Kofi Annan among speakers at city conferences

Sep 29 2008 by Barry Turnbull, Liverpool Daily Post

LEADING business figures, as well as former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, will be speaking at two major events in Liverpool this week.

Mr Annan will address an expected audience of around 1,000 senior executives by video link at the Benchmark for Business “Transforming the Future” international management summit.

Other speakers at the event, which is being held at the BT Convention Centre on Wednesday and Thursday, include Pilkington chief executive Stuart Chambers and Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy.

And on Thursday, also at the convention centre, the one-day “Think Business . . . Think India” event will take place, featuring Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Digby Jones, as keynote speaker.

During the conference, local businesses will be urged to think of India as the next emerging economic hot-spot.

Although there is much emphasis on possible trade with China, the potential offered by the Indian sub-continent is also enormous.

The event, which is free to businesses, will be chaired by Deepak Lalwani, director of stockbrokers Astaire & Partners. Also speaking will be Amit Mehta, vice president of Tata Capital, the financial services arm of the Tata Group whose motor division recently acquired Jaguar Land Rover.

Sandra Brusby, speaking on behalf of UK Trade & Investment North West India Unit, said: “It’s strange that UK businesses seem to be overlooking the expansion opportunities currently presented by India.

“The potential is huge, and we’re no longer talking about just call centres.

“The type of businesses setting up now is so diverse.

“We have organised a number of workshops, including one with the award-winning producer Parminder Vir, who will be sharing her experience of working with TV and film makers.”

The international management summit came about after Stuart Chambers pledged to bring top commentators to Liverpool in its Capital of Culture year.

Mr Chambers said: “By presenting the UK and international markets with a world-class line-up of speakers who are recognised as the leading thinkers in their respective fields, this exceptional management-focused conference will deliver a lasting legacy for Liverpool.”

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