Home » Stream H: Challenges of Traditional Economies

Stream H: Challenges of Traditional Economies

Presentations of Stream H- Challenges of traditional industries

H1 Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan

WEDNESDAY, Oct 11, 11:00am - 12:30pm

CHAIR: Alexei Prazdnitchnykh, Bauman Innovation (Russia)
Alexei Prazdnitchnykh, Bauman Innovation (Russia): Can Russia Compete: Regional and Cluster Dimensions
Key Current Qualifications: Regional competitiveness and strategy, national and regional microeconomic business-environment and cluster/sector specific enabling environment; Regional industrial cluster strategy; Technology and innovation strategy/policy, national and regional innovation infrastructure, innovation cluster.

Coordinated the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Program (GCP) in Russia (as an official Russian partner). Member of The Northern Cluster Alliance (NCA).
Student: Competing on Entertaining: Transformation of Movie Cluster in Moscow

Dias Iskakov, (Kazakhstan): The Kazakhstan Competitivness Initiative after 2 years: Defining the National Agenda

Manuk Hergnyan, Economy and Values Research Center (Armenia): Cluster-based initiatives in emerging economies: the case of Armenia

The presentation aims at providing information and analysis on how competitiveness initiatives based on cluster approach work in emerging economies, how effective are they, what are the specifics, the lessons learned, the role of the institutional setting, how the deepness of clusters affect effectiveness of different actions, how competitiveness concepts help transform economic agendas and what type of challenges the stakeholders face, etc.
Since 2003 I teach Microeconomics of Competitiveness course at Yerevan State University. The course is developed by the world renowned competitiveness authority Michael Porter at Harvard University, it's now being taught at 56 universities worldwide with interactive platforms and annual faculty workshops at Harvard.

H2 New Drivers of Competitiveness in traditional industries

WEDNESDAY, Oct 11, 3:30pm - 5:00pm

CHAIR: Christopher Rees, Collège Borréal (Canada)
Speakers:
Joseph Anawati, Canadian Forest Service, Ottawa (Canada): Forest products cluster initiatives in British Columbia
Joseph Anawati is the Director, Corporate with the Fibre Centre of Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Forest Service (CFS). Joseph's activities include setting up the business processes for the Centre including finance and human resources along with all the partnering activities. He brings his background in forest engineering, heavy equipment sales, pulp and paper, intellectual property, and business development to assist Canadian industry to maximize their benefit of CFS research.

The presentation provides an overview of the Canadian forest sector, the delivery of research to that sector and the status of clustering activity that Natural Resources Canada has been involved in. The presentation will concentrate on two initiatives, one in Vancouver British Columbia and another in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario. The presentation concludes with some observations and where we intend to go with clustering.

Bjarne Jensen, RegLab (Denmark): Traditional industries in the knowledge economy: Regional mobilisation for growth?

9 years professional experience as a cluster consultant working closely together with national and regional authorities and cluster initiatives.
Previously as head of research in major consulting agency, now as a free agent. Does analysis, strategy plans and proces management. Particularly in the sphere between public entity and private stakeholders. He has undertaken major studies, including benchmarks globally.
Did evaluations and formed cluster policies in Scandinavia.
Worked with Michael Porters institute, with Innovation Norway, the EU. Active in TCI for 7 years, carried out surveys among TCI members -publicised on TCI's website.

Presentation: Traditional manufacturing industries still make up a large part of the economies in West Europe. They are under strain. Further downsizing and outsourcing is a major threat to regional economies. What are the drivers of competitiveness in 'traditional industries' (metal, engineering, food, textiles, wood, paper etc.)?
Despite the challenges from China etc. we do see manufacturing companies that are able to compete very succesfully in terms of generation of jobs and profit. What is the secret behind their ability to compete successfully against competitors in low-wage countries such as China?
How can European economies compete? How can our businesses survive and thrive despite the challenges? The presentation will be based on a groundbreaking new study. It has been finalised recently in the shape of report, conference and brochure. We hope that a discussion on this will give a more balanced understanding of the competitiveness challenges - and how clustering is an increasingly important tool for companies and regions.

Lluis Ramis, Cluster Development (Spain): Successful strategies in traditional industries - Retail Fashion

Bilal Ahmed Sethi, JE Austin Associates INC (Pakistan): Development of Key SME Clusters of Pakistan
In my overall experience for SME development; I have actively worked with about ten SME clusters in 5-6 different industries. I have worked intensively on the policy development, technical skill enhancement, financial support and marketing promotion aspects of the SMEs in these clusters. I have also developed feasibility studies, helped creating Joint Ventures, prepared Analytical reports & managed training programs for the development of different SME clusters of the country in the last seven years.
Moreover, in the course of my developmental work, I have worked with Senior Government Officials & Ministers, Chamber of Commerce Leaders,Trade associations, Academic/Training Institutes & Foreign Institutions.
I have also gotten exposure to some of the best practices being done in the field of E-Commerce sector development in the US , as I represented Pakistan in the International Visitors Leadership Program on "E-Commerce & World Economy" by US department of State, in 2005.
The audience would get familiarization with the unique methodology, strategy and impact of efforts for SME ("Small and Medium Enterprises") development in six key sectors of Pakistan. Moreover, bridge making opportunities of experts & cluster leaders, attending the session would be explored for future input in our SME sectors. Further, I would get to hear valuable suggestions from the attendees of the session, based on their previous similar cluster development work. This would allow me to improve upon our future planning for cluster development of these key sectors in our country
About PISDAC Project: (www.pisdac.com)
PISDAC stands for Pakistan Initiative for Strategy Development & Competitiveness. Its a initiative under which USAID (United States Agency For International Development) is helping Government of Pakistan, for development of key SME sectors of the country.
These key sectors include:
1. Marble & Granite Sector, 2. Gems & Jewelry Sector, Dairy Sector, 4. Horticulture Sector, 5. Surgical Instruments Sector, 6. Furniture Sector.

