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Feb 21, 2024
Day 1 - February 21, 2024
BROADCAST TIME (in IST)
SESSION DETAILS
calendar

09:30 - 12:00

Mumtaz

India-Armenia Dialogue

India and Armenia share building a partnership at a time when the global political and economic order is undergoing a reinvention. India-Armenia ties stand at the precipice of a reinvention of global geoeconomics. The Yerevan-New Delhi bilateral is expanding into a definitive strategic relationship, with significant cooperation from the defence sector to critical technologies, minerals to pharmaceuticals. Even so, the Caucasus and the Indian subcontinent have much to catch up on. This dialogue aims to bring the best minds from both sides to the Raisina platform and develop both ambitious blueprints and practical steps.

Welcome Address:

Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation, India

Keynote:

Narek Mkrtchyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Republic of Armenia

Panel 1:

India-Armenia Geostrategic Cooperation: From Security to Defence

Panel 2:

Platforming a New Geoeconomics: Technology, Energy, Connectivity 

calendar

12:30 - 14:00

Mumtaz

UNSC First: Reforming Multilateralism

As the world faces new wars, resurgent conflicts, and human crises, the United Nations Security Council’s ability to function effectively and fairly is being questioned ever more widely. Its permanent membership does not reflect the reality of representation and influence in the 21st century, and its resolutions’ efficacy is dwindling. The wars in Gaza and Ukraine are a strong indictment of the Security Council’s role; and thus, calls for its equitable and just reform must be answered.

Can the permanent members’ veto to serve narrow national interests in the UNSC be defended in the face of deepening and interlocking crises, and how can permanent membership be reformed? How can the UNSC meaningfully accommodate more diverse perspectives and voices? Can a reform of the UNSC be meaningful without reforming the outdated Permanent member composition which reflects the geopolitical reality of 1945? What are the ways in which the UNSC can recover its lost credibility and authority? Is the Summit of the Future a critical opportunity to save the UN and what tangible measures must be announced in a time bound manner?

Speakers:

Alexander Marschik, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Austria 
 
Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Saint Vincent and Grenadines 
 
Tareq M. A. M. Albanai, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, State of Kuwait 
 
Eenam Gambhir, Joint Secretary (UNP), Ministry of External Affairs, India
 
Moderator:

Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, Observer Research Foundation America, United States 

calendar

18:00 - 19:00

Durbar

Inaugural Session

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19:00 - 19:45

Transition

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19:45 - 21:45

Inaugural Dinners (By Invite Only)

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19:45 - 21:45

Shahjehan

Looking Back, Looking Ahead: The Long Decade

Welcome Remarks: Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Foreign Secretary, India

Featured Address: James Beacham, Particle Physicist at the Large Hadron Collider, CERN, Switzerland

Panel Discussion: Looking Back, Looking Ahead: The Long Decade

Humanity in 2024 faces three intensifying crises. First, the foundation of the post-war order has collapsed; a loss of credibility for multilateral institutions renders global action difficult, if not impossible. Peace is its most visible victim. Second, after decades of good economics being good geopolitics, economic efficiency and geopolitical demands are no longer aligned. Globalisation is no longer fashionable. Third, technologies and digital platforms have reshaped societal and national arrangements, with domestic and international compacts unable to keep pace. This panel will look back to look forward, looking for lessons from the past that can inform our solutions for the future.

How can we revive, restore and reform multilateralism and create the energy needed for effective global action? On what occasions in the past—from the financial crisis to the pandemic—has global action worked, and what can we learn from those? Can globalisation be saved? What are the lessons from the past three decades of growth that should inform the new age of economic nationalism? How can the choices we make in 2024, in voting booths, boardrooms, and negotiating chambers, pave the way for global collaboration and conciliation? 

Speakers:

Janaina Isabel Tewaney Mencomo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Panama  

Maneesh Gobin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mauritius

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana

Peter Mandelson, Chairman, Global Counsel and Former European Trade Commissioner, United Kingdom

Matt Keogh, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Australia

Master of Ceremonies: 

Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

19:45 - 21:45

Mumtaz

New Fuels, New Aspirations and a New Security: How Energy Access Shapes the World

The economics, politics and even internal cohesion of countries across the world—particularly in the Global South—depends on expanding their populations’ access to reliable energy. The green transition has complicated this effort, but also opened new avenues for economic progress and job creation that would accompany an updated global energy order.

How has energy security become central to geoeconomic debates? How can opportunities with renewable energy solutions, electric vehicles, batteries and critical transition minerals advance development goals? What role does transition finance play? What global coalitions can be formed to enable countries to converge energy transition aspirations?

Speakers:
  
Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, India

Herbert Krapa, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy, Ghana  

Mounia Boucetta, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South, Morocco 

Manal Shehabi, Founding Director, SHEER Research & Advisory Ltd; Associate Faculty Member, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Timur Gül, Chief Energy Technology Officer, International Energy Agency, France

Moderator:

Kanika Chawla, Chief of Staff, Sustainable Energy for All, United States 

calendar

19:45 - 21:45

Jehangir

Navigating Health Futures: Equity and Inclusion in a Dynamic World

Developments in digital medicine, vaccines tech, and targeted therapies demand a granular understanding of the context in which health solutions are offered. The pandemic has demonstrated lacunae in coverage, and inefficiencies or inaccuracies in the delivery of health services. Collaboration is required between the government, public health institutions, tech disruptors and bioscience innovators.

How can we ensure healthcare advancements are inclusive, catering to the diverse needs of all segments of society?

How can health systems ensure they are grounded in local cultures and the responsible use of technology, in their quest for inclusivity?

What potential do cross-sectoral collaborations hold in amplifying the impact of health equity and inclusion initiatives?

Speakers:

Nitya Khemka, Director, PATH, United Kingdom

Sue Hoosain, Network General Manager, Unjani Clinics NPC, South Africa
  
Sujay Santra, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ikure Techsoft Pvt. Ltd., India
  
Vaibhavi Choksi, General Manager - India & South Asia Region, Gilead Sciences, India
  
Yongyuth Yuthavong, Senior Specialist, Biotechnology, BIOTEC National S&T Development Agency, Thailand Science Park, Thailand
  
Moderator:

Sonam Yangchen, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Health Partners, Bhutan

calendar

19:45 - 21:45

Roshanara

South Rising: Institutionalising a South First Approach at G20

Four successive G20 presidencies in the developing world represent a unique opportunity to highlight the needs, aspirations and ambitions of the Global South. That will require, however, building inclusive systems that represent the voice of all developing countries at the high table of global governanceand ensuring that the ideas created in each of these presidencies sustain and even gain momentum.

How can Brazil and South Africa raise issues that are important to the Global South and build on the efforts and success of the Indonesian and Indian G20 presidencies? How does the addition of the African Union change the G20 charter in terms of inclusivity and accessibility? Can attributes such as “green”, “digital first” and “women-led” add to the G20’s positioning and accommodation of new constituencies, mediums and approaches? How can the Global South work with MDBs, intergovernmental organisations and private funds to forge practicable partnerships and to create additional sources of finance?  

Scene Setter:

Candith Mashego-Dlamini, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa 

Speakers: 

Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi, Secretary (CPV and OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, India

Saïd Abass Ahamed, Ambassador and Special Envoy of the President of the African Union

Anna-Katharina Hornidge, Director, German Institute of Development and Sustainability, Germany 

Dino Patti Djalal, Founder and Chairman, Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, Indonesia 

Fabio Soares, Director, Institute for Applied Economic Research, Brazil 

Moderator:

Sarah Anyang Agbor, Director African Union Affairs, African Renaissance Trust, Cameroon 

 

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21:45 - 22:20

Break
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22:20 - 23:10

Mumtaz

Conversations Over Kahwa - The State, the Non-state and the Quasi-State: Responding to 3D Terror

The threat landscape has evolved drastically, opening new frontiers when it comes to terrorism. The proliferation of terrorism through state-sponsored actors such as those promoted by Pakistan, lone wolves radicalised on social media, and entities like Hamas perfecting the art of hybrid warfare have demonstrated the potential to orchestrate highly destructive operations with minimal resources. Malevolent actors are already exploiting disruptive technologies such as 3D printing and autonomous weapons while also weaponizing unregulated spaces such as AI and crypto. Nations grapple with security and humanitarian concerns while seeking to maintain stability in conflict’s rapidly changing landscape.

How can nations cooperate to dismantle rogue entities operating under state protection or using friendly states to promote terror?

FATF and similar financial measures have had limited success. Are there other economic and political tools available to dissuade states from nurturing and deploying non-state militant actors? Is it time to consider a fresh, all-encompassing multilateral arrangement to eliminate terror sanctuaries and groups operating in different geographies? Is this even feasible?

With international cooperation both fragmented and elusive, what are the best practices and strategies for sustainable deterrence against state-sponsored and state-nurtured terrorism?

Speakers:
    
Stephen Harper, Former Prime Minister, Canada 
 
Erin Saltman, Director of Programming, Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, United Kingdom  
  
James Carafano, Vice President, Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy - The Heritage Foundation, United States 

Marcin Bużański, Senior Advisor, Warsaw Security Forum, Poland 

Shlomit Wagman, Harvard University; Rapyd; Former Chair, Money Laundering and Terror Financing Authority, Israel
   
Moderator:

Marie Schröter, Country Director, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Philippines, Germany

calendar

22:20 - 23:10

Roshanara

Conversations Over Kahwa - Woke Politics? Mobilisations vs Money

The word ‘woke’, once a neutral descriptor that conveyed a wider awareness of racial and social issues, is now a signifier for a deep and politicised cleavage between left and right. Culture wars have taken over the discourse of both boardrooms and academic institutions; a stark divide between ‘woke’ and ‘anti-woke’ positions have sharpened through social media mobilisation. Bankers, politicians and celebrities have been forced to take sides. Universities are both incubators of and battlefields for extreme positions on either side, whether through student and faculty protests or decisions by boards and funders.

