up the incipient relationship between VYEA and TWC YEG. Mr. Tran recommended exploring credible business opportunities in Vietnam and business interests among Taiwanese enterprises to start establishing a durable relationship between the two organizations.

Moreover, Mr. Tran emphasized that there is good will towards Taiwanese companies in the Vietnamese market and that medium and small Taiwanese companies, aside from those invested in the large industrial parks of Vietnam, have opportunities to grow locally. One important key to success in the Vietnamese market is, according to Mr. Tran, to find a good local partner for their venture.

Other Taiwanese business executives discussed their companies’ situation and future plans post-pandemic, as well as expressed interest in the Vietnamese market.

At the end of the discussion, both organizations considered positive their first exploratory meeting and decided to search and collect business objectives currently in the mind of members in order to find counterparts or concrete points of business exploration.

Further meetings are expected.

The video of the meeting can be viewed at the CACCI Youtube channel HERE.

List of participants

Third Wednesday Club’s Young Entrepreneur Group:

1. Mr. Richard Lin, Deputy Chairman, TWC-YEG
2. Mr. Maick Bradford Su, Convener of International Affairs Committee, TWC-YEG
3. Mr. Jay Thian , Convener of International Affairs Committee, TWC-YEG
4. Mr. Howard Yu, Member, TWC-YEG
5. Mr. Vito Ma, Deputy Secretary-General, TWC-YEG
6. Mr. Ernest Lin, Director General, the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI)
7. Mr. Amador Honrado, Deputy Director General, Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI)
8. Mr. Mig Moreno, Deputy Director General, Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI)
9. Ms. Abby Moreno, Senior Officer, Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI)
10. Mr. Joe Chien, Manager, CTBC Financial Holding
11. Ms. Sandia Lee, Manager, CTBC Financial Holding
12. Mr. Nick Tsai, Manager, CTBC Financial Holding
13. Ms. Ivy Cheng, Assistant Manager, CTBC Financial Holding

Vietnam Young Entrepreneur Association:

14. Ms. Hue Pham, Vice Chairwoman, Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association
15. Mr. John Tran, Vice Deputy of Int’l Affairs Department, Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association
16. Ms. Sylvia Nguyen, Member of Presidium, Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association
17. Ms. Trang, Officers, Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association

CACCI Tourism newsletter available

Taipei – CACCI is pleased to inform all members that the 24^th Volume of CACCI Tourism Newsletter is available for download HERE.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the tourism sector in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to wendy.yang@cacci.org.tw

Thank you, and with best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Ernest Lin
Director-General
CACCI

CACCI Profile – June edition available

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities. If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

XVI CACCI Health & Education newsletter available

Taipei – We are pleased to inform you that the sixteenth Volume of CACCI Health & Education Newsletter has been formally issued.

You can download the newsletter HERE.

We hope that this publication will serve as an effective platform for an exchange of information among the sector of health and education in the CACCI region.  Members are, therefore, encouraged to contribute articles for our future issues.  Kindly forward your materials (preferably with accompanying photos) to wendy.yang@cacci.org.tw

Virtual Special Council Meeting on July 27, 2021

CACCI would like to invite All CACCI Officers and CACCI Primary Members to attend a Special CACCI Council Meeting to be held on July 27, 2:00 PM, Taipei Time.

The special meeting is being called to primarily review and comment on the final draft of the CACCI study on “Resurrecting the World Trading System”, and more importantly, to finalize and approve the accompanying CACCI Policy Statement (based on the full study) to be signed by all Council members.

CACCI Secretariat will send copies of the discussion papers and other relevant information (e.g., meeting link, updates, etc.) in due course.

In the meantime, may we request to all officers and Primary members to kindly pencil in the meeting date in your calendar of events for July 2021?

If you have questions at this stage, please write to cacci@cacci.biz

Webinar on SMEs’ adaptation and innovation

Why this webinar is needed?

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Asian economy. They make up more than 96 percent of all Asian businesses, providing two out of three private sector jobs on the continent. Therefore, fully functioning support measures for SMEs are vital for Asia’s economic success.

Since its outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused border closures and lockdowns in many countries, especially affecting developing economies and vulnerable groups. As the pandemic’s first epicenter, the Asia-Pacific region is suffering from the devastating impact on millions of workers and enterprises, posing a major risk to the achievement of decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). The SDG Progress Report by ESCAP indicated that the region showed regressing trends on SDG target 8.5 of “full employment and decent work” in 2020. In addition, nearly 829 million informal workers were impacted by the pandemic, and unemployment increased by 15 million in the same year.

