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WIC Recommendations
Opportunities in Adversity
As the financial market and consumer confidence crisis amplifies, 2009 opens on a deep economic crisis, affecting Europe across all sectors, with an obvious impact on industrial investment. UNCTAD – the United Nations bureau monitoring trade and development globally - estimates that FDI will have dropped by a record 20% in 2008.
Where is the future? As Tony Blair said in Davos, ‘if you ask experts what we should do, the most honest answer is: I don’t know’. The prospect of a new global governance, attempts at re-regulating financial markets and the implementation of emergency recovery plans everywhere raise enormous challenges. Yet, 2009 could be the year in which financially sound organizations and countries create the path to boost their future fortunes. As boardrooms and ministries grapple with the dilemma of whether and when to invest in acquiring assets or entering new markets, interviews with Ernst & Young’s corporate clients confirm that the growth agenda is still alive, even in the current turbulent conditions. During the recession of the early 1990s, the majority of companies and governments responded to the situation with extreme caution. However experience proved that those which emerged the strongest had clearly identified opportunities to sustain their own development and to take and implement strategic decisions that distinguished them from their competitors.
Growth in the City: opportunities in adversity
Urban and regional development is one of the obvious responses. In the world’s fastest growing cities and urban regions, 80% of the world’s population live, work, study, innovate. The world’s cities currently produce 75% of the global added-value. City development offers a wide range of growth applications. Challenges and needs are huge, from fundamentals to cutting edge sectors: Infrastructures, transport, housing, education, telecommunications, security, leisure, culture, sustainability, business services, services to individuals, etc…
WIC recommendations
From the 8 working sessions, moderators have drawn the top 5 conclusions and recommendations to create and encourage new sources of growth. Moderator: Patricia Szarvas, CNBC Anchor
1 - Technology in the city
How technology is transforming business and daily life in cities
Reporter: Clara Gaymard, GE International Government Initiatives leader and President GE France
2 - Urban planning and social innovation
Building harmonious and long term urban development
Reporter: Victoria Appelbe, Director Economic development, city of Bonn
3 - Learning in the City
Link between higher education, talent and economic development and city attractiveness
Reporter: Ian Neilson, Cape Town Minister for Finance, Economic, Social development and Tourism
4 - Ground and underground networks
Intra Cities connections and networks to improve urban life
Reporter: Antonio Oporto, Spain Ceo and Iberico-American region VP, Alstom Transports
5 - Global Cities: the only success model?
Can “second” or mid size cities be tomorrow’s leaders?
Reporter: Philippe Carli, CEO of Siemens France and of Energy SWE cluster
6 - The sustainable city
The intelligence of city development
Reporter: Erik Freudenthal, Stockholm Glashusett manager
7 - Branding the city
Marketing and communication of territories and cities
Reporter: Nathalie Rastoin, Ogilvy France managing director
8 - Arts, Innovation and Culture in the City
Museums, Culture and Creativity as key attractiveness catalysts
Reporter: Henri Loyrette, Président- Directeur, Louvre Museum
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