Is conflict brewing between those in positions of leadership in institutions and others in non-leadership positions? Can institutions of higher learning balance academic freedom with unbridled social justice activism? How can institutions and capital allocators navigate the culture wars? Or has the ‘S’ in ESG become synonymous with wokeness? 

Speakers:

Ana Miguel dos Santos, Former Deputy of the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic, Portugal 

Robin Niblett, Distinguished Fellow, Chatham House, United Kingdom 

Gladden Pappin, President, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, Hungary 

Ravi Agrawal, Editor-in-Chief, Foreign Policy, United States 

Wiebke Winter, Member of the National Board, Christian Democratic Union, Germany 

Moderator:

Shamika Ravi, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, India

Feb 22, 2024
Day 2 - February 22, 2024
BROADCAST TIME (in IST)
SESSION DETAILS
calendar

07:30 - 08:45

Shahjehan

Conversations over Breakfast - Deterrence and Decoupling: Decoding the West’s China Stance

From the vantage point of the Indo-Pacific, the West’s narratives on dealing with China’s rise appear increasingly confused. Western business continues to depend upon Chinese productivity and industrial heft, and “decoupling” has become “derisking”. The Chinese government appears confident of rising above any tech-based embargoes and has not shown any sign of decreasing pressure on Taiwan.

What are the strategies that the countries of Europe and the United States intend to use to retain a technological edge and economic lead over China? What is the depth of commitment that the countries of the Indo-Pacific could expect if a crisis blows up—say around Taiwan—in 2024, given that politics in some countries has turned inward, and there are already two conflagrations in progress? As the Chinese economy stalls, is Western business more ready to decouple from China in 2024 than it was earlier?

Speakers:

Carl Bildt, Former Prime Minister, Sweden

Allison Hooker, Senior Vice President, American Global Strategies, United States  

Abigaël Vasselier, Head of Foreign Relations, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Germany

Matt Turpin, Senior Advisor, Palantir Technologies, United States

Theodore Bunzel, Head of Geopolitical Advisory, Lazard, United States

Moderator:

Róbert Vass, Founder and President, GLOBSEC, Slovakia

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07:30 - 08:45

Mumtaz

Conversations over Breakfast - New Value Chains: Electronics, Ecosystems, and Prosperity

The most valuable products in today’s world have that value added to them in multiple, disparate locations. Ensuring they are produced efficiently needs effective supply chains, predictable trade policy, and cutting-edge infrastructure. Most importantly, the producers of this value are attracted to regions with supportive ecosystems of workers, investors, innovators and infrastructure. The green, digitalised economy of the future will feature competition over who can best create these ecosystems. 


Can the Global South challenge traditional centres of value accretion when it comes to emerging sectors from electronics to new energy? What role does geopolitics play in this? Can we create partnerships of trust that enable trade and finance to flow?  What constraints come in the way of shifting supply chains and creating new ones? Will availability and processing of rare earths and similar minerals prove to be a bottleneck? What policies to address these constraints are co-operative and not competitive? What reforms are needed to attract new value chains, and how can politicians sell these to their people?

What are the broader benefits for communities and nations of ecosystem development?

Speakers:

Jorge Quiroga, Former President, Bolivia
  
Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia 
     
Janka Oertel, Director, Asia Programme - European Council on Foreign Relations, Germany 

Jaivir Singh, Vice Chairman, PwC India Foundation, India 

Rachel Rizzo, Senior Fellow, Europe Center, Atlantic Council, United States
  
Moderator: 

Sharon Stirling, Chief Operating Officer, Observer Research Foundation America, United States

calendar

07:30 - 08:45

Jehangir

Conversations over Breakfast - Digital Utopia: Seeking Light at the End of the Tunnel

Policy-makers globally recognise that technological innovation and adoption is essential for prosperity and inclusion. They seek investment in frontier technologies and clear the way for swift incorporation across the economy and even governance. Yet the creation of a digitalised economy brings with it concern of new forms of social harm, from fraud to cybercrime. Unless regulator capacity keeps up with growth of the digital economy, the boost from inclusive tech may not materialise.

What is the evolving regulatory consensus on how to trade off public good and public harm? Is this consensus uniform over geographies, or should it consider differing local preferences and constitutional norms? What are the nimble partnerships that can act as a bridge on shaping norms of conduct? How does digital cooperation insulate itself from polarisation in the real world? Are there lessons we can learn from each other on regulatory principles that boost growth and protect individual entrepreneurship and rights? Who gets the policy mix right, and how can accountability for digital harms be assigned? How can the citizen, as opposed to the state or the corporation, return to centre-stage in digital policymaking? Does digital governance return power to the individual or retain it with companies and bureaucrats?

Speakers:

Louise Marie Hurel, Research Fellow - Cyber Programme, Royal United Services Institute, United Kingdom 

Manuel Muñiz Villa, Provost, IE University, Spain

Memduh Karakullukçu, Founding Board member and Founding President, Global Relations Forum, Türkiye  

Pavlina Pavlova, Public Policy Advisor, CyberPeace Institute, Austria 

Petra Goude, Global Practice Leader, Core Enterprise and Cloud, Kyndryl, United States
  
Moderator: 

Justin Bassi, Executive Director, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Australia

calendar

07:30 - 08:45

Roshanara

Conversations over Breakfast - The BIMSTEC Parley: Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an exceptional cross-regional coalition that is abundant with possibilities—from a young population and aspirational workforce to vast natural resources. Its potential can be tapped by connecting the countries of the region better to each other and the world, as well as through directing finance to the green transition and the blue economy. This panel will examine how the BIMSTEC countries can intensify their internal and external partnerships. 

The BIMSTEC countries’ trade profiles are generally complementary; how can they leverage the partnership to enhance their competitiveness and boost trade with the rest of the world? Can they tap new sources of financing for urgent developmental needs—including energy access, adaptation to climate change, and infrastructure connectivity? Can BIMSTEC develop internal supply chains that will connect their less developed areas to global markets, and enable their transition to higher-value manufacturing and services? How can they build out sustainable digital connectivity, while also creating new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship in the age of AI and automation? Is their scope for a convergent approach to tech for development in BIMSTEC? How can BIMSTEC become a green growth hub and work with global initiatives and funds to power its energy transitions ?

Scene Setter:

Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General, BIMSTEC

Speakers:
 
Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Finance, Sri Lanka 
 
Swarnim Wagle, Member of Parliament, Nepal 
 
Moongyung Lee, Policy Analyst, OECD 
 
Sheikh Fazle Fahim, Chairman, D-8 Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Bangladesh  
 
Tshering Dorji, Director, SELISE Digital Platforms, Bhutan 
 
Moderator: 

Riya Sinha, Research Associate, Centre for Social and Economic Progress, India

calendar

09:00 - 09:50

Durbar

Northern Lights and Southern Sun: Sustainable De-risking and the New North-South Partnership

The realities of global supply chains, climate change, and the technological revolution carry profound implications for partnerships between Europe and the Global South. Dependence on China for rare-earth processing, digital components, and green industrial value chains is a growing political concern in both geographies. Against this backdrop, some countries have leveraged their geopolitical positions to foster wider and deeper ties across the energy, trade, and technology domains.    
  
What are the stakes for Europe—including the Nordic and Baltic countries—in the economic realignments underway? Do they have a different assessment to ones in Washington, D.C., New Delhi, and Tokyo?  Has the green transition motivated a rethinking of geoeconomic strategy? Can the Nordic/Baltic region and Europe more generally collaborate with India and Central Asia on critical minerals, supply chains, and emerging technologies? How can relevant investment into the Global South be scaled up? Will a business-first approach to political changes in East Asia ambush policy makers as they were by their energy dependence two years ago?

Speakers:
 
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania 
  
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denmark  

Martin Eyjólfsson, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland
   
Børge Brende, President, World Economic Forum

Ummu Salma Bava, Chairperson and Jean Monnet Chair, Professor for European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
  
Moderator:

Radhicka Kapoor, Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, India  

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09:50 - 10:40

Durbar

A Tapestry of Truths: Can the Two Hemispheres Agree?

The South has been castigated for a supposed failure to uphold universal values amid a European war. On the other hand, the South sees hypocrisy and neglect from the West during the pandemic, and in Afghanistan and the Middle East. In a real-time and unmediated world, both sides have enough ammunition to reduce the other to an unprincipled and untrustworthy partner. This polarised reality makes it difficult to respond to challenges that confront us all. The United Nations has been suborned by great powers and is seeking to find new ways to make itself relevant again. Smaller groups and regional clusters have stitched together a kaleidoscope of solutions that are sometimes sub-optimal and sometimes inefficient. 
  
Can trust in the international system be rebuilt, even in the absence of effective multilateral institutions? Are emerging powers that are more acceptable to a wider array of international actors obliged to stitch together coalitions that work, or is a patchwork of plurilateral agreements a fait accompli? How can the label “Global South” be made aspirational rather than reductive? Can the West and South collaborate? Will anyone take responsibility for such an undertaking? Or is such a contested ecosystem good for domestic politics and economic self-reliance for all sides? 

Speakers:
    
Hanke Bruins Slot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands   
    
January Yusuf Makamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Tanzania  
  
Jorge Quiroga, Former President, Bolivia

Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, United Arab Emirates

S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, India

Moderator:

Palki Sharma, Managing Editor, Network18, India 

 

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10:40 - 11:00

Break
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11:00 - 11:50

Durbar

Solving the Energy Trilemma: Access, Affordability, Availability

Managing the energy transition is a crucial political imperative. It matters to countries across the world that wish to maintain internal cohesion, create new paths to growth, and enhance economic security. Geopolitical contestation has made this task of management more difficult, but technological change and financial engineering might make it easier. 
  
