Asia House is returning to Hong Kong to convene a major dialogue – The Future of Trade.

A timely conversation

The Asia House Future of Trade conference explores the forces shaping global trade, investment, technology and policy, and comes amid growing uncertainty in the world economy.

Asia House is bringing the Future of Trade dialogue to Hong Kong at crucial time for the city, where the ongoing crisis has raised concerns about Hong Kong’s future as a global financial centre and its role in world trade. But there are other forces reshaping the world trading architecture. Ongoing tensions between the US and China are disrupting trade flows and fuelling fears of a currency war. Relations between Japan and South Korea continue to worsen, while rivalries between India and China are jeopardising the race to complete RCEP – a trade deal that could incorporate a third of global GDP. The WTO is under fire with demands it be reformed, as the established rules-based order comes under increasing strain.

The slowdown in China’s economic growth and talk of a possible global recession are high on the agenda of policy-makers as they navigate dramatic geopolitical shifts. Meanwhile, in stark contrast to slowing global growth, the digital revolution is accelerating across Asia, with innovations in FinTech and ecommerce transforming the business and regulatory environments and challenging existing business models.

An iconic venue

The Asia House Future of Trade conference takes place at the iconic Hong Kong Stock Exchange, which recently made a $US37billion bid for its London counterpart – a move which reflects the dynamic and uncertain nature of global trade and finance today.

Leading global figures

Asia House is convening senior leaders from business and policy to examine the key issues and share forward-looking analysis on their likely impact on the future of trade.

In a major keynote speech, Lord Stephen Green, Chairman of Asia House and former Chairman of HSBC, will explore the economic and geopolitical shifts taking place across Asia today, and how they will reshape and refocus the future global order.

Lord Green will be joined by senior decision makers from business and policy, including former US Deputy Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Holleyman; KPMG’s Head of Infrastructure for Asia Pacific, Julian Vella; the Financial Times Global China Editor, James Kynge; the Dean of the Institute of International Relations, Tsinghua University, Yan Xuetong; former State Secretary at the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, Anne Ruth Herkes; and Lukas Petrikas, Head of Innovation Lab, HKEX.

View all speakers, and find out more about the conference, at futureoftradehk.org