Nasim Anwar, Adviser Science, COMSTECH Secretariat, Chairman, National Commission on Biotechnology (Pakistan): Biotechnology cluster in Pakistan
Dr. Anwar Nasim is one of the most prominent figures in the biotechnology in Pakistan, he is currently serving as the chairman National Commission on Biotechnology. He is also an Advisor to the COMSTECH Secretariat on Science. Dr. Nasim has numerous awards and more then one hundred scientific papers published in prestigious international journals. Dr. Nasim has edited eight books on Molecular biology and biotechnology.
Dr. Nasim is a Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemical Genetics from the university of Edinburg, UK and lives in Islamabad now.

The Presentation will address the biotechnology, its background and the biotechnology cluster in Pakistan, the opportunities and challenges by this sector. A brief overview of various initiatives and their commercial utilization will also be addressed development. The current and future plans of the national commission on biotechnology and the other stakeholders will also be mentioned.

H4 Africa - Challenges for emerging countries

THURSDAY, Oct 12, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Moderators: Thomas Winther, Prof Burton Mwamila, Prof. Turyagyenda
How far are we? Our key successes and key failures?
Key questions: Does the cluster approach work? Are key stakeholders informed about the approach? Is cluster-based competitiveness beginning to integrate in mainstream policies? The proofs of impacts on growth?
What could we do together to improve and expand our activities?
Key questions: Extending existing regional collaborations? Outcomes of the regional conference in Tanzania September 2006? How to involve more the International Development Agencies? Learning platforms? Scope for pan-African cluster activities?
What will we do together?
Using existing platforms for pan-African collaboration? A pan-African Conference on cluster development? A Green Book on "Clustering for Growth in Africa"? Commitments to engage? What to achieve before The 10th Annual Conference of The Competitiveness Institute in 2007?
Speakers:
Erik von Bahr, VINNOVA (Sweden)

Turyagyenda Makerere, University, Kampala

Prof. Burton Mwamila: Building on experiences : East Africa: Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda

Dan Sjøgren, SIDA's rationale for being involved": Building on experiences : East Africa: Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda

Ted Lyman, EC Group (USA): Building on experiences: Ethiopia

Nigel Gwynne-Evans, Cape Town (South Africa): Building on experiences: South Africa, The Western Cape
Following Economics degrees at Stellenbosch University and a stint at the Small Business Development Corporation, Nigel spent five years in London doing research in development economics, and completing a Masters degree at the University of London. On returning to South Africa, he worked for a number of years as the sector economist at Wesgro, before moving to the Department of Economic Development as the director for sector development. He was instrumental in the establishment of a wide range of not-for-profit industry bodies, as well as developing a comprehensive programme of support for these entities. Following 6 years in this role, he has been made responsible for a new Strategic Competitiveness Unit responsible for technology and innovation issues amongst other matter

Thomas Winther, Innogate (Ghana): Building on experiences: West Africa: Ghana and Togo
Thomas Winther (MA Economics, born in Denmark 1970) has 10+ years of experience with private sector and business development in developed as well as transitory economies. Before becoming an independent consultant Thomas Winther worked for the Danish Government, The European Commission, The Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordic Innovation Centre. In recent years, increasingly responsibilities and assignments has been emphasizing specifically innovation and competitiveness issues.
Since 2005 Thomas Winther has been based in Accra, Ghana, from where he in addition to continuing assignments in the Nordic and Baltic Sea region also facilitates a new dialogue on competitiveness in (West) Africa. This dialogue among key stakeholders emphasizes cluster development and innovation systems as a point of departure for re-energizing private sector development policies and initiatives (also in developing countries). Read also a report on the session H4 by Thomas Winther.
Ulrich Ernst, DAI (Germany): Morocco-a case of arrested cluster development?
Ulrich (Rick) Ernst is currently Chief of Party of the Improving the business climate in Morocco Program, funded by USAID. He served before as Chief Economist for Development Alternatives Inc., one of the larger development consulting firms in the US. His activities included a fundamental assessment of competitiveness structures in Ukraine and Moldova, an in-depth analysis of the economic dimensions of coca in four Andean countries, and other assignments. Mr. Ernst also served as resident Structural Reform Adviser in Ukraine. He also served as a Program Economist for USAID in Morocco, Sri Lanka and Central America

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