Hanoi, Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong are the four city stops on a pair of GIC programs coming up in the next few months.  Longtime readers know that Cumberland Advisors is a proud sponsor of the Global Interdependence Center and its initiatives to enhance global dialogue about important issues.   We will have the privilege of chairing both these delegations.  My co-chair in China will be Gene Huang, chief economist for FedEx.

These programs are excellent learning opportunities for investors in Asian emerging markets, bankers, analysts, researchers and academics, journalists and anyone interested in that part of the world and in the financial markets and economics.   They will feature public programs, private meetings with officials and private roundtable discussions under the Chatham House Rule of confidentiality.  Delegations for each program are forming now.

The previous global GIC theme is food and water and global stability.  The Singapore meeting is dedicated to that topic as well as some focus on capital markets. The new theme for 2009-2010 is interdependence in the financial and capital markets of the world after the crisis.  The Vietnam program is the launch of the new series.  So the Hanoi-Singapore series combines the two issue themes for the delegation.  A few participants are attending Singapore only; some may attend Vietnam only.  GIC is neutral convener of dialogue on both issue themes in all cities. 

The Vietnam-Singapore delegation’s program spans November 13-16 in Vietnam and November 19-20 in Singapore.   November 17-18 are free days to travel or tour. 

The China program is January 10-11-12 in Shanghai and January 14-15 in Hong Kong.  November 13 is a travel day.  Touring opportunities surrounding each program are available.

GIC partners in the global consortium assembling for this initiative include central banks like the Banque de France and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank and universities like Drexel University and Fudan University.     Supporting and Commercial sponsors include Wachovia/Well Fargo, Morgan LeFay Dreams Foundation, CFA Institute, CFA Society of Philadelphia, Barclays Capital, Cumberland Advisors, RAIT Financial Trust, Sino Consulting, Wealth Planning Network, Miami International Holdings and Xenios Research.

Committed speaker delegates are:  

·       Charles Plosser, President,  Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

·       Jim Bullard, President, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis  

·       William Stone,  First Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia 

·       Terry Cooke, Founder & CEO, GC3 Strategy

·       Colin Chapman, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Strategic Forecasting Inc.

·       Seetharam Kallidaikurichi E., Visiting Professor and Director, Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore 

·       John Silvia, Chief Economist, Wachovia/Wells Fargo 

·       Joe Mason, Louisiana State University 

·       Gene Huang, Chief Economist of FedEx

·       Dave Hale, Founder, Hale Advisors, LLC

·       David Kotok, CIO of Cumberland Advisors 

For information on either or both programs go to the GIC website, www.interdependence.org .   Or call GIC at 215-898-9453.    The China program is in formation and may not be up on the website at the time you connect.  Delegation spaces are limited and visas are required for Vietnam and China so early action for anyone interested in attending is a good planning idea.

Separately, there is a very good conference on trade and protectionism sponsored by the GIC at the Philly Fed on September 18.  Details may also be found at www.interdependence.org. .