What are the energy choices for the next six billion consumers that are sustainable, accessible, affordable, and available? What are the old and new fuels that are relevant to these geographies, and how do we focus on lowering emissions as we cater to aspirations? Where will the finance for the energy transition come from? How can we ensure that finance is affordable and of the scale demanded to expand access? How can governments, private capital, and large corporations collaborate to increase global energy security? Institutions and corporations have maintained order, directed investment, and managed shocks in the energy landscape of the last century. Will new avatars of these be needed?

Speakers:

Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, India 
  
Nalinee Taveesin, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Thailand 
  
Fahad Aldhubaib, Senior VP of Strategy & Market Analysis, ARAMCO, Saudi Arabia  
  
Nicholas Stern, IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government, London School of Economics, United Kingdom
  
Gwendoline Abunaw, Managing Director, Ecobank, Cameroon  
  
Moderator:

Yasmine Moezinia, Program Director, Climate Finance Sequoia Climate Foundation, United States 

calendar

11:50 - 12:20

Durbar

In Conversation

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, India

Virat Bhatia, Managing Director, Apple, India

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12:20 - 14:20

Shahjehan

Lunch Conversations - From the Indo-Pacific to the Med Atlantic: Geometries of Growth (By Invite Only)

The world has been reminded of the importance of sustainable and secure links between the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic-Mediterranean. The two zones might not have identical security concerns or economic constraints; but political actors that span the regions have taken major moves towards integration in the recent past. They share concerns about energy security, infrastructure investment and strategic autonomy at a time of increasing great power contestation. This panel will deliberate on how partnerships between the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic-Mediterranean can grow, and the problems they must address.

How can we create a partnership to secure vital trade between these zones? What promising avenues—such as IMEC—have recently emerged, and what progress has been made? From pipelines to ports, how can we scale up investment in infrastructure that connects these two maritime domains? Is there interest in the private sector for this, and what is the role of the public sector in de-risking new infra proposals? Can people-to-people contact between the regions be expanded? From education to tourism to short-term work permits, is there political appetite for, and economic benefits from, scaling up these interactions?

Keynote Address:

Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greece  

Keynote Address:

Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs, India

Speakers:

Arancha González, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Spain; Dean Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po, France 

Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, President, Emirates Policy Center, United Arab Emirates  

Federico Banos-Lindner, Group Senior Vice President, Government Relations & Public Affairs, DP World, United Arab Emirates 

Rosa Balfour, Director, Carnegie Europe, Belgium 

Stefano Sannino, Secretary-General, European External Action Service, European Union

Moderator:

Symeon Tsomokos, Founder and President, Delphi Economic Forum, Greece   

calendar

12:20 - 14:20

Mumtaz

Lunch Conversations - Whose AI is it Anyway? (By Invite Only)

If the Global South is not at the AI high table, it will be on the menu. Data-trained algorithms may define future prosperity, but the emerging world can legitimately worry that it will merely be the source of the data on which these are trained, and not the location for their development and application.

Will India and other developing countries be left behind in the development of a new wave of technology platforms? How can these emerging systems be made more inclusive in how they are created? How can the benefits and profits that they engender be more widely shared? Are there regulatory structures and hubs of innovation in the emerging world that can challenge the traditional tech centres in the global North? 

Speakers:

Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, President & CEO NeGD, India

Andy O'Connell, Vice President, Product Policy and Strategy, META, United States

Effy Vayena, Professor, ETH Zurich; Associate Vice President, Digital Transformation & Governance, Switzerland 

Pamela Mishkin, Member of Technical Staff, OpenAI, United States  

Pratyush Kumar, Co-founder, Sarvam AI, India 

Moderator:

Laura Mahrenbach, Adjunct Professor, Technical University of Munich, Germany 

calendar

12:20 - 14:20

Roshanara

Lunch Conversations - At the Heart of Business: The India Opportunity (By Invite Only)

Conversation with

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, India

calendar

12:20 - 14:20

Jehangir

Lunch Conversations - Europe in the Indo-Pacific (By Invite Only)

The European Union and several of its Member States have developed strategies in recent years to step up engagement with the Indo-Pacific. These strategies recognise the importance of the region to Europe’s growth, trade, and economic security, amid concerns on the US-China rivalry. However, newer concerns about security in Europe’s own neighbourhood have raised questions about its commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
 
How does Europe’s leadership view the need to de-risk its supply chains in the region, and how will it incentivise businesses to contribute to economic security and reduce dependence on China? Given the importance of the Ukraine war to Europe, will there be any capacity left for the continent to meaningfully engage with the Indo-Pacific? How do the EU and its members address existing networks in the region, such as the Quad?

Speakers:

Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liechtenstein 

Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence, Netherlands

Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, United Kingdom

Tobias Lindner, Minister of State, Federal Foreign Office, Germany 

Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, Secretary of State (First Deputy Minister), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland 

Moderator:

Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, India 

calendar

12:20 - 14:20

Sheesh Mahal

Lunch Conversations - Trends@Raisina (By Invite Only)

Food for thought at the luncheon hour—this symposium will offer blue-sky analysis of the trends and trajectories that are beginning to implicate geopolitics and geoeconomics. Technologists, thought leaders, policy wonks, and practitioners will provide their unique perspectives on where the next decade could take us.

Speakers:

Andrew Shearer, Director-General, Office of National Intelligence, Australia
   • How are geopolitical forces reshaping global supply chains and economies, and what will be the longer-term impacts? 

Mallory Knodel, Chief Technology Officer, Centre for Democracy and Technology, United States 
   • Can international collaboration on cyber-crime respond to the challenges of new tech while also preserving citizens’ rights online?

Noah Barkin, Senior Advisor, China Practice - Rhodium Group, Germany 
   • Is China still as attractive to foreign investors? If not, who is moving out of the mainland and to where?

Reinhard Bütikofer, Member of the European Parliament, Germany 
   • Is the new threat from the Russian Federation causing Europe to intensify or de-emphasise its “strategic competition” with China?

Nico Lange, Senior Fellow, Munich Security Conference, Germany
   • How could the transatlantic relationship be affected by the upcoming US elections?

Moderator:

Lara Farrar, Fellow, USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, United States

calendar

14:20 - 15:10

Durbar

As the Ice Melts: The New Arctic Chessboard

The Arctic region—with a unique geographic location, natural resources from fisheries to rare earths, and expanding shipping traffic—is increasingly significant to global geopolitics and geoeconomics. This region’s emergence is now particularly relevant given the dangerous and complicated security environment that Europe faces to its east. The interlinked questions of security in the Arctic, the Baltic, and Europe have become of importance to the world.

Do regional actors have the capability to be security providers in this region and its neighbourhood, and if not, how are they building them up? How are climate change, geopolitical rivalry, and new infrastructure projects reshaping the Arctic region? What are the stakes for the rest of the world in this region’s transformation and resources? What are the implications of linking the Arctic to the Indo-Pacific region, and how does this affect global trade and security dynamics? How have new developments in European security affected the strategic positions of the countries of the region? Will the Arctic and the Baltic, areas of unusual co-operation, now become an arena for great power rivalry?

Speakers:

Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Finland 

Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden 

Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway 

Alexander Gabuev, Director, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Germany 

Eeva Eek-Pajuste, Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia 

Moderator:

Karin von Hippel, Director-General, Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, United Kingdom 

calendar

15:10 - 15:20

Durbar

Ministerial Remarks

Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs, India

 

calendar

15:20 - 15:40

Break
calendar

15:40 - 16:10

Durbar

Promethean Puzzle: Will Science Secure—or Upend—the World Order?

The study of particle physics and advances in synthetic biology could all implicate geopolitics and geoeconomics? This high-stakes panel discussion brings together eminent scientists and experts to delve into the critical intersections of science, diplomacy, and security. It will consider how the study of particle physics, understanding what is at the end of the universe, or synthetic biology all could implicate geopolitics and geoeconomics. The session aims to delineate scientific imperatives, and what can be learned from an interdisciplinary approach to critical decision-making.

How are institutions of basic scientific research, such as CERN, visible examples of the benefits of international collaboration? How could biological research have implications for global security, and how can scientific innovation be balanced with responsible practices? What role should international frameworks play in mitigating such risks? 

How do scientific developments influence geopolitics? What role do they play in countries’ diplomatic outreach and soft power?

Speakers:

Archana Sharma, Principal Scientist, Senior Advisor International Relations, CERN, Switzerland 

Filippa Lentzos, Associate Professor of Science & International Security, King's College London, United Kingdom

James Beacham, Particle Physicist at the Large Hadron Collider, CERN, Switzerland 

Moderator:

Corinna Hoyer, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, World Minds, Switzerland 

calendar

16:30 - 17:20

Durbar

People, Planet, and Prosperity: Invest, Finance and Grow

Without a substantial increase in financial support for the emerging world, the goals of the Paris Agreement will not be met. A just transition needs financing at scale; it needs climate capital in emerging economies to be cheaper, and it needs money to flow across national boundaries. But international finance is falling short of its role, as it fails to send private climate finance where it is most needed. Unless the world’s banks sign up to Paris in spirit, it will fail.

Why does political risk still serve as an excuse for not acting to reduce climate risk? How can the cost of climate capital be reduced? What solutions work to scale up the availability of green capital? Do these reach the individuals and companies on the frontlines of climate action? Can private capital be made available to support adaptation to climate change as well as mitigation of carbon emissions?

Speakers:

V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance-Department of Economic Affairs, India 

Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany 

Anna Bjerde, Managing Director, The World Bank  

Pramod Chaudhari, Executive Chairman, Praj Industries Ltd., India 

Sumant Sinha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ReNew Power, India 

Moderator:

Geraldine Ang, Clean Energy Finance and Investment Mobilisation Programme, Team Lead, Financial System for Biodiversity and Transition Minerals, and Senior Policy Analyst, OECD 

 

calendar

17:20 - 17:40

Break
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17:40 - 18:30

Durbar

Fractured Politics: Is Development a Casualty of War?

