ASIA-PACIFIC – OCTOBER 2011: The Economist is sharpening its focus on the region with the introduction of a major event that brings its weekly Asia column, Banyan, to life for the first time. The Economist launched its Banyan column two years ago to deepen the publication’s coverage of the region and reflect its increasing global prominence.
The inaugural “Banyan: Ideas for an Asian Century” event, to be held in Singapore on October 18, 2011, brings together leading experts such as Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP; Rajat Nag, Managing Director, Asian Development Bank; Cho Won Hong, Chief Marketing Officer, Hyundai Motor Company; and Said Irandoust, President, Asian Institute of Technology to exchange perspectives on the big concepts and innovations driving this to be Asia’s century.
The event will be hosted by The Economist’s Banyan columnist, Simon Long, together with the publication’s Asia Editor, Dominic Ziegler.
“’Banyan: Ideas for an Asian Century’ is a celebration of the column that will challenge conventional thought on the world’s most dynamic region,” says Sue Toomey, Director, Events and Conferences for The Economist Group in Asia Pacific. “Through the event, we aim to provide an intelligent platform where our readers and other ‘intellectually curious’ idea seekers can join our editors in exchanging fresh and creative views on and from Asia”.
The strength of The Economist’s focus and presence in Asia is also reflected in the recent increase in the publication’s Asia Pacific weekly circulation to 146,016 – a 4.3% rise in year-on-year growth, according to ABC figures released in August 2011 in addition to a 8.7% increase over the year.
