Wharton School Global Business Forum to Host Concurrent Conferences on Africa, Asia, Europe, India and Latin America.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Wharton Global Business Forum - five concurrent regional conferences to be held Nov. 18-19 -- will feature business, academic and political leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, India, and Latin America. Organized by students at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the conferences will address strategies for capitalizing on African business opportunities, the overlooked role of the tourism and sports industries in Latin America, and the argument for the reestablishment of a close relationship between China and India. The conferences will occur at various locations in Philadelphia.

Concurrent Conferences:

Africa: "Unveiling the Value, Demystifying the Risk" Nov. 18-19

The conference will open with a free screening of the award-winning documentary "Africa: Open for Business." Produced and directed by Carol Pineau, this widely-acclaimed documentary was screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 2005. Building on the conference theme, this year's event will explore how institutions and individuals are successfully navigating Africa's business terrain and employing strategies to uncover and capitalize on the vast opportunities that Africa presents. Discussion topics will include raising capital in Africa, constructing a viable foundation for African real estate businesses, a Wharton case study of private equity in Africa, treading Botswana's path of economic growth path, keeping the lights on in Africa, investing in life through healthcare and converting brain drain into brain gain. Speakers include Irene Charnley, executive director of MTN, Nkosana Moyo, managing partner at Actis Private Equity Fund, and Dr. Kwesi Nduom, Ghana's minister for public sector reform.

http://www.whartonglobal.com/africa/index.asp

Asia: "Fueling Sustainable Growth" Nov.19

This year's conference will highlight Asia's rapid economic ascendancy as a leader in an increasingly interdependent world and explore the opportunities for its future economic growth. Prominent speakers include Young-jin Choi, permanent representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, Nobuharu Ono, president and CEO of NTT DoCoMo USA, Ho Kwan Ping, chairman and CEO of Banyan Tree Hotel and Resorts, Kenneth Koo, chief of staff of Citigroup Asia, and Mike Denoma, head of global consumer banking for Standard Chartered Bank.

http://www.whartonglobal.com/asia/index.asp

Europe: "2005: Charting a Course for Europe" Nov.18

In the past year, Europe has been poised at a crossroads with its political, structural and macroeconomic prospects unclear. Participants at this event will articulate a vision for growth and continuous prosperity on the continent within a global context. The forum will analyze the special demands on leadership in Europe, and examine the role of private management expertise in catalyzing change. Prominent speakers include Hans-Paul Burkner, CEO of the Boston Consulting Group, Lucas Papademos, vice president of the ECB, and Esteve Calzada, chief marketing officer at FC Barcelona. Panels, workshops and networking opportunities will allow participants to obtain in-depth insights into successful business practices in the European Union.

http://www.whartonglobal.com/europe/index.asp

Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF): "India's Mantra for Success" Nov. 18

India has emerged as a key player in global commerce. However, enormous social, political, and economic challenges lie ahead. WIEF 2005 will initiate dialogue around the mechanisms that India can utilize to achieve its potential both in terms of economic and social development. The conference will feature top leaders from India and the U.S. who have been major influences in shaping the India story. Keynote speakers include Deepak Parekh, chairman of HDFC, India's largest housing development company, Charles Kaye, co-president of the largest foreign private equity investor in India for Warburg Pincus, Ahmass Fakahany, vice-chairman and CAO of Merrill Lynch, and Jairam Ramesh, leading politician and author of Making Sense of Chindia. Panel discussions include: "Government Policy - A Catalyst or Barrier?" "Investing in India," "Fostering Entrepreneurship," "Made in India," and "Shaping India's Grassroots."

http://www.whartonglobal.com/india/index.asp

Latin America: "Capturing Untapped Potential" Nov. 18

This event will explore overlooked opportunities in Latin American industries such as tourism and sports. In addition, the increasing strength of Latin American multinationals, the pressure to expand beyond the region and the importance of political trends in an election year for several countries will be discussed. Speakers include Renato Bertani, president of Petrobras America, Ricardo Weiss, CEO of Camargo Correa, Juan Colas de Casso, global head of fixed income sales at Banco Santander, Ambassador Tomas Duenas, Costa Rican ambassador to the U.S. and former finance and trade minister of Costa Rica, and Kia Joorabchian, president MSI and principal investor Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.

http://www.whartonglobal.com/lamerica/index.asp