international conference on cluster economic development - Asian ...

Annex C: Profile of Speakers and Panel Members
International Conference on Cluster Economic Development
Promoting Local Economies through SME Cluster Approach
ADB Headquarters, Manila, 26 February 2010
Profile of Speakers and Panel Members
Mr. Rajat M. Nag is the Managing Director General ADB since December 2006. Prior to his
current post, he was head of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department and Special Adviser to the
President on Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration. With broad experience across
Asia, Mr. Nag plays a critical role in providing strategic and operational direction to ADB so it
achieves its mission of helping its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the
quality of life of their people. He also oversees the risk management operations of ADB.
Sultan Hafeez Rahman is the Director General of ADB’s South Asia Department (SARD)
covering Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as regional
cooperation in South Asia. Prior to this, he was the Director General of ADB's Pacific
Department (PARD); Deputy Director General, SARD; and Director, Operations Coordination for
South Asia. As Director General, SARD, Mr. Rahman oversees the operations of six division
within the Department - country coordination and regional cooperation; transport and
communications; energy; agriculture, natural resources and social services; urban development;
and governance, finance and trade. Mr. Rahman holds a Ph.D. degree from Stanford University
and Master's degrees in economics from Vanderbilt University and Stanford University.
Jebamalai Vinanchiarachi is a former Principal Adviser to the Director-General of United
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). His research paper on national industrial
innovation systems won the ‘best paper’ award in 2005 at the 14 th International Conference on
the Management of Technology. He has authored several journal articles, books, and reports.
His most recent books are Myths and Realities of the East Asian Model of Development; India’s
Time; Rethinking Development Realities and Intervene to Industrialize. His book, Rethinking
Development Realities, was selected as the best book in economics by Indian author in 2007.
Christian H.M. Ketels is a Professor of the Harvard Business School faculty at the Institute for
Strategy and Competitiveness. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm School of
Economics and Director of The Competitiveness Institute (TCI), a global network of
professionals interested in competitiveness and cluster development. Dr. Ketels has led cluster
and competitiveness projects in many parts of the world, has written widely on economic policy
issues, and is a frequent speaker on competitiveness and strategy in Europe, North America,
and Asia.
Session 1: Examples of Successful Industry Clusters
Venkatachalam Anbumozhi (Anbu) is a Capacity Building Specialist of the ADB Institute. Prior
to this, he worked for the University of Tokyo; Institute for Global Environmental Strategies in
Kobe, Japan; Pacific Consultants International, Tokyo; and Asian Institute of Technology,
Thailand. A distinguished fellow of Asia Pacific Rim University Forum on Development and
Environment, he has advised JICA, JBIC, APO, and UNESCAP projects on sustainable
development. He has published several books, authored numerous research articles, and