The Asian Consumer

As the world looks upon Asian consumers to lead the global economy out of recession, many firms are shifting their business development efforts to Asia. One of the key factors to achieving success is to understand Asian consumers beyond mere demographics - What are their wants? What drives their purchasing decisions? What is typical consumer behaviour in these regions?

The Asia Business Forum Asian Consumer Forum will look into the Asian consumer's mindset and provide a platform for executives who have successfully introduced their brands in Asia to share their insights.

Moderator:

• Nirmalya Kumar, Professor of Marketing, London Business School

Speakers:

• Radha Chadha, Managing Director, Chadha Strategy Consulting, Hong Kong
• Ruchita Sharma, Global Head of Strategic Planning, Global Luxuria, India

Opportunities, Evolution and Exits for Private Equity in Asia

The traditional Private Equity model has not been widely accepted in Asia by business owners however many PE firms have been able to 'roll with the times' and adapt their business model. In recent times, there has been an increase in 'growth investments' in which PE will take a 20-25% stake and work with the founders to grow their business. Larger PE firms have teamed up with local PE players to achieve this. As the world recovers, will we see the return of the fully leverage 100% buy-out emerge in Asia or will the significant minority growth capital investment become the dominant operating model for Asia?

The Asia Business Forum - Private Equity in Asia Panel - will discuss trends and evolution of private equity in Asia. The landscape for Private Equity Deals is ever changing in Asia and after the crisis, it will be exciting to know what opportunities and what exits lie for PE firms in Asia.

Speakers:

• Mounir Guen, Founder and CEO, Mvision, UK
• Koji Fusa, Founder and CEO, Sandringham Capital Partners, London
• Kathleen Ng, Managing Director, Centre for Asia Private Equity Research, Hong Kong

What does it take to succeed in Asia?

The shift in economic power from the West to the East continues to accelerate even in light of the uncertainty in the global economy. Economic indicators are showing that Asia will be vital in powering the global recovery.Innovation to deliver change and sustainable value for a business is key in any stage of a business - from start-up to building market leadership. Asian entrepreneurs share a common optimism for the future of the region, and a similar view that adversity can produce opportunities so long one remains focused on innovating for growth.

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Panel will discuss the challenges and strategies regarding setting up business and driving innovation in Asia. This is a rare opportunity to hear first-hand from those who have successfully set up their business in these unique environments.

Speakers:

• Sudhir Chaturvedi, Vice President and Head - Manufacturing, Infosys Technologies, Europe
• Simon Galpin, Director General, InvestHK, Hong Kong
• Joel Duerr, Syngenta International AG, Former CFO of eBay Europe
• Cheu Leong CHAN, Group CEO and Managing Director, Wah Seong Corporation, Malaysia