Great power rivalries and ambitions—played out as war, sanctions, or diplomatic pressure—have significantly reduced the policy space available to developing countries. Food and fuel inflation have caused humanitarian crises in many countries, and sent others, already scarred by the pandemic, deep into debt. Government balance sheets are under pressure, and even sovereign debt relief is taking longer than it should.

How can we re-centre the global agenda on development? 

What are the levers available to the developing world to force a conversation relevant to its needs?

What steps are countries facing supply-chain disruptions taking to re-establish resilience? Who are their global partners in this effort? How can financing for development be redefined and re-examined so that some of the spending pressure is taken off governments? Are existing institutions, like the Bretton Woods set, doing their job? 

Speakers:

Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Igli Hasani, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Albania

Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka

Abla Abdel Latif, Executive Director and Director of Research, The Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies, Egypt

Emanuela Claudia Del Re, EU Special Representative for the Sahel, European External Action Service, European Union

Moderator:

Chandrika Bahadur, Chief Executive Officer, The Antara Foundation, India 

calendar

18:30 - 19:20

Durbar

Emerging Technologies: A Panacea for the SDGs?

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on time is only possible through swift adoption of breakthrough technologies. Remote sensing and AI can collect and analyse data to forecast weather, predict natural disasters, anticipate crop yields, detect land change, and assess the impact of climate change. Similarly, drones are being used to deliver medical supplies, map habitats and ecological systems, and manage precision farming. Digital connectivity through secure 5G access and the Internet of Things will be essential for the rollout of multiple tech-based interventions.

How can emerging tech support evidence-based policymaking, boost the efficiency of resource allocation, and improve service delivery? What concerns about the exacerbation of inequalities, privacy, data protection and security do these technologies raise? How are governments designing tech-based support systems and their digital infra backbones? 

Speakers: 

Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia

Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, President & CEO NeGD, India

Aditi Avasthi Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Embibe, India  

Alex Rogers, President, Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL) & Global Affairs, Qualcomm Incorporated, United States

Hoda Al Khzaimi, Research Assistant Professor, Computer Engineering; Director, Center of Cyber Security, NYU Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Moderator: 

Archna Vyas, PAC Director, Growth, Opportunity, and Empowerment, Global Policy and Advocacy, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, India  

calendar

19:20 - 19:40

Transition

calendar

19:40 - 21:40

Shahjehan

Dinner Conversations - Code, Court & Constitution: Challenging Tech’s Monopoly on Influence (By Invite Only)

There is a growing narrative that tech companies are facing a backlash from states around the world. Yet the duty of the state is to define the landscape in which tech operates. Tech regulation is, on the one hand, limiting innovative spaces; on the other, under-regulation is allowing innovators to code laws without any democratic accountability.

This is particularly problematic in the age of AI, the development of which implicates multiple domains from bioethics to market dynamics. Naturally, concerns have emerged that technological innovation is pushing ever further into domains traditionally overseen by the state—from platforms that have greater power over speech than even courts to digital connectivity that is now subject to commercial dimensions. If a consensus is not evolved on a regulatory approach, then other authorities—from courts to bureaucracies—will step in.

How can the state reclaim spaces crucial to the delivery of public goods? If technology and its owners and operators span national borders effortlessly, is global regulation essential to ensure states retain domains that have traditionally been theirs?Can we create global coalitions that balance both sovereignty and innovative energy? Is there a danger that uninformed or overenthusiastic regulation will stifle innovation? On the other hand, if vaccines can have a three-stage approval process, why not digital products?

Speakers:

Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, India

Brendan Carr, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission, United States

Bassant Hassib, Non-Resident Scholar, Middle East Institute, United States

Shivnath Thukral, Director and Head of India Public Policy, META, India

Stephanie Diepeveen, Senior Research Fellow, ODI, Netherlands

Moderator:

Caitríona Heinl, Executive Director, The Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy, Ireland 

calendar

19:40 - 21:40

Mumtaz

Dinner Conversations - Policy & Palate (By Invite Only)

Closed-door conversation.

calendar

19:40 - 21:40

Roshanara

Dinner Conversations - The Russia Files (By Invite Only)

Against the backdrop of the impending second anniversary of its armed forces crossing the border, this panel will discuss how the conflict has implicated Russia’s people, politics and economy. As Russia prepares for elections, the panel will seek to understand how the mood and morale of the Russian military, and wider population, have ebbed and flowed.

How has the two-year conflict implicated the popularity of President Putin? What should we expect from this year’s elections?Are images of empty shelves myth or fact? Which are Russia’s closest partners, which does it lean on, and which does it trust?Has this conflict really brought it closer to the South, or is warm rhetoric just a convenience? Is this the end of any Russian ambition to integrate with Europe? Is Peter the Great’s project over, and should we think of Russia as an Asian country?

Speakers:

Vyacheslav Nikonov, First Deputy Chairman, Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma - State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Russia

Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Government of India  

Feodor Voitolovsky, Director, Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

Ivan Timofeev, Director General, Russian International Affairs Council, Russia

Victoria Panova, Head of BRICS Expert Council—Russia, Vice Rector, HSE University; W20 Russian Sherpa, Russia

Moderator:

Velina Tchakarova, Founder, FACE and Visiting Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, Austria

calendar

19:40 - 21:40

Jehangir

Dinner Conversations - Angry Planet: Investing in the Age of Resilience and Adaptation (By Invite Only)

Launch of Report: Stronger Together: A Compendium of Stories of Courage and Resilience During Disasters

Climate change creates multiple axes of vulnerability. Communities that live on the land face uncertain livelihoods; populations across the emerging world are dealing with food insecurity; those that live by the sea and in mountains face landslides and droughts. Even as we set aside financial resources to mitigate future emissions, we must invest now to adapt and to render societies’ agricultural systems and their physical environment more resilient. The role of technology, of new platforms, and of innovative solutions—alongside the mobilisation of capital and multistakeholder cooperation—are crucial. This session will discuss disaster response, agricultural resilience, and how vulnerable countries can learn from each other by sharing experiences. It will explore ways to make supply chains crucial to food, fuel, and trade more sustainable. And it will delve into key questions on mobilising finance for disaster-resilient infrastructure and for adaptation to climate change—appetite for which seems to be lower in the investor community.

How can we develop the human capabilities and competence that will support greater resilience and technological transformation?

What might be key enablers of a transformation of rural and vulnerable communities, their livelihoods and productivity?

What role does food security and community resilience play in social cohesion and broader geoeconomic stability?

Scene Setter:

Vanita Sharma, Advisor on Strategic Initiatives, Reliance Foundation, India

Speakers:

Scott Moe, Premier, Government of Saskatchewan, Canada

Jagannatha Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Reliance Foundation, India

Kwame Owino, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Economic Affairs, Kenya

Rahoul Sawani, President-Asia-Pacific, Corteva Agriscience, Singapore

Sara Roversi, Founder and President, Future Food Institute, Italy

Moderator:

Louise van Schaik, Head of Unit, Clingendael Institute, Netherlands 

 

calendar

21:40 - 22:10

Break
calendar

22:10 - 23:00

Roshanara

Conversations over Kahwa - The America Files

The 2024 presidential election in the United States might be pivotal for the country and the world. The superpower is in a curious and unprecedented situation. Half of the country does not recognise the legitimacy of the President of the United States. On paper, its economic performance and prospects are strong; but rising inflation has complicated the story, with commentators on each side of the divide choosing to highlight the aspect that suits their politics best. Its international partners are deeply uncertain about the US’ future course, and what a growing spirit of isolationism would mean for the network of partnerships, friendships and alliances that America has built.

What are President Biden’s re-election prospects?

Can the Democratic Party hold the Senate? What is working for the party’s political messaging, and what could undermine it?

Is Donald Trump’s return as the Republican candidate inevitable? What role will his legal troubles play in his party’s campaign?

Can the Republicans control their rowdy right flank, or are we in for four years of chaos?

Are there any remaining bipartisan principles that the US’ key partners in the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and Europe can count on?

Speakers:

Lara Setrakian, President, Applied Policy Research Institute, Armenia

Max Abrahms, Professor, Northeastern University, United States

Rexon Y. Ryu, President, The Asia Group, United States

Theresa Fallon, Founder and Director, Centre for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies, Belgium

Tilman Kuban, MP, German Bundestag, Germany

Moderator:

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India 

calendar

22:10 - 23:00

Mumtaz

Conversations over Kahwa - The Democracy Divide: Universal Norms & Local Practices

There are various global headwinds facing the democratic system. These include the rise of authoritarianism, disruptive technologies, populism, fake news – and the notion among voters that democracy is failing ordinary citizens. Consequently, democracy must be reclaimed bottom-up to make it locally relevant and grounded, while still retaining its fundamental attributes of rule of law, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty. While democracy is a universal norm, its contextual application is a prerequisite for its success.

How can democracy be made real and attractive in diverse and digital societies?

How can differences in existing democratic practices be reconciled and respected across geographies?

How can cultural moorings continue to underpin democratic structures and the delivery of political rights across the world?

In a hyper-globalised world, can we prevent the weaponisation of differences in the administration of democracy by state and non-state actors?

