Asian Investment Conference 2023

Breakfast at Credit Suisse Lounge (Level L) and Ballroom Foyer (Level LL)

Welcome Address

• Neil Hosie, Head of Global Equities, Credit Suisse

Keynote Economics Panel: Can the world's two largest economies save us from a global recession?   

The U.S. and China are heading in dramatically different directions. While rising interest rates are fueling fears of an American recession, China is riding a rebound in economic activity and policymakers in Beijing have set a GDP target of 5% for 2023. The contrast between the world’s two largest economies is striking, but together they will dictate the pace of global growth.  

How will China’s economy perform in the post-pandemic era? Will U.S. interest rates stay higher for longer? And how will the economic relationship between the two superpowers affect the rest of Asia?  

This keynote economics panel will explore the outlook for the global economy with expert insights from leading economists on either side of the Pacific. Join the session to discover where fiscal and monetary policy is headed in 2023, what will drive global growth in the longer term, and what it all means for investors. 

Speaker(s):

• Barry Eichengreen, International Economist, University of California, Berkeley
• Dong Tao, Vice Chairman Greater China, Wealth Management Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse
• Moderator: Dan Fineman, Co-Head of Asia Pacific Strategy, Credit Suisse
  
  

In a fast-changing, fragmented world, how can we create sustainable value? 

The crises facing humanity are challenging traditional concepts of economic value. The current financial system may be capable of supporting new ideas such as cryptocurrencies, but innovations designed to support a more sustainable future are often still seen as risky investments.  

How do we value water conservation or research into vaccines when their economic benefits may be decades away? How can we better leverage collective intelligence to truly tackle challenges, and apply a moonshot approach to the world’s complex problems? And what role should governments or public funds play in innovation ecosystems? 

Professor Mazzucato has been studying these dynamics and advising policy makers on how to steer finance towards long-term structural change since long before Covid-19. Did the pandemic change her assessment? How do we define value now? How applicable is her advice to Asia’s economies, and how can countries do better at collaborating?

Professor Mazzucato shares her thoughts on how to focus the financial system on solving the problems that really matter, and how Asia fits into the global framework of innovation. 

Speaker(s):

• Mariana Mazzucato, Professor, Economics of Innovation and Public Value, University College London; Author, “Mission Economy”
• Host: Erica Poon Werkun, Head of Securities Research, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse
   

A bridge between China and the world — what’s next for Hong Kong’s capital markets? 

As the bridge between China and the rest of the world, Hong Kong’s capital markets have been impacted by geopolitical shifts and Covid controls. The lifting of public health restrictions in Hong Kong and China is brightening the outlook, but there’re still uncertainties on the macroeconomic level. Nicolas Aguzin, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) since May 2021, is at the forefront of Hong Kong’s efforts to strengthen its competitive position. He will discuss how HKEX is preparing for the future – and the opportunity he sees for capital markets. How will Hong Kong uphold its value proposition as a global financial center in a more divided world? How will HKEX boost liquidity, increase its range of traded products and revive new listings from Chinese and international firms? Mr Aguzin will share his vision for Hong Kong as a financial center, explaining how the city can benefit from China’s re-opening and bolster its position for the future. 

Speaker(s):

• Nicolas Aguzin, CEO, HKEX
• Host: Neil Hosie, Head of Global Equities, Credit Suisse
  
  

How to position for Asia’s brighter future?

We believe Asia’s decade of underperformance is at an end. Which markets, sectors and themes are positioned for the better times? Is China’s recent recovery a short-term phenomenon, or the start of a sustainable long-term trend? Will Asian Growth stocks resume their outperformance? Are South and Southeast Asian markets in the early stages of a Golden Era? 

Speaker(s):

• Dan Fineman, Co-Head of Asia Pacific Strategy, Credit Suisse
   

What does Asia's reopening mean for cross-border businesses?

Years of pandemic controls have reshaped the way companies operate across Asia, and how they interact with consumers in particular. With the recent China reopening, which sectors and nations are set to benefit?

How quickly will Asia’s consumer market rebound to pre-pandemic levels? Has consumer behavior permanently shifted? How are companies positioning themselves in this changing competitive landscape?  

