Agenda
8:00 am-9:00 am
Registration and Breakfast
9:00 am-9:10 am
WELCOME REMARKS
Conference Chair- David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times
9:10 am-9:40 am
OPENING KEYNOTE
Keynote(s)- Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development & Education, Singapore Government
9:40 am-10:40 am
PANEL DISCUSSION
Overview: Asia's Infrastructure Challenge
Infrastructure development has become critical in Asia as economies grow, populations increase and urbanisation spreads at an unprecedented rate. What steps are being taken by governments to address the demand for infrastructure and how important is the private sector's participation as contractors and investors? How will the financial crisis affect the commercial viability of infrastructure development and public-private partnerships? Will governments use infrastructure development to help bring economies out of recession, and what would that mean for the role of the private sector? What role will multilateral institutions have?
- David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times
- Alejandro Perez, Senior Investment Officer, Infrastructure, IFC
- David Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Aedas
- Alan Schiffman, Partner, Project Finance, Energy and Infrastructure Development, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Terrence Tan, Director, RREEF Alternative Investments
10:40 am-11:00 am
Refreshments
11:00 am-12:00 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION
Infrastructure funds: an essential new asset class?
Infrastructure funds are growing in popularity in Asia, particularly those focused on countries like India where development needs are acute. Are they essential vehicles to boost infrastructure development? What is their potential long-term performance and what is being done to make them more attractive to investors? How does the financial crisis affect their viability? What alternatives are there?
Speaker(s) - Vijay Pattabhiraman, Managing Director, Asian Infrastructure Group, JP Morgan Asset Management
- Anoop Seth, Co-Head of Asian Infrastructure, AMP Capital Investors
- Andrew Yee, Co-Chief Executive, Standard Chartered IL&FS Asia Infrastructure Growth Fund
- Sundeep Tucker, Asia Financial Correspondent, Financial Times
12:00 pm-12:30 pm
KEYNOTE ADDRESS/CASE STUDY
Keynote(s)- Carrie Lam, Secretary for Development, Hong Kong SAR Government
12:30 pm-2:00 pm
LUNCH
2:00 pm-3:00 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION
India: an enormous task
India's government has identified the need for around US$320 billion worth of investment in infrastructure by 2012 to support its growing economy. As India-focused infrastructure funds multiply in number and size to address this financing gap, private sector contractors are being flooded with orders for road, bridge and other projects, leading to concerns over supply, and shortages of qualified engineers and other workers. What can the government do to assure the commercial viability of infrastructure projects, particularly given continued political risk?
Speaker(s) - Anil Ahuja, Head of Asia, 3i
- Ameet Desai, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone
- Satish Mandhana, Managing Editor, IDFC Private Equity
- Yogesh Verma, Group Executive President, Jindal ITF
- Sundeep Tucker, Asia Financial Correspondent, Financial Times
3:00 pm-4:00 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION
China: a determined drive
China's infrastructure is facing severe strains as the economy develops at a rapid pace and migrants lock to its cities from the countryside. In its five-year plan to 2010, the government has earmarked around US$175 billion on railways alone, and this has been enhanced by the stimulus package introduced in November. Ports and airports are being expanded across the country. But in a system that foregoes public consultation, are the right projects being emphasised? With the government shouldering a bulk of the financing, is enough being done to involve the private sector in infrastructure development? Is there sufficient transparency?
Conference Chair - David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times
- Evan Auyang, Associate Principal, Travel, Infrastructure and Logistics, McKinsey & Co
- Joe Chang, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners
- Daniel Liew, Asia Managing Partner, SJ Berwin
4:00 pm-4:20 pm
Refreshments
4:20 pm-4:50 pm
Keynote(s)
- Bindu Lohani, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Asian Development Bank
4:50 pm-5:50 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION
Singapore and other developed hubs: upgrading to stay competitive
While developed economies like Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Australia may not require the massive new infrastructure needed in China and India, they have to upgrade their facilities and incorporate new technologies to ensure they remain competitive both in terms of quality of life and their contribution to the global economy. How do these countries attract infrastructure investment, and ensure strong returns given their relatively slow economic growth? Can Australia and Singapore - among the leaders in achieving successful public-private partnerships - be models for emerging economies?
Speaker(s) - Choo Chiau Beng, Chief Executive Officer, Keppel Corporation
- Richard Little, Director, Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy, University of Southern California
- Sharad Somani, Executive Director, Global Infrastructure & Projects Group, KPMG Corporate Finance
- Lynn Tho, Director, Project Finance, HSBC Singapore
- John Burton, Singapore Bureau Chief, Financial Times
5:50 pm-6:00 pm
CLOSING REMARKS
Conference Chair- David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times
6:00 pm-7:30 pm
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
The organiser reserves the right to alter the programme and speakers as may be necessary.