Speakers:

Tony Abbott, Former Prime Minister, Australia

Mehdi Jomaa, Former Prime Minister, Tunisia

Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, India

Ayoade Alakija, Chair, Board of Directors, FIND; Co-Chair, G7 Impact Investment Initiative in Global Health

Rend Al-Rahim, Co-founder and President, Iraq Foundation, United States

Moderator:

Palki Sharma, Managing Editor, Network18, India

Feb 23, 2024
Day 3 - February 23, 2024
BROADCAST TIME (in IST)
SESSION DETAILS
calendar

07:30 - 08:45

Shahjehan

Conversation over Breakfast - Asymmetric Governance: How can Multilateralism work with Multipolarity

Pre-Read: World Economic Forum White Paper - Shaping Cooperation in a Fragmenting World

The post-war order was not designed for a multipolar world. Its multilateral architecture worked reasonably well in a bipolar Cold War; survived the unipolar decades but faced with the centrifugal forces of multiple new centres of power, has begun to dissolve. The diffusion of power is a natural, even inevitable, consequence of growth and demographic dynamics. Yet the dangers of 19th-century “sphere-of-influence” thinking are also well-known, and multilateralist solidarity does defend against such disorder. A multipolar world may be a reality; it may even be long-desired. But new forms of multilateralism may also be needed to meet this moment.

Who has hurt the UN, the WTO, and the WHO—and are these injuries mortal? Will these institutions live to 2050 in any recognisable form?

Most world institutions were designed along multipolar principles, even if those were never put into practice. Can what was imagined be made real—or are new institutions inevitable?

How can we ensure that a multipolar world does not mean unipolar neighbourhoods?

Can coalitions of large and influential states do better than existing multilateral institutions? Could they conceivably build greater legitimacy?

Which countries have a stake in both multilateralism and multipolarity?

Speakers:

Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liechtenstein

Reinhard Bütikofer, Member of the European Parliament, Germany

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Studies & Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation, India 

Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Ambassador of Brazil to the United Kingdom, United Kingdom

Paula Dobriansky, Vice-Chair, Atlantic Council Scowcroft Center, United States 

Moderator:

Lynn Kuok, Visiting Professor, School of Foreign Service - Georgetown University, United States

calendar

07:30 - 08:45

Mumtaz

Conversation over Breakfast - The Europe Files

Divided within, besieged without: the European Union, long seen as a bulwark of stability, is now a source of concern for its friends and partners. As it enters an election year, the rise of domestic populism risk undermining its efforts to stare down threats from the powers to its east. Internally, it continues to struggle with growth, integration of new migrant communities, and an efficient energy transition. This panel will examine European politics, security, and cohesion – and the state of the EU’s shared values.

What are the prospects for this year’s election to the European Parliament?

Should we expect a nationalist and populist surge, and what would that mean for the future of EU policy and its security posture?

The French president said recently that Russian victory would mean the end of European security. Is this still the consensus across the bloc?

How is the EU preparing for a possible downgrading of US support for Ukraine, and what would that mean for the transatlantic alliance?

What are the shared concerns—from migration to energy costs—that exist, and what stops the EU from finding common solutions?

Speakers:

Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, President, Senate Committee on European Union Policy; Chair, India-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group, Italy

Alica Kizekova, Senior Research Fellow, Slovak Foreign Policy Association; Lecturer, Curtin University, Australia

Małgorzata Bonikowska, President, Centre for International Relations, Poland

Stefan Mair, Director, German Institute for International and Security, Germany

Walter Feichtinger, President, Center for Strategic Analysis, Austria

Moderator:

Shivani Gupta, Deputy Executive Producer, CNN-News18, India 

calendar

07:30 - 08:45

Roshanara

Conversation over Breakfast - Drones, Clones, & Phones: Dragons Fire & Eagles Glare

Technology hardware—and not just software—are now seen to be embedded with geopolitical risks. Security agencies across the world are cognisant of the fact that certain governments make manufacturers of hardware embed backdoor entry points into the internal set-ups of other sovereign nations. While various regulations mandate software globally, there seems to be a lacuna with technology hardware. This panel will discuss the risks technology hardware poses to a country’s national security.

What are the ways in which the surveillance state is being baked into the hardware we use every day?

Is it the case that common hardware platforms embed a geopolitical bias depending on production source? 

What are the implications for security vulnerabilities and warfighting via a state’s influence on electronic manufacturing?

Host:

Vikram Misri, Deputy National Security Advisor, India

Keynote Address:

Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, Chief of Air Staff, India 

calendar

07:30 - 08:45

Jehangir

Conversation over Breakfast - Desecuritising Development: Resilience in the Indo-Pacific

Launch of Report: Regional Integration in the Indo-Pacific: Connectivity, Cooperation and New Supply-Chain Linkages

Briefing on report by:

Tetsuya Watanabe, President, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Indonesia

The Indo-Pacific region is not merely or even primarily about security contestation. It is the location where battles for climate action and sustainable development will be won. Countries in the region—including small island developing states – face challenges of adaptation to climate change and excessive vulnerability to economic shocks. Food and fuel inflation have strained livelihoods and reduced governments’ ability to finance development. Investing in community resilience, from health to local infrastructure, needs a new, de-securitised paradigm.

What financial instruments and models could mobilise resources that mitigate health risks, including those exacerbated by climate change?

How can coalitions be built between like-minded countries that leverage shared geopolitical trust into longer-term investments in sustainable development and resilient supply chains?

Are there positive examples of knowledge-sharing initiatives and capacity-building programmes in the region that can empower stakeholders?

Scene Setter:

Do Hung Viet, Deputy Foreign Minister, Vietnam

Speakers:

Änjali Kaur, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia - United States Agency for International Development, USA

Dulciana Somare-Brash, Development Specialist, DevCom Pacific (PNG) Ltd, Papua New Guinea

Emmanuel Baudran, Global Head of Infrastructure, Agence Française de Développement, France

Kate O’Shaughnessy, Research Director, Perth USAsia Centre, Australia

Osamu Yamamoto, CEO, Unison Capital Management, Japan

Moderator:

Anita Prakash, Director for Policy Relations, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Indonesia 

calendar

07:30 - 08:45

Sheesh Mahal

Conversation over Breakfast - Inclusive Vistas: BRICS, G20 and the Global South

The BRICS grouping, newly expanded to 10 members, is now even more representative of the world’s most dynamic emerging economies. Four successive developing-world presidencies of the G20 intend to steer that grouping towards more closely examining their concerns – from food security to sovereign debt. The Global South, long denied a voice in global governance, has thus been provided with an unprecedented opportunity to reshape the discourse and make tangible changes to international institutions and norms. 

How can action be taken on the most pressing Global South concerns – especially about food and fuel security? 

What are the emerging technological partnerships within the Global South that can determine future development paths, and how can they be energised by the BRICS and G20? 

What are the ways in which the BRICS grouping and the G20 can create synergies with each other to the benefit of the Global South? 

How can we create an institutional architecture that informs both BRICS and G20 of Global South concerns?

Scene Setter:

Anil Sooklal, BRICS Sherpa & Ambassador at Large for Asia and BRICS, Department International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa

Scene Setter:

Vyacheslav Nikonov, First Deputy Chairman, Committee on    International Affairs of the State Duma, Russia

Speakers:

Hoda Al Khzaimi, Research Assistant Professor - Computer Engineering; Director, Center of Cyber Security, NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE

Daman Pak Jami, Senior Researcher, Institute for Political and International Studies, Iran

Oliver Della Costa Stuenkel, Associate Professor, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil

Sarah Mosoetsa, Chief Executive Officer, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

Victoria Panova, Head of BRICS Expert Council—Russia, Vice Rector, HSE University; W20 Russian Sherpa, Russia

Moderator:

Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, Observer Research Foundation America

calendar

09:00 - 09:50

Durbar

Back to the Future: A New Era of Conflict in Europe?

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine plunged Europe into conflict, new defence, security, and diplomatic endeavours have begun across the continent. Twentieth-century security arrangements like NATO are being reinvigorated, and the transatlantic alliance appears more important than ever. The Global South, meanwhile, is hesitant to become a party to another European conflict and is instead seeking ways to mitigate its spill-over effects. Most importantly, the EU and its member states are re-evaluating themselves as military, security and geopolitical players.

Two years into the war, what has changed? Who is winning, who is losing, and who is surviving?

How have players—from the US to China, Europe, the Russian Federation, and NATO—shifted their strategy and positioning?

How can an enlarged EU enhance its security in a world increasingly defined by US-China geopolitical competition?

What role can countries like those in the Nordic-Baltic region play in this endeavour?

Is Ukraine doomed to be a forever war? Do hopes for a conclusion rest on the US elections, and does the EU have a backup plan if transatlantic solidarity frays?

How can developing countries make decisions that similarly protect their national interest, autonomy, and security? As the Global South emerges, will they propose norms and principles that all can adhere to?

Speakers: 

Krišjānis Kariņš, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Latvia

Luminița Odobescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania

Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia

Iryna Borovets, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine

D. Bala Venkatesh Verma, Former Ambassador of India to Russia, India

Moderator:

Amrita Narlikar, Honorary Fellow, Darwin College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom 

calendar

09:50 - 10:40

Durbar

The Wonk Tank: Where Expertise Meets Authority

This panel is designed as a two-way dialogue between political leaders, practitioners, and academics. This session will engage with the most pressing issues of our time, like peace and security, climate response, and the state of the multilateral system.

What can change, who can do it, and how can it be catalysed?

Speakers:

S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, India

Bruce Jones, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, United States

Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and Americas Programme Chatham House and Professor of International Relations, SOAS University of London, United Kingdom

Eghosa E Osaghae, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Nigeria 

Michael Fullilove, Executive Director, Lowy Institute, Australia 

Moderator:

Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India  

 

calendar

10:40 - 11:00

Break
calendar

11:00 - 12:00

Durbar

The New Wars: Policies, Practices, and Preparation

Scene Setter:

Vivek Lall, Chief Executive, General Atomics Global Corporation, USA

In the evolving landscape of warfare, traditional mechanisms are yielding to unconventional methods and tactics. The implications of these changes in conflict dynamics include the increasingly blurred lines between state and non-state actors, asymmetrical warfare, and the growing role of emerging technologies. These highlight the emergence of a new era of warfare.

