Join us for the ninety-first session of LUMS Live: Sustaining Global Value Chains.
December 9, 2021
Time:
2.00 pm
Facebook Live
The Asian Infrastructure Finance 2021 report examines how Asian economies, to different extents and in different ways, have integrated global value chains (GVCs) into their growth models. It emphasises how critical infrastructure quality and capacity are to the agility and resilience of GVCs, as examined against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased trade tensions, rapid technological development, environmental pressures, and other factors. Using case studies and research, the AIF 2021 report illustrates how GVCs have provided opportunities for countries and companies to become internationally competitive, in part through technological advancements and efficiency improvements.
In addition to formally launching the AIF 2021 report in Pakistan, this session aims to engage different stakeholders to explore ways to use GVC integration for economic development in Pakistan. The unique panel comprises policymakers, industry experts and researchers to leverage their collective wisdom and experience in the areas critical for GVC integration, upgradation and leveraging GVC participation to attain Social Development Goals.
Hosted in collaboration with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the session will be moderated by Dr. Bilal M. Khan.
Date: December 9, 2021
Time: 2:00 pm
Venue: Facebook Live
Join us for this interesting conversation!
About the Panelists
Dr. Erfa Iqbal
Dr. Iqbal, a Harvard Graduate and an Eisenhower fellow, is a civil servant by profession for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Punjab Board of Investment & Trade, she served as Commercial Counsellor at Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at Embassy of Pakistan, Germany, and Commissioner Inland Revenue Service. The major focus of her work was to promote bilateral economic ties engaging both trade and investment. She played an instrumental role in China Pakistan Economic Corridor in its developing years. She has also served with the Women Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School, as a vice-president of Social Enterprise in Action (SEA), a keynote speaker in a series of seminars in USA and China, and authored a case study on political empowerment of women in Pakistan. Dr. Iqbal received a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University and a Master’s in Public Health from Leeds University, UK.
Dr. Erik Berglof
Dr. Berglof sets the vision and strategy for the Economics Department and leads the planning, implementation and supervision of its work plan in support of the Bank’s mandate. He is the Bank’s inaugural Chief Economist. Prior to joining AIIB in September 2020, he was Director of the Institute of Global Affairs, London School of Economics, and Chief Economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 2006 to 2015, where he was part of creating and co-led the Vienna Initiative, a European crisis response team credited with mitigating the impact of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. He is an expert in transition economics and institutional transformation through private sector development. He holds a PhD in Financial Economics and an MA in Business and Economics, both from the Stockholm School of Economics.
Mr. Shahzad Saleem
Mr. Saleem is a seasoned entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in the textile and power industry. He is currently Chairman of Nishat Chunian Group (NCG), which comprises of Nishat Chunian Limited (NCL), the fourth largest textile company in Pakistan and Nishat Chunian Power Limited (NCPL). He is also a philanthropist who is chairing Saleem Memorial Trust Hospital (SMTH), the largest, upcoming, not-for-profit, general hospital in Lahore. He has also served as Director on the board of MCB Bank Ltd and was previously on the board of trustees for LUMS, his alma mater.
Dr. Gonzalo Varela
Dr. Varela is a Senior Economist in the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice of the World Bank. He is currently based in Islamabad, where he leads the trade program. Previously, he worked in the World Bank’s Global Trade Unit in Washington, in the Ministry of Industries of Uruguay, and in the private sector. He also taught at the University of Sussex, the University of Pisa, and the University of Trento. His work focuses on how trade and investment policy affect firms’ performance, and has been published in peer-reviewed journals, books and reports. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Sussex.
Dr. Bilal M. Khan
Dr. Khan is an Economist at Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. His research is focused on trade-related and labor market issues in the developing economies. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and policy reports. Before joining AIIB, Dr. Khan was working as an Assistant Professor at University of International Business and Economics, Beijing. He holds a BSc in Economics from LUMS and a Ph.D. in Economics from University of Southern California.
