June 25, 2007: Competitiveness in the Power Triangle - The Digital Silk Road of the 21st Century

On June 25, 2007, Bridging Nations held a successful multi-faceted Gala to discuss relations between the U.S., India, and China. The conferences brought together leaders from these three countries in the realms of business, academia, and policy in order to explore the implications of current events on trilateral relations. Bridging Nations hoped to use business, leadership, and education as starting points in efforts to improve relations between the three countries. Therefore, the various conferences and keynote speakers were chosen to reflect these objectives.

For a full list of speakers, events, and members of the honorary host committee, please see below:

Honorary Host Committee

1. James W. Baker III

   Former US Secretary of State; Co-Chair of the Iraq Study Group

2. Esther Coopersmith

   Former US Representative to the United Nations

3. John Hamre, Phd

   President of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

4. KK Jajodia

   Chairman, Assam Company, Ltd.

5. Jim McDermott

   US House of Representatives; Co-Chair of India Caucus

6. Thomas Pickering

   The Boeing Corporation

7. Sam Pitroda

   Chairman of India’s Knowledge Commission

8. Charles “Chuch” Robb

   Former US Senator and member of the Iraq Study Group

9. Ronen Sen

   Ambassador of India to the United States

10. Ronen Sen

    Ambassador of India to the United States

11. Tommy Thompson

    Former Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services

12. Melanne Verveer

    Co-Founder & Chairman, Board of Vital Voices Global Partnership

13. Joe Wilson

    US House of Representatives; Co-Chair of India Caucus

14. Zhou Wenzhong

    Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the United States

15. Fareed Zakaria, Phd

    Editor of Newsweek International
    
    

Session 1: Higher Education & Competitiveness in the Power Triangle

1. Dr. Denis Fred Simon

   Provost & VP for Academic Affairs, the State University of NY

2. Dr. Ganesh Natarajan

   Deputy Chairman & Managing Director, ZenSar Technologies

As globalization and technology become the driving factors of the world economy, educations systems must adapt to prepare students for new challenges. A country’s ability to produce and use knowledge, particularly in the field of science and technology, has become a major factor in its development and is critical to a nation’s level of competitiveness. The level of competitiveness is determined by the technical manpower a country possesses. A study by the National Academies concluded that in 2004, China produced 600,000 engineers compared to 350,000 in India and 70,000 in the U.S. (figures that a later study by Duke University would challenge). Yet India’s NASSCOM found that in 2005, only 1 in 4 technical graduates in India were qualified to work. Is this a matter of the overall quantity of engineers or the quality of their training? Does any one country in the Power Triangle have an innovative edge over the others? This session of the conference will focus on the importance of modernizing education, suggest what changes need to be made, and explain how this will impact industries within the Power Triangle.

Session 2: The Effects of the Free Flow of Human Capital

1. Dr. Ernest H Preeg

   Senior Fellow in Trade and Productivity, Manufacturers’ Alliance

The 21st century’s advancements in technology and progress in globalization has given rise to a new class of knowledge workers not restrained by traditional borders. “Brain drain,” “brain gain,” and immigration all have enormous impacts on economic competitiveness. As we move farther into the 21st century, it will become imperative to understand what effect these borderless workers have on the prospects for growth of rapidly developing economies such as India and China. Is this trend expected to persist for the foreseeable future or will continued growth in India and China yield the return of these workers to their home countries?

This session will examine how the free flow of human capital will affect the competitiveness within the Power Triangle and labor demand among industry leaders competing for the same workforce.

Session 3: Strategies for Workforce Development

1. The Honorable Tommy Thompson,

   Former Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services

Rapidly developing and industrializing economies must match their desire for growth and expansion with a sound strategy for creating sustainable knowledge-based workforce. Continued economic growth in both India and China will require innovative training to develop an advanced and competitive talent pool. In order to sustain the development of a knowledge economy, some obvious and necessary conditions must be in place: a reliable healthcare infrastructure, continuous job growth coinciding with advancements in higher education, and competitive salaries so there are incentives for workers to remain in their home countries and work.

These and other vital conditions are prerequisites for remaining competitive in a world of globalization. For economies historically accustomed to state management, what role does both the state and the burgeoning private sectors play in building a workforce in these developing countries? Are there historical precedents available for India and China to follow? What obstacles could prevent the creation of a knowledge-based workforce in India and China?

This session will survey the factors that will shape workforce development within the Power Triangle and examine what trends will lead the transition towards competitive knowledge economies for the 21st century.

Session 4: The New Security Architecture of Asia

1. Dr. Dingli Shen,

   Executive Vice Dean of the Institute of International Affairs, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2. Dr. Ashley Tellis,

   Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

The framework for regional stability in Asia is being determined by the new geopolitical realities facing the Power Triangle. The security order of the Cold War era is undergoing a radical transformation due to the rise of both India and China. China has matched its impressive economic growth with increased defense spending and strengthened its bilateral relationship with India. At a recent trilateral summit in New Delhi, China, India, and Russia signed a joint communiqué expressing support for a world order based on multi-polarity.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has also begun cultivating closer ties with India – culminating in the recent U.S.-India nuclear deal – and remains the preeminent world power. For its part, India is actively developing a blue water navy, and witnessing a stunning technological and economic boom that broadens its defense capabilities. Will India continue its decades-long principle of non-alignment and maximize the benefits of its relationship with both the US and China? How will U.S. primacy in the region be affected by the new power status of India and China? Will the impact of trade among the three countries help to stabilize regional security, or will it only make the consequences of armed conflict costlier?