To build the Asia-Pacific economies back better, adaptation of SMEs with innovative and pragmatic strategies in the post COVID-19 era is a key driver. The proposed webinar aims to provide three layers of strategies: First, from the regional level, what and how policies have been implemented to support SMEs for recovery. Second, from the ODA perspective, best practices that have catalyzed cross-sector resources for SMEs development. Finally, on the business aspect, practical approaches that chambers of commerce and businesses have rapidly adapted throughout the pandemic for corporate sustainability. Based on the lessons and experiences learned, the webinar hopes to build synergy among stakeholders for solutions to build a stronger environment for SMEs in the new normal.

Purpose of the webinar

This side event aims to create a platform to invite all stakeholders from regional, national, and local aspects to share their insights and innovative solutions for the sustainable development and resilience of SMEs. How would they build an enabling environment for SMEs development in the post COVID-19 era? The panel discussion will address cross-sector collaboration and share good practices for the Asia-Pacific region.

Responding to SDG

(1) Goal 8-Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

(2) Target 8.3-Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

(3) Format- A 60-minute webinar open for registration (using Cisco Webex platform)

Moderator

George Abraham, Chairman of SME Development Council, Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Panelists

1. Donald Lambert, Principal Private Sector Development Specialist, Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
2. Alex Shyy, Deputy Secretary General, International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF)
3. Robert Kraybill, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)
4. Representative from member chamber of CACCI (TBC)

To register, please click HERE.

Successful CACCI Business and Investment Summit held June 4 2021

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), in cooperation with the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA), Taiwan, the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce, Taiwan (CNAIC), and the Importers & Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT), jointly conducted the first virtual CACCI Business and Investment Summit on June 4, 2021 which was attended by some 130 delegates from 24 countries.

With the COVID-19 pandemic triggering economic and social shocks globally, sparing no nation from its devastating multi-dimensional impacts, CACCI held the Summit aiming to explore business and investment opportunities in the region, which is also part of a series of activities in 2021 in celebration of CACCI’s 55th Anniversary since its founding in May 1966.

CACCI member chambers in Bangladesh, Taiwan and Vietnam were requested to invite: (a) relevant government agencies to make presentations on the business outlook and investment opportunities in their respective countries, and (b) foreign investors in their respective countries to make testimonials on their experience and operations in the country.

The two-hour virtual Summit was kicked off by the Welcome Remarks by CACCI President Mr. Samir Modi.  In his Remarks, Mr. Modi expressed his appreciation to participants who joined the first virtual Business Summit organized by CACCI, stressing the importance of CACCI as an apex regional business organization and platform where businesses can network and explore possible areas of cooperation, and in so doing, increasing business interaction and promoting regional economic growth.

Mr. Modi also indicated that this Summit is only one of several activities CACCI has planned for 2021 to celebrate the milestone of its 55th founding Anniversary. And depending on the outcome of the event, more Business and Investment Summits may be organized in the future to showcase other CACCI member countries.

Moderated by Ms. Kristy Hsu, Director, Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, Taiwan, the virtual Summit featured the following speakers from the three countries, respectively: Bangladesh – Mr. Mohammad Hasan Arif, (Joint Secretary), General Manager (Administration & Finance), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA); Mr. Shekar N. Rajashekaran, Managing Director and Sub-Cluster Head, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Citibank; Taiwan – Mr. William Tang, Director, InvesTaiwan; Mr. Brett D. Aaron, CEO, BABI International Corp.; Vietnam – Ms. Hoang Thanh Tam, Head of the Investment, Promotion Division, Foreign Investment Agency, Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam; Mr. Brian Chen, Partner of KPMG/Director of The Council of Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam.

Invited speakers were requested to share their insights on the latest economic trends and investment policies in Bangladesh, Taiwan and Vietnam, as well as the business potentials and advantages that each country has to offer for foreign investors.  Their presentations all indicate that, despite being impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, their respective economies show positive outlook as they begin to regain their footing and show signs of recovery.

This encouraging prospect is attested to by recent economic forecasts released by the Asian development Bank, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). “Given such an optimistic outlook, now is the time to invest in the region,” CACCI President Mr. Modi concluded in his Welcome Remarks.

The recording of the webinar is available at the CACCI Youtube channel HERE.

The 4 presentations can be downloaded HERE.