Three business leaders from companies that straddle Asian markets will discuss the challenges they faced during the pandemic and what they expect as China moves on from the pandemic era. Learn from business operators on the front line about how consumer trends and industry dynamics are changing.  

** Session conducted in Mandarin with English simultaneous translation.

Speaker(s):

• Shang Chuang, CFO, Klook
• Eason Zhang, CFO, MINISO
• Dylan Zhou, Head of Strategic Investment and Financing, Xingyun
• Moderator: Allan Chu, Head of Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) Group, Asia Pacific, Investment Banking & Capital Markets, Credit Suisse
  
  

India — will global turbulence overcome domestic resilience? 

Recovery in the domestic economy has been stronger than expected, and its medium-term outlook remains robust. However, will the global slowdown have a meaningful impact? Does India’s dependence on foreign capital, given its persistent current account deficit, make it vulnerable to volatility in global financial markets? Will domestic institutional inflows into equities continue to offset changes in risk appetite among foreign investors? Join us for a session with our India Strategist Neelkanth Mishra to understand how Credit Suisse sees the Indian market. 

Speaker(s):

• Neelkanth Mishra, Co-Head of Asia Pacific Strategy and Head of Securities Research, India, Credit Suisse
   

Networking Buffet at L5 Garden Café & Casual Lunch at L6 Credit Suisse Lounge

From the front line — what drives a war correspondent to risk everything in Ukraine? (Pre-recorded)

Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall suffered life-changing injuries when his vehicle was hit during a Russian attack in the early days of the Ukraine war. Two of his colleagues, photographer Pierre Zakrzewski and reporter Oleksandra ‘Sasha’ Kuvshynova, were killed. Hall lost half a leg, his foot on the other leg, his sight in one eye and the use of a hand. 

His account of the attack outside Kyiv in Saved: A War Reporter's Mission to Make It Home, hit the top spot on Amazon’s pre-order list in late January.  

How does someone come back from such an event? How does it frame how you approach life and work? Does the experience stop you from taking similar risks? In this session, Hall will share the insights he gained from the Ukraine conflict and address these fascinating questions. 

Speaker(s):

• Benjamin Hall, Journalist, State Department Correspondent, Fox News
• Moderator: Tom Scott, Head of Asia Pacific Equity Distribution into EMEA, Credit Suisse 
   

ChatGPT — Unlocking the Potential of Large Language Models

Speaker(s):

• Randy Abrams, Head of Semiconductor Securities Research, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse 
• Jerry Su, Technology Securities Research Analyst, Asia Pacific, Credit Suisse
• Kyna Wong, Head of Technology and Telecoms Securities Research, China, Credit Suisse
  
  

“Seeing the world in 3D” — how are LiDARs empowering the future of smart cars and robotics via high performance and affordable 3D sensing solutions? 

The automation of the manual world promises to transform economies and accelerate productivity. To reach that potential, autonomous cars or delivery robots need to ‘see’ where they’re going. What are the challenges around computer vision, and are laser sensors the answer?  

In this session, a robotics expert-turned-entrepreneur explains how light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology allows computers to create a 3D map of their surroundings and how this growing segment is facilitating innovation across the technology industry.  

Hear from the co-founder of recently listed Hesai explain why LiDARs are so critical and how their performance and affordability may be among the most important drivers of progress in autonomous driving, manufacturing and robotics.  

Speaker(s):

• David Li, CEO, Hesai
• Host: Alex Wong, Head of Mobility & Industrial Technologies, Asia Pacific, Investment Banking & Capital Markets, Credit Suisse
   

Renewables — the pain and the gain 

New green technologies are needed to solve the climate crisis, but which will scale quickly enough? What solutions do we have to tackle the “toughest third” of global emissions – those from industries that can’t simply be “plugged in” or electrified? Dr. Andrew Forrest AO, Chairman and Founder of Fortescue Metals Group and Fortescue Future Industries, will discuss green hydrogen and other green molecules that will be critical to enabling the world to step beyond fossil fuels. 