What are the emerging manifestations of informal warfare, and how do they pose challenges to conventional defence strategies?

How should nations adjust their approaches to address non-traditional threats?

Will informal warfare become the preferred strategy for nations due to its risk-mitigating qualities?

Speakers:

Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence, Netherlands

General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, India

Andrew Shearer, Director-General, Office of National Intelligence, Australia

Sujan Chinoy, Director General, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, India

Jenna Ben-Yehuda, Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Council, United States

Moderator:

Lisa Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Australia India Institute, Australia 

calendar

12:00 - 12:30

Durbar

In Conversation:

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles, India and Leader of the House, Rajya Sabha, India

Ashok Malik, Partner and Chair of the India Practice, The Asia Group, India

calendar

12:30 - 14:30

Shahjehan

Lunch Conversations - Democratic Dollars: Can the Planet Reclaim the Bretton Woods? (By Invite Only)

The post-war global financial order, centred on the Bretton Woods institutions, is in urgent need of reform. It is being challenged by new institutions, some of which are based out of Beijing. There are multiple new demands on its capacity, from energy transition to adaptation finance to debt restructuring. It is still struggling to fine-tune its partnership with the private sector. Geopolitical contestation and geopolitical fragmentation have complicated the task of international financial reform: major economies harmonise their economic approach with industrialisation and geopolitical aims, it is important to ensure that progress on development and climate goals is accelerated. Some of these policies now reflect economic fragmentation rather than multilateral cooperation.

Sufficiency, affordability and accessibility of finance is key for advancing green and digital transitions. Thus, calls for financial architecture reform, especially for achieving climate goals, have become mainstream. But these reform discussions have deep geopolitical implications, especially for traditional multilateral institutions.

Can MDBs be reformed quickly enough to tackle the issues of importance to the developing world? How is this process impacted by geopolitical competition?

Given that financing the energy transition is one of the primary issues facing the Global South, what are the specific ways in which a reformed multilateral order could aid in this complex endeavour?

What is the role that country-specific multi-actor platforms and partnerships can play in accelerating economic transitions? 

How can MDBs more effectively partner with other sources of private and public finance, and what are the specific skills they would bring to this partnership? 

Who can and should take the lead in this reform process, and ensure outcomes are equitable and effective? 

Speakers:

N.K. Singh, Chairperson of Fifteenth Finance Commission; Co-Convenor, Expert Group on MDB Reforms, India

Tadashi Maeda, Chairman of the Board, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Japan

Jayant Sinha, Member of the Parliament, India

Osamu Yamamoto, Chief Executive Officer, Unison Capital Management Pte. Ltd., Japan

Divyata Ashiya, RUSI, Trustee, India

Moderator:

Camilla Fenning, Programme Lead, E3G, United Kingdom

calendar

12:30 - 14:30

Mumtaz

Lunch Conversations - Fragile Dividend: Addressing the ‘Old’ versus the ‘New’ in West Asia (By Invite Only)

Violence broke out in West Asia in 2023, highlighting the continuing complexities of the region at a time of multiple global crises. But breakthroughs such as the Abraham Accords and the Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement showed the region’s desire to progress towards regional security, and by association, economic growth. Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and the UAE’s hosting of COP28 are nonetheless reflective of a structural transformation: the future is being prioritised over the past.

What are the implications for the region if the Israel-Palestine conflict continues unresolved?

What are the emerging groupings and partnerships that are influencing the region’s geopolitical and geoeconomic progress?

Can we envision a stable and peaceful West Asia by addressing historical fissures?

What do new economic highways with India such as IMEC and I2U2 bring to the table?

Speakers:

Hans-Christian Hagman, Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategy, Prime Minister’s Office, Sweden

John Chipman, Executive Chairman, The International Institute of Strategic Studies, United Kingdom

Maha Akeel, Lecturer, Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia

Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor in Chief, The National, United Arab Emirates

Vali Nasr, Professor, International Affairs and Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, United States

Moderator:

Elena Lazarou, Senior Fellow, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy; Associate Fellow, Chatham House, United Kingdom

calendar

12:30 - 14:30

Roshanara

Lunch Conversations - Commerce, Connectivity & Value Chains: A Long View from Delhi (By Invite Only)

Conversation with

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles, India

calendar

12:30 - 14:30

Jehangir

Lunch Conversations - Quad Tech Alliance: Innovate, Integrate, Inspire (By Invite Only)

As the Quad enters its third decade, it has transformed from an idea to a living partnership between democracies. There is, however, more work to be done. An institutional framework must be developed to harness the strengths of member countries to serve the larger Indo-Pacific. Given the import of tech partnerships within the Quad, this panel will discuss the scope and scale of the Quad's technological future.

How can Quad partners scale cooperation in technology and cybersecurity?

How can the Quad collaborate on digital highways for the common good?

Can the Quad enhance trusted financial interconnectivity between themselves?

Is there space for Quad partners to set frameworks for growth in the Indo-Pacific?

How do countries utilise their specific strengths and capabilities to create an institutional proposition for tech solutions?

Speakers:

Arvind Gupta, Founder Member, Digital India Foundation, India

Marcus Bartley Johns, Senior Director, Asia - Government and Regulatory Affairs, Microsoft, Singapore

Mihoko Matsubara, Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., Japan

Raghuram S., Joint Secretary, Policy Planning and Research, Ministry of External Affairs, India

Erin Watson, Director at Mandala Partners and Adjunct Research Fellow at Griffith Asia Institute, Australia

Moderator:

Trisha Ray, Associate Director and Resident Fellow, Atlantic Council, United States 

calendar

12:30 - 14:30

Sheesh Mahal

Lunch Conversations - The Africa Files (By Invite Only)

In a few years, the cumulative GDP of the African continent will reach $5 trillion. The countries of Africa have some of the youngest populations in the world and are urbanising and industrialising rapidly. The region is also moving swiftly towards economic integration. This panel will examine the continental growth story and the pivotal roles its countries play in emerging narratives about geopolitics and security.

How can economic integration change the nature of economic growth and development in Africa?

What infrastructure investments are needed to leverage trade agreements?

How are African nations dealing with demands on their capacity that come with playing a leading role in global policy conversations?

How do countries in Africa increase their agency when it comes to determining the security of their supply chains—for example of food or fuel?

How can they achieve independence from decisions made in the Global North, such as sanctions, that may constrict these supply chains?

What does the rest of the world make of opportunities in Africa’s growth story?

Speakers:

Candith Mashego-Dlamini, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa

Saïd Abass Ahamed, Ambassador and Special Envoy of the President of the African Union

Puneet Roy Kundal, Additional Secretary (E&SA), Ministry of External Affairs, India

Rachel Toku-Appiah, Director, Director, Program Advocacy Communications - Africa, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, South Africa

Sara Hasanaa Mokaddem, Manager - Strategic Monitoring & Analysis Unit, Senior International Relations Specialist, Policy Center for the New South, Morocco

Moderator:

Sarah Mosoetsa, Chief Eexecutive Officer, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

calendar

14:30 - 15:30

Durbar

Red Haze: The ‘Derisking’ Question

Scene Setter:

Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC, India

Concerns that global value chains are insecure and unsustainable have become almost a consensus across the world. Two decades of globalisation have raised incomes and well-being – but also led to uneven development, with manufacturing effectively becoming concentrated in a few geographies, especially mainland China. Efforts to diversify supply chains have not met expectations. Meanwhile, the Chinese government and enterprises remain confident that it can out-compete any other potential location for supply chains. And Beijing shows no hesitation in weaponising its economic advantage.

Is “friendshoring” real, or has the world simply entered an age of economic nationalism where countries compete through subsidies and erect tariff walls?

Is de-risking merely a new form of protectionism, which can hit friends and allies just as much as systemic rivals?

Is the business case for reducing dependence on China simply not good enough for the world’s corporations?

What are the potential benefits of more democratised and resilient value chains? Which geographies are best placed to host these?

Can we create real partnerships to ensure that future economic arrangements built around the new economy are less extractive and imbalanced than the old?

Speakers:

Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic

Juraj Blanár, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovak Republic

Marise Payne, Professor of Practice, International Relations and Public Policy, Western Sydney University, Australia; Former Minister for Defence of Australia

Elisabetta Belloni, Director General, Security Intelligence Department, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy

Jorge Guajardo, Partner, Dentons Global Advisors; Former Ambassador of Mexico to China

Moderator:

Indrani Bagchi, Chief Executive Officer, Ananta Centre, India 

calendar

15:30 - 16:30

Durbar

Development Deficit: Towards a Post 2030 Agenda

In the post-pandemic era, the global community needs a new framework for development and cooperation that is more agile, inclusive, and effective in addressing the complex challenges of our times. It must also ensure sustainable and equitable outcomes. Enhanced cooperation between the private sector, policy makers and civil society is vital here, to develop an agenda that takes into consideration the interests of diverse stakeholders and especially the Global South.

What kinds of platforms, processes and cooperation mechanisms are needed to create additional sources of finance for development? How can the private sector be a partner in this process?

What should be the goals and timelines of a post-2030 development agenda?

How can South-South cooperation shape this agenda, and ensure a more inclusive and agile framework for development?

What role will the circular economy and sustainable production and consumption mechanisms play?

