Inaugural Asia Pacific Initiative Forum (APIF) in Yokohama


Asia Pacific Initiative (API) held its inaugural Asia Pacific Initiative Forum (APIF) in Yokohama December 6-8th, 2019.

APIF is an invite-only forum which aims to look forward 30 years into the future of Asia and create a new innovative ecosystem together with business leaders from Japan, India, and the ASEAN countries. We seek to become an exchange platform, developing synergies through innovative ideas and the endeavors of our participant companies. We have continued to bear this goal in mind since beginning preparations for the forum in 2017. APIF offers numerous opportunities for individuals to discuss recent social, economic, and business trends, and share advice on how to expand firms’ operations by using critical technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as AI, big data, and IoT, to tackle social challenges.

The inaugural meeting brought together around 200 experts from various countries in Asia including Japan, representing unicorns, cutting-edge startups, and large firms initiating business model shifts in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. During the forum, participants discussed fields that will spearhead economic growth in Asia, such as mobility, healthcare, and agriculture. Moreover, we invited SUGA Yoshihide, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary; KURODA Haruhiko, Governor of the Bank of Japan; and The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and examined the possibilities of Asia’s future together with business leaders during the forum’s special sessions.

Please also see.

APIF 2019 YOKOHAMA PROGRAMAPIF 2019 SESSIONS

〈APIF President : Dr Makio Miyagawa〉

Dr Makio Miyagawa

Asia Pacific Initiative (API) is pleased to announce that Dr Makio Miyagawa, the former Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, joined our institution on January 1, 2020, as APIF President.

〈Profile of Dr Makio Miyagawa〉
Dr Miyagawa held successive positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Legal Desk Chief, Deputy Director of the US-Japan Trade Division and of the Russian Division, Director within the Economic Affairs Bureau and Asia Oceanian Bureau, Deputy DG (Director-General) of Climate Change Negotiations, DG of Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, and DG of Middle East and North Africa. He served in the Japanese embassies in the United Kingdom and Malaysia, and in the Japanese Mission in Geneva. Currently, he holds the position of Special Advisor on National Security, NSS, within the Cabinet Bureau of Japan. He received a D.Phil. in International Relations from Oxford University, and a BSc in Aeronautical and Spacecraft Engineering from the University of Tokyo. He has lectured at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and at the University of Tokyo, and has served as Director of the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA).

〈Outline of Inaugural APIF〉

DATES December 6th (Fri) – 8th (Sun), 2019
VENUE Hotel New Grand Yokohama
Shiseido Global Innovation Center (S/PARK)
Kyocera Research Center
Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel
Organized by Asia Pacific Initiative
Special thanks to City of Yokohama
Acknowledgements Japan Bank for International Cooperation, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Shiseido Company, Limited., KYOCERA Corporation, JTB Corp., ANA HOLDINGS INC., ABC Cooking Studio Co.,Ltd., Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd., Money Forward, Inc., The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Co., Ltd., Topaz Capital, Inc.
Speakers and Advisors in Alphabetical Order(titles as of Dec 2019)

Aadi Vaidya, Chief Operating Officer, Zilingo
Aaron Tan, CEO, Carro
Aldi Haryopratomo, CEO, Go-Pay
Ashneer Grover, CEO & Co-Founder, BharatPe
Dhanin Chearavanont, Senior Chairman, Charoen Pokphand Group
EBIHARA Takeshi, Founding General Partner, Rebright Partners
EHARA John Nobuyoshi, Founder, Partner, UNISON CAPITAL Inc.
George Q. Huang, Chair Professor and Head of Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
Goh Hup Jin, Chairman, Nipsea Holdings International Ltd, Nipsea Pte Ltd
Goh Peng Ooi, Founder & Chairman, Silverlake Group
Jennifer Perez, Oisix ra daichi/Future Food Fund Venture Capitalist Oisix ra daichi Inc.
Joey Concepcion, Philippines Chairman, ASEAN Business Advisory Council
Juliet Zhu, CFO Carsome Group
KIGAWA Makoto, Special Advisor, Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.
KIHARA Tomo, Waag, Researcher at AI Culture Lab
KOBAYASHI Rin, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board, UWC ISAK Japan
Krishna Kumar, Founder & CEO, CropIn Technology Solutions
KURODA Haruhiko, Governor, Bank of Japan
Lekh Juneja, Executive Vice President, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Lilian Koh, Founder, iAPPS
MAEDA Tadashi, Governor, Japan Bank for International Corporation
Parag Khanna, Founder & Managing Partner, FutureMap
Prasad Kompalli, CEO, mfine
Rudy Suliawan, Founder, Ayana Hotel group, CEO, PT. Midplaza Prima
Ryu Suliawan, Head of Merchants of Gojek, CEO of Midtrans
SATO Teruhide, Founder & Managing Partner, BEENEXT
Shahadat Khan, Founder & CEO, SureCash
SHIGEMITSU Akio, Chairman, LOTTE Group
SUGA Chizuru, Head of the World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Japan
SUGA Yoshihide, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Japan
Tan Sri Dr.Munir Majid, Malaysia Chairman, ASEAN Business Advisory Council
UOTANI Masahiko, Representative Director, President and CEO, Shiseido Company, Limited
Veronica Colondam, Founder & CEO, YCAB Foundation
Victor L.L. Chu, Chairman & CEO, Far Eastern Investment Group
William Tanuwijaya, Co-Founder & CEO, Tokopedia
Win Win Tint, Group Chief Executive Officer, City Holdings
Yuwadee Chirathivat, Executive Director of Central Retail, Central Group Chairwoman of Central Department Store, Thailand

Sessions

Sessions

DAY 1 Special Remarks by Parag Khanna

DAY 1 Special Remarks by Parag Khanna

DAY 2 Special Remarks by SUGA Yoshihide, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Japan

DAY 2 Special Remarks by SUGA Yoshihide, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Japan

DAY 3 Special Remarks by KURODA Haruhiko, Governor, Bank of Japan

DAY 3 Special Remarks ① KURODA Haruhiko, Governor, Bank of Japan

DAY 3 Moderated Q&A Conversation with the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama

DAY 3 Special Remarks ② Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States