“CACCI Business and Investment Summit” on June 4, 2021

CACCI is pleased to invite members and associates to join the “CACCI Business and Investment Summit” to be held on June 4 at 14:00 – 16:00 hrs. Taipei Time on the virtual platform.

To be organized by CACCI and co-hosted by the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA), Taiwan, Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce, Taiwan (CNAIC) and Importers & Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT), the Summit is part of a series of special events in 2021 in celebration of the 55^th anniversary of CACCI.

CACCI member chambers in Taiwan, Vietnam and Bangladesh will invite relevant government agencies to share their post-COVID strategies for economic recovery and sustainable growth in their respective countries, as well as invite foreign investors in their respective countries to make testimonials on their experience and operations in the country.  Below we present the tentative program.

More details on the event, such as the registration link and the updated program, will be provided shortly.  We encourage all CACCI members to already mark down the time for the virtual Summit which presents the best occasion to get the first-hand information on business opportunities in Taiwan, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

To register, please click HERE.

The Colonial Pipeline Incident — How Vulnerable Is Critical Infrastructure to Cybercriminals?

On May 7, 2021, Colonial Pipeline, a major U.S. fuel pipeline operator, halted operations as a precautionary measure after a cyberattack involving ransomware was discovered. The attackers appear to have accessed business systems from which they stole nearly 100 gigabytes of data before they locked Colonial Pipeline’s computers and demanded ransom.

Responsible for nearly half of the U.S. East Coast’s fuel supply, Colonial Pipeline supplies fuels from Gulf Coast refining centers to cities, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Atlanta, transporting 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines.

Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Fuel tanks are seen at the Colonial Pipeline Baltimore Delivery in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 10, 2021. Industry observers regard the Colonial Pipeline cybersecurity incident as financially motivated, as opposed to state-directed sabotage.

The attack represents a major disruption of the U.S. energy sector and is the latest in a string of unsettling cyberattacks by foreign actors that have drawn attention to the need for private companies and government agencies to harden their digital assets.

Source: Colonial Pipeline

The Dark Side

According to an FBI statement, the strain of malware involved appears to be the work of a Russian ransomware gang called “DarkSide.” DarkSide operates under a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, and once a system is compromised, cybercriminals using these services can demand anywhere between $200,000 and $2 million. DarkSide is one of several increasingly professionalized groups of digital extortionists, with a mailing list, a press center and a victim hotline.

Chris Krebs, the former director of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told CBS News the tactics of the Colonial attack are indicative of “veteran” cybercriminals.

DarkSide users display comprehensive capabilities across multiple software systems and platforms, collecting information from a variety of private organizations, including financial institutions, medical facilities, energy firms and tech giants.

These types of hackers aren’t worried about avoiding detection; rather these actors employ tactics that aim to leverage a company’s desire to keep the breach quiet to pressure them into paying up. A popular such tactic is called “double extortion,” a technique in which criminals demand that victims pay to decrypt the stolen data and prevent the hackers from leaking sensitive data. This technique allows hackers to increase both the number of ransoms they receive and the value of those demands.

Industry observers regard the Colonial Pipeline cybersecurity incident as financially motivated, as opposed to state-directed sabotage compared to what was observed in the SolarWinds or Microsoft Exchange hacks earlier this year.

The Energy Sector Is Exposed

The energy industry is still maneuvering the widespread digital transformation of operational and support structure that has gained momentum in recent years. These are exciting developments in operational and information technology for oil and gas applications — many oil and gas companies are prioritizing investments in this area. Two examples of such developments include the internet of things, which facilitates data collection, and Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition systems, which use data to monitor and control facilities located throughout the energy supply chain.

However, these technologies inherently increase an organization’s attack surface, requiring authentication and authorization management between them.

Experts predict that the number of connected devices worldwide will reach a whopping 46 billion by 2021 — all equipped with sensors that communicate back to networks, databases and communications systems. These connected devices span a wide range, from smart toasters to centrifuges enriching uranium. Even a fish-tank thermometer can expose firms to trouble from hackers.

As mentioned in a recent NSA advisory for stopping malicious activity against connected operational technology (OT), it doesn’t help that many of the “OT assets and control systems installed and used throughout the energy sector are past end-of-life and operated without sufficient resources.” Put simply, these systems are dinosaurs. This means updates and vulnerability patches aren’t being developed, stifling IT teams tasked with defending these legacy systems and opening firms up to a considerable amount of risk.

