Top finance minds heading toward Top End for talks

Business Asia, Sept 30, 1999

Some of the region's top financial names will be in Darwin this month as part of the Northern Territory-BIMP-EAGA Finance and Investment Conference.

Speakers confirmed for the conference include East ASEAN Business Council director Paul Dominguez, Asian Development Bank senior economist Ernesto Pernia, Cable and Wireless Optus chief executive Christopher Anderson, and IBM Australia and New Zealand vice-president John Bligh.

Others include Malaysian National Economic Action Council head secretariat Sulalman Mahbob, Philippines Finance Department under secretary Solomon Cua -- and Access Economics director Chris Anderson.

The speakers will attend several sessions over two days on topics including regional updates, trade financing and financial advisory services, the role of e-commerce in delivering financial services and the need for a regional focus in sustaining growth.

The high-ranking attendants, coupled with the expected participation of capital financiers from America and Japan, will boost the total number of delegates from Asia to the conference, said Brian Ely, secretary for the Northern Territory Department of Asian Relations and Trade (DART).

"The potential participation of American and Japanese financial institutions has sparked substantial interest from the business community in Asia and Australia," he said.

Ely said the conference represented a unique opportunity for businesses wanting to attract capital from alternative sources.

"I am confident the conference holds the potential to further accelerate economic growth for the Northern Territory as well as the BIMP-EAGA region," he said.