3 May 2011 - ADB Annual Meeting

Sheraton Hanoi, Vietnam

Emerging markets have experienced in the past year the largest capital inflows yet seen in these economies, benefiting from continued strong growth rates, massive government stimulus plans, and the persistent economic and financial uncertainty affecting the developed world. Asian economies have been substantial recipients, with heavy demand for assets not just in China and India but across a range of countries and sectors.

 
As financial institutions and multinational companies substantially raise their exposure to these markets, the search for opportunities that offer high returns and relatively low risk has become intense, with investors weighing up potentially attractive yields against variables such as political stability, currency flexibility, corporate governance and regulatory transparency. At the same time, there are now substantial new opportunities for issuers across the region to raise finance and diversify their funding base.
 
Agriculture, natural resources and infrastructure have emerged as key areas of interest in Asia. As major engines of economic growth, they have all been important beneficiaries of the stimulus plans launched to counter the impact of the global economic downturn. Demand for private sector capital in these sectors remains strong, though the lack of effective debt markets in some countries has underlined the need for innovative financing solutions and sophisticated risk management as well as positive and constructive PPP arrangements.
 
  • How can opportunities in agriculture, natural resources and infrastructure be maximised, from both the investor's and issuer's points of view?
  • What conditions have to be in place for public-private partnerships to be effective?
  • What innovative financial instruments can be created to help support future returns and minimise risk?
  • How important is it to diversify funding sources in the current environment?
  • How can capital markets play a greater role in fund-raising in these key sectors?
  • What is the impact of the current volatility in commodity markets on investment and fund-raising in natural resources and agriculture?
  • How should foreign exchange movements be taken into account? How does the potential liberalisation of the renminbi affect current investment decisions in Chinese infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture?
  • How should other variables, eg: environmental impact, be factored in?
  • What is the outlook for gold?
 

 

The Financial Times and ANZ will bring together government officials and senior financial and corporate executives to explore these issues in an exclusive dinner debate chaired by David Pilling, Asia Editor of the Financial Times. The forum will feature thought leaders including Paul Gruenwald, ANZ's Chief Economist for Asia Pacific; Hiroshi Watanabe, President and CEO of Japan Bank for International Cooperation; Anita George, Director, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, IFC; Donald Hanna, Managing Director, Global Liquid Markets Research, Fortress Investment Group; and Elena Okorotchenko, Lead Analytical Manager for Sovereign and International Public Finance Ratings, Asia Pacific, at Standard & Poor's. The dinner will be one of the key private gatherings during the Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting.

 

 

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