Virtual Address:

Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations; Chair, United Nations Sustainable Development Group 
   
Speakers: 

D.N. Dhungyel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Bhutan

Narayan Prakash Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nepal

Tatjana Jović, Advisor to the President, Serbia

Angelo George, Chief Executive Officer, Bisleri, India

Isabelle Tschan, Resident Representative a.i, UNDP India

Moderator:

Jacqueline Lam, Regional Director-Asia, Sustainable Energy for All, Singapore 

calendar

16:30 - 16:40

Durbar

Ministerial Remarks

Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, India

 

calendar

16:40 - 16:50

Break
calendar

16:50 - 17:40

Durbar

Her Road from India: From Boardrooms to Global Institutions

Moving beyond tokenism to actual and effective representation of women in positions of power and decision-making requires political will. India has shown this through legal provisions to enhance female representation. This panel will discuss how female representation can be increased across domains and geographies—including the private sector and international governance.

Can we rely on the incumbents in positions of power—namely, men—to cede space? If not, how can we carve that space?

How can we ensure that multilateral institutions reflect the enhanced role that women now occupy in national and local governance? How do we increase the number of women in foreign policy?

How can we move closer to a world in which women are employed at equal positions and in equivalent numbers as men—and paid as much?

Have we made sufficient advances in ensuring that women are represented in the academic and professional tracks—from AI to energy—that will determine tomorrow’s economic outcomes?

Can maternity be turned from a disadvantage, to be compensated for, to an advantage in the workplace?

Speakers:

Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister of Minority Affairs, India

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana

Angela Rayner, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister; Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne; Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, United Kingdom

Ayoade Alakija, Chair, Board of Directors, FIND; Co-Chair, G7 Impact Investment Initiative in Global Health

Maggie Sprenger, General Partner, Audere Capital, United States

Moderator:

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India 

 

calendar

17:40 - 18:00

Break
calendar

18:00 - 18:50

Durbar

Talking Heads: Solutions from the South

Sharp differences between the Global North and South have arisen on questions that range from relations with Russia to the availability of vaccines to the treatment of conflicts outside Europe. These have caused a clamour for a more just system. But what are the propositions from the South on this system’s structure? This panel will deliberate whether there are realistic and workable solutions the Global South could offer to four big questions:

Global Security: The South has avoided taking sides on Ukraine, and largely viewed the West’s support of Israel’s action in Gaza as hypocritical. So, what solutions does it propose to preserve sovereignty, protect vulnerable populations, and deal with terrorist sanctuaries?

Climate Action: Even without supportive public finance from the West, are there South-centric development and adaptation paradigms that deal with a climate problem the developing world did not cause?

Governance and Finance: Postwar institutions from the UN to the IMF have denied billions in the South access to finance, to debt restructuring, and to public health. So, if a new world order were created from the ground up, what would it look like?

Reconciliation and Reform: How can divisions between North and South be reconciled, and who should take the lead?

Speakers:

Comfort Ero, President and CEO, International Crisis Group, United Kingdom

Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South, Morocco

Nada Al-Hajjri, President, Yemen Information Center, Yemen

Paolo Magri, Executive Vice President, ISPI, Italy

Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation, India

Moderator:

Chandra R Srikanth, Deputy Executive Editor, Moneycontrol, India

calendar

18:50 - 19:50

Durbar

From the Aegean Sea to the South China Sea: Responding to Maritime Sieges

Scene Setter:

Randy Howard, Vice President, Global Pursuits, Lockheed Martin, United States

Maritime strategies remain pivotal for countries, often proving decisive in war. Even as the spectre of continental warfare reemerges, the significance of maritime strategies remains indispensable. Recent political developments in Taiwan, the criticality of supply routes and key materials and heightened political tensions will change how countries interact in this region. Sea routes to the Mediterranean are in peril already with states and non-states acting on these to pursue their objectives. It is critical that sustainable and effective frameworks be put into place now by democratic, like-minded countries in the wider Indo-Pacific.

Can lessons from historical precedents inform contemporary strategies?

How can nations effectively respond to and mitigate maritime threats posed by China’s expansiveness and political muscularity?

What are the new partnerships necessary to safeguard the dense trading links between the Indo-Pacific and the Med-Atlantic?

Are our defence capabilities in need of a significant upgrade to cope with the new disorder on the high seas?

Speakers:

Adm. R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, India

Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command, United States

Adm. Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of the Naval Staff, France

Adm. Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, United Kingdom

Air Marshal Robert Chipman, Chief of the Air Force, Australia

Moderator:

Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

19:50 - 20:00

Durbar

Closing Remarks

Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, India

calendar

20:00 - 22:00

Dinner

calendar

20:00 - 22:00

Shahjehan

Raisina Young Fellows Alum Dinner

calendar

22:00 - 22:50

Circular Fashion Showcase

Scene Setters:

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India

Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President, Reliance Brands Limited, India

Circular Fashion Showcase: 

Anish Malpani, Without, India

Ashita Singhal, PAIWAND Studio, India

In Conversation:

Rahul Mishra, Celebrated Fashion Designer, India

With Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

22:00 - 23:00

Afterparty

Feb 19, 2024
Associated Events - February 19, 2024
BROADCAST TIME (in IST)
SESSION DETAILS

Raisina-IE Global Student Challenge

19th-29th February, 2024

Raisina Young Fellows Programme – QUAD Edition 

Day 1: 21st February, 2024

09:00-13:00 Jehangir: Raisina-IE Global Student Challenge 
11:00-13:00 

Roshanara: Asia Bridge: Economic Partnerships for the 21st Century    
Closed-door Indo-German Business Breakfast

Day 2: 22nd February, 2024

10:00-11:30  Roshanara: Raisina-IE Global Student Challenge
11:00-12:00 Jehangir: Book Panel: India-US Perspectives on Nuclear Security
18:00-19:30 Mumtaz: Tripling Renewables: India as the new Safe Haven for investors in clean energy 

Day 3: 23rd February, 2024

11:00-12:00  Sheesh Mahal: Making Profit a Public Good  

Day 4: 24th February, 2024 

09:00-13:00  ORF Office: India-Russia Track 2 Dialogue
15:00-18:00  ORF Office: India-Nigeria Community Bridge (Day 1)  

Day 5: 25th February, 2024 

09:30-13:00  ORF Office: India-Nigeria Community Bridge (Day 2) 
Feb 21, 2024
IdeasPod - Day 1 - February 21, 2024
BROADCAST TIME (in IST)
SESSION DETAILS
calendar

11:00 - 11:45

The Asian Matrix: Taiwan’s Road Ahead

Alan Yang, Executive Director, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, and Distinguished Professor, National Chengchi University

Sana Hashmi, Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, India 

Satoru Nagao, Non-Resident Fellow, Hudson Institute, Japan

Moderator: 

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India 

calendar

12:00 - 12:45

Has the State Surrendered to the Street? - ANI

James Carafano, Vice President, Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy - The Heritage Foundation, United States

Gladden Pappin, President, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, Hungary

Moderator:

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India  

calendar

12:55 - 13:15

The Forgotten Battlefield – The Fight for Development

M. Hari Menon, India Country Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, India

Ayoade Alakija, Chair, Board of Directors, FIND; Co-Chair, G7 Impact Investment Initiative in Global Health

Aude Darnal, ​​Research Associate, The Stimson Center

Moderator:

Sunaina Kumar, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

19:15 - 19:30

From Athens to Delhi: The Road to Growth, Stability and Sustainability

In Conversation

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece 

Moderator:

Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India 

calendar

20:15 - 21:00

Decluttering the Discourse: Women of Iran

Zohreh Nosrat Kharazmi, Professor, Tehran University, Iran

Fariba Allasvand, Professor, Women and Family Research Institute, Iran

Masoomeh Seif Afjehee, Head of the Department of Human Rights and Women's Studies Centre for Political and International Studies, Iran

Moderator:

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India   

Feb 22, 2024
IdeasPod - Day 2 - February 22, 2024
BROADCAST TIME (in IST)
SESSION DETAILS
calendar

10:35 - 10:50

In Conversation

Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania

Moderator:

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Studies & Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

11:00 - 11:15

Decoding the 21st Century Workforce

Martin Kocher, Federal Minister of Labour and Economy, Austria

Narek Mkrtchyan, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Armenia

Moderator:

Erin Watson, Director at Mandala Partners and Adjunct Research Fellow at Griffith Asia Institute, Australia

calendar

11:25 - 11:40

Transforming the Blue from Brown to Green

Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador at large for the Poles and Maritime Issues, France

Finn Mortensen, Executive Director, State of Green, Denmark

Johannah Christensen, Chief Executive Officer, Global Maritime Forum, Denmark

Moderator:

Mannat Jaspal, Associate Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India  

calendar

11:50 - 12:05

In Conversation

Tobias Billström, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sweden

Moderator:

Ajay Bisaria, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

12:10 - 12:25

In Conversation

January Yusuf Makamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Tanzania

Moderator:

Malancha Chakrabarty, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director (Research), Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

12:45 - 13:00

In Conversation

Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, United Arab Emirates

Moderator:

Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India      

calendar

13:00 - 13:15

In Conversation

Janaina Tewaney Mencomo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Panama

Moderator:

Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation, India    

calendar

13:30 - 13:45

In Conversation

Maneesh Gobin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mauritius

Moderator:

Nilanjan Ghosh, Director, Observer Research Foundation, India 

calendar

13:55 - 14:10

In Conversation

Khalil Shirgholami, Vice President of IPIS, Iran

Moderator:

Kabir Taneja, Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India  

calendar

14:35 - 14:55

Fireside Chat: War from 1945 to Ukraine

David Petraeus, Former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, United States

Moderator:

Rajiv Sinha, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

15:05 - 15:25

In Conversation

Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Moderator:

Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, Observer Research Foundation America, United States

calendar

16:00 - 16:15

In Conversation

Elina Valtonen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finland

Moderator:

Mihir Sharma, Direcctor, Center for Economy and Growth Program,  Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

17:00 - 17:15

In Conversation

Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liechtenstein

Moderator:

Mihir Sharma, Direcctor, Center for Economy and Growth Program,  Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

17:25 - 17:40

In Conversation

Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia

Moderator:

Ajay Bisaria, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India   

calendar

17:50 - 18:30

24 Months: Deconstructing the Battlefield

Alexander Gabuev, Director, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Germany

Nico Lange, Senior Fellow, Munich Security Conference, Germany

Theresa Fallon, Founder and Director of the Centre for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies, Belgium  

Moderator:

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India

calendar

18:40 - 18:55

In Conversation

Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Moderator:

Mihir Sharma, Direcctor, Center for Economy and Growth Program,  Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

19:05 - 19:50

Dousing the flames: A New Framework Against Terror

Max Abrahms, Professor, Northeastern University, United States

Oshrit Birvadker, Senior Fellow, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, Israel

Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India

Moderator:

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India

calendar

21:00 - 21:25

Is the Arctic the next global highway?