The critical infrastructure that’s the foundation of the end-to-end energy supply chain makes it particularly vulnerable and more attractive to these hacker groups. This is compounded by the fact that energy remains a major concern for the nation-states who are often enabling these bad actors. The energy sector drives so much policy across the world that it affects how countries conduct themselves and interact. Therefore, nation-states are willing to attempt these sophisticated and disruptive campaigns to gain any advantage they can.

Unless cybersecurity measures are embedded in a technology’s development phase, we are likely to see these kinds of disruptive attacks on industrial systems like oil and gas pipelines more frequently. Colonial has said it hopes to “substantially restore operational service by the end of the week,” but that it will be a stepwise process.

It May Take a While to Get Back to Normal

Colonial has managed to restart its pipeline operations but has warned that it will take several days for supply to get back to normal. In the meantime, adjacent avenues are operating to deliver existing inventories to markets along the Colonial pipeline. Aside from the Colonial pipeline, East Coast fuel markets are supplied by the Plantation pipeline jointly owned by Kinder Morgan and Exxon; East Coast refineries; and fuel shipments from Eastern Canada and Europe. There have already been some signs of panic-buying by motorists along the East Coast.

As for other parts of the energy sector, a shutdown on any of the major crude pipelines would have some impact, though in the case of crude it would be more muted to the consumer because it’s further up the supply chain. A disruption to a major natural gas pipeline could have a ripple effect to power generation facilities, depending on the line, duration and time of year.

Based on our experience, the industry is taking the threat very seriously, but these complex business and operational IT systems are ultimately operated by humans, and that will always include some element of risk.

Related themes: CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE RISK MITIGATION

Geoff Yut
Consultant at Opportune LLP
Geoff Yut is a consultant in Opportune LLP’s Process & Technology group based in Houston. Geoff graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Management Information Systems and a minor in Cybersecurity.

The original article can be read at the Brink Asia HERE.

“India, China and the US: A new geopolitical landscape” debate

CACCI invites its members and friends to join a series of events presented by the Financial Times and The Indian Express.

The next important debate is “India, China and the US: a new geopolitical landscape” on Thursday 20 May, 4:45-8:05 pm India, 12:15-3:25 pm GMT+1, #IndiaInTheWorld

Senior leaders in foreign policy, international relations and geopolitics will share their insights into this critical situation.

India and China have long jockeyed for influence in the Indo-Pacific region. With China potentially set for further regional dominance due to its rapid economic recovery, how will India position itself diplomatically? And how will India’s relations evolve with the US under the new Biden administration?

In the second of a series of online, agenda-setting debates organised by the Financial Times and The Indian Express, foreign policy leaders and thinkers from India and overseas discuss India’s diplomatic standing in the world, especially with regards to China and the US.

Interested members can visit the homepage HERE for further details and also register for free HERE.

Key talking points:

• India-China: Will tensions deepen and what will be the impact on economic and business ties?
• India-US: Can India become an ideological as well as strategic US partner in geopolitical affairs?
• Diplomatic standing: How will India position itself overall in the post-COVID world order?

CACCI Profile – April edition available

It is our ardent hope that this monthly publication is useful to you and your work, and enables you to know more about the CACCI, our members, and their activities. If you wish other members of your organization to receive a copy of the CACCI Profile, please send us their names, titles/positions, and email addresses through cacci@cacci.biz

We would also appreciate receiving your comments on how we can further improve the CACCI Profile in terms of its format and contents. Thank you for your kind attention, and we look forward to your continued support of the CACCI and its activities.

New Asian-led venture to revive the WTO

The foremost network of business groups from the Asia Pacific has commissioned renowned macroeconomist Dr Andrew Stoeckel to author a study on resurrecting the world trading system.

The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), a network of national chambers from 27 economies across Asia and the Western Pacific, will deliver an evidence based argument and plan for reforming the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well as the relationships with the major global intergovernmental institutions, following the completion of the study mid this year.

As a founding member of CACCI, The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) will be managing the project with Dr Stoeckel on behalf of the network.

The WTO (together with its predecessor GATT) has been in situ since the end of the Second World War, regulating trade, global relations and resolving disputes on the movement of goods and services.

However, the current global market environment has made trade liberalisation less of a priority among many countries, threatening the sustainability of the WTO.

The newly commissioned research is a flagship project for CACCI and will provide insight for the entire global trading community. The results will be released in mid-2021 in time for consideration by the next WTO Ministerial Council.