Speaker(s):

• Dr. Andrew Forrest AO, Chairman and Founder of Fortescue Metals Group, Fortescue Future Industries, Minderoo Foundation, and Tattarang
• Host: Shane Galligan, Senior Client Partner, Wealth Management, Australia, Credit Suisse
   

Lesson learned — how has China's education industry transformed?

The education industry is facing an evolving regulatory and competitive landscape in China. Despite the uncertainties, some industry players have been creative in strategically transforming their business models, achieving positive results, despite the challenges. What should education operators consider when adapting their business strategies? What challenges will they face in executing their transformation? 
  
In this session, the CEO and CFO of East Buy Holding Limited will share their views drawing from lessons learnt in East Buy Holding Limited’s successful transformation story over the past year, and their ambition for the years ahead. 

** Session conducted in Mandarin with English simultaneous translation.

Speaker(s):

• Jack Sun, CEO, East Buy Holding Limited
• Eric Yin, CFO, East Buy Holding Limited
• Moderator: Janice Hu, CEO China, Credit Suisse
   

Asia and the Middle East – how will the balance between economic and geopolitical interests evolve? 

Asia’s relationship with the Middle East is shaped by the interplay between economic and geopolitical interests. Asia depends on the Gulf states to meet its growing energy demands, which are creating closer economic and financial links between the two regions. Economies in Asia are also poised to benefit from the Middle East’s vast pools of capital, while the major oil producers’ ambitions to diversify beyond hydrocarbons create opportunities for Asian leaders in renewable energy and infrastructure development. Greater economic connectivity is also leading Asian powers into more active diplomacy in the Middle East, though, as China’s role in mediating dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran shows.

How will Asia and the Middle East negotiate the economic and geopolitical dimensions of closer ties? What role will Asia play in the Middle East – and vice-versa? How will these dynamics create opportunities – and risks – for companies and investors from both places, and beyond? And what could exchange between the regions that produce the most fossil fuels and emit the most greenhouse gases globally mean for the energy transition?

From commodities to smart cities, this panel will cover the critical questions for investors about an increasingly critical global relationship. Former Singaporean diplomat and Chairman of the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore, Bilahari Kausikan will provide an expert perspective on the geopolitical aspects of the relationship, in dialogue with respected trade analyst and author Ben Simpfendorfer.

Speaker(s):

• Bilahari Kausikan, Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore
• Ben Simpfendorfer, Partner and Asia Pacific Lead of Oliver Wyman Forum, Oliver Wyman
• Moderator: Ahmed Badr, Head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Equities, Credit Suisse
   

Where has all the risk gone?

Rapid interest rate hikes saw 2022 as one of the worst years on record for fixed-income strategies. Investors are once again piling into bonds, with the riskier areas of fixed income, including high-yield bond funds, recording strong inflows.

Yet the risks facing credit markets remain. Persistent inflation, worsening credit conditions, deglobalization pressures and the possibility of a recession still loom large. 

Have 10 years of ultra-low interest rates distorted expectations of risk and reward? Why are some parts of the market so keen – once again – to dismiss the possibility that anything could go wrong? How resilient will new forms of private credit be in a credit crisis? 

Hear from Credit Suisse Asset Management’s Head of Fixed Income about why 2023 and 2024 still require a mix of fortitude, discipline and dynamism to capture yield as central banks continue to battle the forces of inflation.  

Speaker(s):

• Andrew Jackson, Head of Fixed Income, Credit Suisse Asset Management
  
  

What is the direction of Japan's monetary policy in the face of a changing global economy? 

Policy tightening by central banks is leading to a slowdown in the global economy. What breakthrough measures are being considered for the Japanese economy? What is the impact of the current high inflationary environment and how is the Bank of Japan planning to respond?  

In this session, hear from former Chief Economist for Japan at Credit Suisse, Hiro Shirakawa as we explore these important questions, including the potential impact of the changing of the guard at the Bank of Japan from Governor Kuroda, to Kazuo Ueda, who Hiro worked with in his former role.

Speaker(s):

• Hiromichi Shirakawa, former Chief Japan Economist, Credit Suisse; former Economist, Bank of Japan
• Host: Annie Zachara, Head of Asia Pacific Equity Sales, US, Credit Suisse