Globalization: Embracing Opportunity, Creating Synergy held at Asia Plateau, Panchgani from January 9 to 12, 2003.

Globalization: Embracing Opportunity, Creating Synergy

170 delegates from 16 countries attended the international conference on Globalization: Embracing Opportunity, Creating Synergy at Asia Plateau from January 9 to 12, 2003. The conference was organized by the newly–constituted Asia Pacific and Africa Regional Group (APARG) of the Caux Initiatives of Business (CIB).

The sessions focussed on Geo-politics of Globalization, National Policies and Structural Changes, Globalization and Business, Globalization and Rural Economy, Governance and Environment, Culture and Values.

The conference was unique not only because of the high level participation from leaders of business, government and politics but also because of the fresh perspectives and opportunity to rethink it provided on the nature of challenges posed by Globalization as seen from the Third World perspective. For instance, Olivier Giscard D’Estaing, Chairman of INSEAD Foundation, France, who inaugurated the conference with a rather enthusiastic view of the new World culture that the Globalization was bringing in shifted his position enough towards the end to remark, that from now on he was going to suggest that not only each continent, but each country needed to evolve its own model for dealing with Globalization.

While outlining the purpose of the conference Sarosh Ghandy, corporate leader and head of CIB - APARG, said, “This platform has no open or hidden interests, agendas, lobbies and demands, except a desire to foster an understanding that will enable India and other developing countries to deal with Globalization maximizing the opportunities it offered and minimizing the threats it posed.”

In his valedictory address Dr. Cornelio Sommaruga, President, Initiatives of Change International, said: “Our World is in the crisis of values. We can overcome it by bringing back ethics to society. It could be called Globalization of Integrity. It goes with the Globalization of Responsibility. Our efforts of these days must be sustained in the region as well as universally. Caux Initiatives of Change and its summer conferences are the right places for the global follow-up. This Panchgani exercise will be adding a lot to the CCBI 2003. Creating trust and building bridges.”

Hein Boggard of Netherlands briefed the gathering on deliberations of the Junior Round Table, an ongoing group of young managers, which had its own sessions during these days.

Prithviraj Chavan, the member of Indian Parliament supported the Indian strategy of gradual Globalization in view of the huge number of vulnerable Indians who could not be thrown open to the vagaries and caprices of unfettered market forces without adequate safety nets.

In his forceful presentation Lord Bill Jordan, former General Secretary of International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and member of the House of Lords, UK, underlining the enormous power wielded by multinational corporations accounting for 70% of World trade without accountability to national sovereignties, sensibilities and interests, called upon political leaders of the World to use their power to shape Globalization’s future. Picking up a line from a song sung at the conference he said, “It is better to light one candle of leadership than to curse the darkness of Globalization.”

The follow-up plans which were also discussed include forming of five regional groups holding the series of round-table discussions on the issues raised with objective of creating trust and building bridges between all sectors, all sections.

A special issue of Disha on Globalization was released at the conference. Those interested in receiving a copy and also a detailed report of the conference may kindly contact asiaplateau@vsnl.com.

submitted by Bhanu Kale