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

PHILADELPHIA -- The Wharton Global Business Forum -- three concurrent regional conferences to be held Nov. 10-11 -- will feature business, academic and political leaders from Africa, Asia and India. Organized by students at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the conferences will address issues such as growing Africa's appetite for consumer goods, consumer marketing in Asia, and opportunities and challenges for businesses in India. The conferences will occur at various locations in Philadelphia.

Concurrent Conferences:

Africa: Building New Partnerships, Impacting the Global Economy, Nov. 11

The conference, which expects more than 300 participants, will feature keynote speakers Cheick Modibo Diarra, chairman for Africa of Microsoft; Alan Patricof, co-founder of Apax Partners, L.P; and Mamphela Ramphele, chair of Circle Capital Ventures. Discussion topics will include Afro-Sino relationships; growing Africa's appetite for consumer goods; a case study of an African M&A transaction; real estate issues; technology and digital growth; and making Africa an attractive BPO destination.

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

Asia: Defining Asia in Tradition, Nov. 10

The renaissance of Asia is at the center of the world's attention. Fueled by its robust growth, Asia has embarked on a multi-faceted evolution, transforming into a global powerhouse as witnessed through its rising middle class and its rapid shift from manufacturing to services. This conference will examine the progress to date of Asia's transition and its impact across industries throughout the world, as well as to explore the underlying opportunities and challenges of the future. Keynote speakers include Dow Kim, president, global markets & investment banking of Merrill Lynch; Chang Sun, managing director of Warburg Pincus Asia; Jay Chang, head of Asia Pacific for Johnson & Johnson; and Roy Ryu, CEO of the Poongsan Group. Topics to be addressed include capital markets, hedge funds, private equity, consumer marketing in Asia, entrepreneurship and high-growth industries.

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

Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF): Realizing the Indian Dream, Nov. 11

For the past decade, India has been at the forefront of the global business and political landscape. So what is it that drives India? Is it the prowess in information technology, foreign investments and favorable economic policies, or its billion people who help create and consume global products? It is perhaps all of these, and a bit more - it is the "Indian Dream." This conference will serve as the platform for thought-leaders, entrepreneurs, and policy makers to define their perception of this dream as well as to brainstorm the action steps required by individuals, corporations, and the government to bring this dream to fruition. Speakers include Rahul Bajaj, chairman of Bajaj Auto; Gunit Chadha, CEO & MD of Deutsche Bank AG, India; Capt. G.R. Gopinath, founder & MD of Air Deccan; Rajat Gupta, former worldwide managing director of McKinsey & Co.; and Rajat Jain, managing director of Walt Disney International (India). Panel topics include: Gateway to India - Opportunities and Challenges; Government - Driving India Forward; Media and Entertainment - It's Showtime; and Indian Financial Services - Fortune in the Middle of the Pyramid.

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

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