Thesun 2009-05-18 Page14 Game Change The Buzzword At Coming Forbes Ceo Meeting

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theSun

| MONDAY MAY 18 2009

business

Game change the buzzword at coming Forbes CEO meeting by Karen Arukesamy [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: Business leaders can learn how to adapt to new economic realities and boost their business growth in the upcoming Forbes Global CEO Conference. To be held in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 28 to 30, the conference, themed “Game Change”, will see some of the world’s most admired business and thought leaders debating and exchanging views on key issues reshaping the world. It will take stock of how the world has changed, and discuss how business leaders should adapt to new economic realities in order to rebuild wealth and grow their businesses. “We are delighted to stage the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Kuala Lumpur, one of Asia’s major crossroads of trade,” said Forbes Asia president and publisher William Adamopoulos. “The world has undergone dramatic change since our conference last year, and I’m confident our line-up of thought leaders, tycoons and captains of industry will provide for a stimulating and informative conference,” he said. “Malaysia is proud to host the

world’s foremost business and thought leaders at this high-profile global event. Their presence will be a strong endorsement of Kuala Lumpur’s status as a preferred destination for foreign investments and as an ideal city for work and recreation,” said International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Mamat. Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will also participate in the conference’s Meeting of Minds session with Forbes chairman and CEO Steve Forbes, who is also Forbes magazine editor-inchief. Some 450 global CEOs, tycoons, entrepreneurs, up-and-comers, capitalists and thought leaders are expected to participate in the conference. Now in its ninth year, the conference serves as an annual platform for influential CEOs, tycoons, thought leaders and politicians to discuss and debate key issues of global concern and to build relationships. Some of the prominent thought leaders who will be speaking at the conference include 2001 Nobel laureate in economics Prof Michael Spence, professor of Applied Economics and The John Hopkins University Institute

for Applied Economics and the Study of Business Enterprise co-director Steve H. Hanke, California University Berkeley APEC Study Center professor and director Vinod Aggarwal, Califormia University Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Physics professor Richard A. Muller, Georgetown University board of directros chairman Paul Tagliabue, and former National Football League Commissioner Eisuke Sakakibara, Forbes columnists Ken Fisher, and A. Gary Shilling and co-president Gary Shilling. The speakers who are business leaders include WL Ross and Co chairman and CEO Wilbur L. Ross, Jr, YTL Corporation managing director Francis Yeoh, Shui On Group chairman and CEO Vincent Lo, Rakuten Inc CEO Hiroshi Mikitani, GEOX chairman Mario Moretti Polegato, Linfox founder Lindsay Fox, Noble Group CEO Richard Elman, Amata Corporation CEO Vikrom Kromadit, Fosun International Ltd vice-chairman and CEO Liang Xinjun, Sybase Inc CEO and president John S. Chen, Christie’s International CEO Edward Dolman, Emirates Investment Group vice-chairman Raza Jafar, Itochu Corp president and CEO Eizo Kobayashi, and Punj Lloyd Group chairman Atul Punj.

Security at Kulim Hi-Tech Park to be enhanced by Himanshu Bhatt [email protected]

The beauty of beans pg 19

KULIM: Multinational tenants of the 13-year-old Kulim HiTech Park here have expressed concerns about the security situation at the multi-billion ringgit industrial zone to the federal government. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency (NIA) and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) are working to heighten the security level in the area following feedback from the tenants. The move includes stepping up police presence in the area, with the setting up of a new station. “The federal government has approved an allocation of about RM15 million to enhance security,” he said. Established in 1996, the park, spanning some 1,700ha, currently houses about 55 companies, including giants like Intel, Fuji Electric, Celestica, Entegris, Infeneon and First Solar. Nor Mohamed said although there have only been minor pilfering and robberies reported thus far, the government needs to take due precautionary measures in view of the sensitive operations carried out by the companies. “If the park is not secure, many foreign investors may not come in,” he said, stressing that making police presence more visible would be a priority. Nor Mohamed was speaking at a press conference after a round-table meeting with key tenants at the Intel office. Fire and rescue services, as well as hospital facilities are also being upgraded, he added.