Quotes attributable to CACCI’s regional business leaders:

CACCI President Samir Modi (India) said: “It is an opportune time to examine how the world trading system has deteriorated to its current state, and what can be done to remedy the situation.

“Many countries are more concerned with national security and economic self-interests, leading to a rise in nationalism and protectionism regionally and globally. And, given the growing trend to pursue bilateral economic relationships among many countries, the prevailing circumstances are expected to have further adverse impact on multilateral relationships.

“CACCI, with its initiative to conduct the study ‘Resurrecting the World Trading System’, hopes to focus efforts to the right questions and processes to achieve this important objective.”

CACCI Advisory Board Chair and CACCI President Emeritus Ken Court (Australia) said in a time of rapid communications and decision-making, the resolution of international trade disputes needed to be simplified.

“Most CACCI member nations are medium or small players with much at stake in a global multilateral system – they depend on stable and predictable rules governing international trade and investment.

“A clear mechanism enabling prompt decision-making will not only assist business but also lead to more open dialogue between nations,” Mr Court said.

CACCI Policy Advocacy Working Group Chair and Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry Trade Director Bryan Clark (Australia) said the WTO’s importance “had been forgotten amidst the pursuit of free trade agreements.

“One of key reasons for establishing the global rules-based trading system was to avoid a repeat of the destructive trade tensions experienced before World War II.

“But rising protectionism, the proliferation of FTAs, trade sanctions and the failure of the dispute settlement body, coupled with rising uncertainty with lower investment, spell great trouble for the world.

“We desperately need this study to address current shortcomings in the system and recommend a path back for the WTO, which is why securing an economist of Dr Stoeckel’s expertise is a boon for the confederation.”

CACCI Advisory Board member Jemal Inaishvili (Georgia) said the promotion of free trade in the region had faced “a lot of challenges in the past”.

“We have seen tensions in trade relations between world and regional leaders, which were not helpful for economic growth.

“Last year, we witnessed enormous disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, and the difficult situation will certainly continue in 2021. We all are hopeful that by the end of the summer the situation will start to gradually improve.

“All this makes the development of international trading system based on promotion of free trade

even more relevant, and the above-mentioned study will only contribute to achieving our goals.

CACCI Vice President Peter McMullin (Australia) said the CACCI trade study is a “vital piece of leadership at this critical stage in our collective history”.

“The world trading system is in disarray and needs a reset. The study will diagnose the problem and suggest possible and practical solutions. The CACCI Steering Committee will provide the necessary oversight of the study and ensure that it remains focussed on the task at hand.

“Doing nothing is not an option for any of our valued members. We owe it to the rich and productive history of CACCI to embrace this study.

“As trade is foundational to the economic recovery, I think it is in all our interests to seek to advocate that recommendations from the study are adopted by the broader business community and its many organisations.

CACCI Vice President M. Rifat Hisarciklioglu (Turkey) said greater cooperation at the WTO “can defuse trade tensions and provide greater certainty for international trade.”

“Trade is the engine of economic growth and catalyser of peace, prosperity and security. The world economy needs less unilateralism and more multilateralism.

CACCI Vice President Pedram Soltani (Iran) said protectionism “had never been so threatening” to globalisation since the inception of the WTO.

“Asia, the driving force of the global trade growth in the 21st century, has to be more sensitive to such threats. CACCI, as a continent-wide organisation for the private sector, has correctly and timely felt the exigence of paying attention to the headwinds of the World Trading System,” Dr Soltani said.

“The future of the world trade should be more protected by those players who have a higher stake in shaping it.”

CACCI Vice President Sheikh Fazle Fahim (Bangladesh) said developing economies needed sustainable, equitable rules to achieve development goals and grow new industries with ease of market access.

“Developing economies find it difficult to expand their own emerging industries, as multinational companies have competitive advantage in the current global business environment. So, it is imperative promising economies are able to establish and maintain interconnectivity and collaboration among potential trade partners.

“Therefore, the need for a study that explores all these new challenges, gaps, and inconsistencies and finds an inclusive solution for world trade to become an effective system again that leaves no one behind, is paramount.”

Further information:

Marie Hogg | Senior Media Adviser – ACCI – +61 431 299 518
(c) Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2021
Level 3, 24 Brisbane Avenue
BARTON ACT 2600
P | 02 6270 8000
E | info@australianchamber.com.au
W | www.australianchamber.com.au