Alexander Sergunin, Professor of International Relations at St. Petersburg State University and Higher School of Economics, Russia   

Valery Konyshev, Professor, St. Petersburg State University, Russia  

Moderator:

Rajeshwari Pillai Rajagopalan, Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Observer Research Foundation, India 

Feb 23, 2024
IdeasPod - Day 3 - February 23, 2024
BROADCAST TIME (in IST)
SESSION DETAILS
calendar

08:15 - 08:30

In Conversation

Krišjānis Kariņš, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Latvia   

Moderator:

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Studies & Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation, India  

calendar

09:05 - 09:20

In Conversation

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, PVSM AVSM VM ADC, India   

Moderator:

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Studies & Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation, India   

calendar

09:30 - 09:45

Multilateralism, Pluralism, and Global Governance

Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, Head of Policy Planning, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France

Kairat Sarybay, Secretary General of CICA (Conference on Confidence Building Measures in Asia), Kazakhstan  

Moderator:

Alica Kizeková, Senior Research Fellow, Slovak Foreign Policy Association, Slovakia

calendar

09:55 - 10:10

Safeguarding Development in Europe

Tigran Yepremyan, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, Yerevan State University, Armenia

Nino Shekriladze, Deputy Director, Department of International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Georgia 

Moderator:

Kabir Taneja, Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India  

calendar

10:20 - 10:45

The Future of The Western Balkans

Marija Risteska, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Research and Policy Making, North Macedonia

Ornela Çuçi, Vice President, IKAR Holdings, Albania  

Moderator:

İlke Toygür, Director, Center for Innovation in Global Politics and Economics, Spain   

calendar

10:55 - 11:10

In Conversation

Vyacheslav Nikonov, First Deputy Chairman, Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma, Russia

Moderator:

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Studies & Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation, India    

calendar

12:20 - 12:35

In Conversation

Igli Hasani, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Albania

Moderator:

Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, Observer Research Foundation America, United States  

calendar

13:10 - 13:45

The Pakistan Poser

Geoffrey Van Orden, Former Chairman, European Parliament Delegation for Relations with India, United Kingdom

Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and Americas Programme, Chatham House; Professor of International Relations, SOAS University of London, United Kingdom  

Moderator:

Ajay Bisaria, Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

14:20 - 14:35

In Conversation

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana   

Moderator:

Malancha Chakrabarty, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director (Research), Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

14:45 - 15:00

In Conversation

Narayan Prakash Saud, Foreign Minister, Nepal

Moderator:

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Studies & Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation, India  

calendar

15:10 - 15:30

Rights, Security and Innovation in the Digital Century

Henri Verdier, Ambassador for Digital Affairs, France

Kaja Ciglic, Senior Director, Microsoft, Slovenia

Moderator:

Trisha Ray, Associate Director, and Resident Fellow, Atlantic Council, India

calendar

15:40 - 15:55

In Conversation

Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic

Moderator:

Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, Observer Research Foundation America, United States    

calendar

16:05 - 16:20

In Conversation

Juraj Blanar, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovak Republic

Moderator:

Jaibal Naduvath, Vice President and Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, India

calendar

16:30 - 16:45

The Power of Storytelling

Sara Wahedi, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Ehtesab, Afghanistan

Moderator:

Aakanksha Tangri, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Re:Set, Canada

calendar

17:00 - 17:45

Canada Files

Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan, President of Executive Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Canada

Stephen Harper, Former Prime Minister, Canada

Moderator:

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India 

calendar

18:00 - 18:50

The Year of the Dragon

Jorge Quiroga, Former President, Bolivia

Noah Barkin, Senior Advisor, China Practice, Rhodium Group, United States

Philippe Le Corre, Senior Fellow, Asia Society Policy Institute, France

Velina Tchakarova, Founder, FACE; Visiting Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, Austria

Moderator:

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India 

calendar

19:00 - 19:45

Decluttering the Discourse: Women of Iran

Mojgan Golchin, Head of Department, International Educational Cooperation Centre for Political and International Studies, Iran

Neda Raefipour, Diplomat, IPIS, Iran

Moderator: 

Smita Prakash, Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Asian News International, India 

calendar

20:20 - 20:45

Strategic Autonomy for Asia in a Decoupling World

Hiroyuki Akita, Foreign & International Security Commentator, Nikkei, Japan
 
Heungchong Kim, President, The Korea Association of APEC Studies, Republic of Korea

Lynn Kuok, Visiting Professor, School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, Singapore 
 
Moderator: 

Rajeshwari Pillai Rajagopalan, Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology, Observer Research Foundation, India

Feb 24, 2024
The Raisina Quad Think Tank Forum - February 24, 2024
BROADCAST TIME (in IST)
SESSION DETAILS
calendar

09:30 - 10:00

Arrival of Participants at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan

calendar

09:30 - 10:00

Breakfast

calendar

10:00 - 10:30

Welcome Addresses

Vani Rao, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, India 

Philip Green OAM, High Commissioner of Australia to India  

Hiroshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India 

calendar

10:30 - 11:10

Session 1: Quad @ 30: The Next 10 Years

It will soon be two decades since Australia, India, Japan and the United States took their first steps towards the formation of what is today known as the Quad. In the interim, their co-operation has overcome various ups and downs and has, in recent years, significantly expanded in scope. This session will examine what the next decade might bring, and what the aspirations of each individual nation are for the grouping in its third decade.

How has the Quad evolved over time, and what can we learn from the obstacles it has overcome?

Has it succeeded in integrating concerns about development and resilience into a framework that may be viewed as a political one, but did after all emerge from their cooperation as first responders to the 2004 Tsunami?   

What should be its areas of focus in the coming decade and is its security emphasis inevitable? Can the partnership be better institutionalised, and if so, how?  

Speakers:

Shruti Pandalai, Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, India  

Alexandra Caples, Director, Cyber, Technology and Security Program, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Australia  

Satu Limaye, Vice President & Director, East West Center, United States  

Tomoyuki Yoshida, Director General, Japan Institute of International Affairs, Japan  

Moderator:

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Studies & Foreign Policy, Observer Research Foundation, India 

 

calendar

11:00 - 11:25

Tea/Coffee Break
calendar

11:25 - 12:05

Ministerial Addresses

Yōko Kamikawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan (Virtual)  

Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia (Virtual)  

Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State, United States (Virtual)

S. Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs, India

calendar

12:05 - 12:55

Session 2: Quad for the Indo-Pacific

The primary focus of the Quad, a free and open Indo-Pacific, should be in the interest of all countries in the region.  However, there continue to be concerns that the Quad is an exclusive partnership. This session will consider the state of recent efforts to expand the grouping’s outreach to other like-minded countries.  

Is the Quad “exclusive”, requiring it to expand its outreach? What is the current state of Quad engagements with the wider region?  

What are the potential partners and stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific that the Quad should engage with, from ASEAN, the EU, BIMSTEC, and AUKUS? What are their capacities and willingness to engage with the Quad?   

How can the Quad better demonstrate, through its actions and priorities, that it serves the shared aspirations of countries in the Indo-Pacific?

Speakers: 

Anil Sooklal, BRICS Sherpa & Ambassador at Large for Asia and BRICS, Department International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa 

Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Member of Parliament, Sri Lanka   

Hayley Channer, Director of Economic Security, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney, Australia   

Heungchong Kim, Distinguished Professor, College of International Relations, Korea University, Republic of Korea   

Lynn Kuok, Visiting Professor, School of Foreign Service,  Georgetown University, United States   

Moderator:

Yoshiyuki Sagara, Senior Research Fellow, Asia Pacific Initiative, Institute of Geoeconomics, Japan 

 

calendar

12:55 - 13:10

Tea/Coffee Break
calendar

13:10 - 13:50

Session 3: The Quad Tech Network: The Emerging Tech and Connectivity Opportunity

This session will explore the growing potential for collaboration in emerging technologies among the Quad countries. It will assess the progress made by the existing tech initiatives and what additional steps the group can and should take in this domain.  

What are the most effective models for collaborative research and development on technology within the Quad?  

How and why has collaboration on emerging tech emerged as a key pillar for the Quad partnership?  

Can the Quad create new digital infrastructure that could serve the development needs of the region, while also respecting key security considerations?  

What role does trust play in the future of tech supply chains and technology transfer?  

How does a partnership like the Quad affect the flows of investment and innovation, and is it time for a Quad Start-Up fund for the region? 

Speakers:  

Michael Bareja, Deputy Director, Cyber, Technology and Security Program, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Australia

Rajeswari Rajagopalan, Director, Centre for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Observer Research Foundation, India 

Vikram Singh, Senior Advisor, United States Institute of Peace, United States

Yuka Koshino, Associate Fellow, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Japan

Moderator: 

Rudra Chaudhuri, Director, Carnegie India 

calendar

13:50 - 14:00

Closing Remarks:

Nagaraj Naidu, Joint Secretary (AMS), Ministry of External Affairs, India

Raghuram S., Joint Secretary, Policy Planning & Research, Ministry of External Affairs, India

 

calendar

14:00 - 15:00

Lunch