SWEDISH SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES NETWORK

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Globe Forum Conference in Stockholm, May 7–8, 2008

Web page: http://www.gfbn.com/

Globe Forum 2008 – Highlights: http://www.gfbn.com/pages/gf2008-highlights

Globe Forum is an annual international conference held in Stockholm for business leaders, entrepreneurs, academics, political leaders and state actors working in the most dynamic growing markets. Initiated by Mr. Johan Gorecki in 2007, it was held for the second time 7–8 May 2008 at China Theatre and Berns Salonger in Stockholm. The theme for the 2008 conference, that drew 1 300 participants was ”Business Innovation for Sustainable Growth”.
The primary focus of the Globe Forum conferences is to share views and information from the fastest growing markets: China, India, Central and Eastern Europe and the Gulf region, and inspire new business opportunities in the light of global environmental and social challenges. The conference addresses the technology and consumer perspectives and the broader energy areas, including energy availability and usage, transport and environmental issues.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) was one of Globe Forum's partners this year. Sida's new Director-General Anders Nordström (photo to the left) was one of the keynote speakers and Deputy Director-General Mia Horn af Rantzien took part in one of the workshops.
Other keynote speakers included Anders Wijkman, Member of the EU parliament, and David Tang, Founder of the Chinese fashion design company Shanghai Tang.

Another prominent invited speaker for the 2008 Globe Forum was Mr. Dipal Chandra Barua (photo to the left), Deputy Managing Director for Grameen Shakti (the Nobel Prize Laureate microcredit institution).

Bharti Patel and Shireesh Gupta, Indian participants to the Globe Forum 2008.

He participated in a workshop on ”The rise of microfinance: How village women challenge Wall Street men”, along with Ms. Bharti Patel from the Society for Voluntary Action Revitalisation and Justice (SVARAJ) in Bangalore. This seminar was moderated by the Human Rights Lawyer Parul Sharma from the Dept. of Law at Stockholm University.
Other South Asian participants to the Globe Forum 2008 included Anand Sethi, Advisor in India for the Nordic Investment Bank; K.P. Nyati, Principal Adviser, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Preeta Singh, Director, Madi Design Support; and Mr. Shireesh Gupta, Senior Partner, MRG Associates, who participated in a workshop on ”Legal reforms – the way ahead for sustainability”.

SASNET’s acting director, Dr. Sidsel Hansson, and its deputy director, Lars Eklund, participated in the conference during the first day.

More information about Globe Forum 2008.