IE Business School and Casa Asia are organizing this conference to discuss the concerns that Asian companies have in Europe and vice versa, in order to show the full potential, from the business point of view, of relationships with three of the major Asian countries: China, India and Japan.

Every time we have more and more evidence that Asia will be the center of global economic growth over the coming decades, due to the enormous strength of the Asian economies. In Europe, Asia is perceived as a great opportunity for its high growth rates, demographic factors, infrastructure needs and rising middle classes. In Asia, Europe is perceived as a market with high rates of consumption that is valued technological capacity of their firms, the relevance of their brands and the degree of excellence shown in the design of certain products. PANEL 1: THE EXPERIENCE OF ASIAN COMPANIES IN EUROPE

CHINA: ROCIO BELDA, PARTNER AT GARRIGUES Rocio Belda is member of the Asia Desk and an expert in Mergers and Acquisitions. She is also a member of the Madrid Bar Association, and an Associate Lecturer in Competition Law at Universidad Carlos III, Madrid. She holds a Degree in Law from Universidad de Valencia (1985), Associate’s Degree in Criminology from Instituto de Criminología de Valencia (1985), PILC – LL M on International and EC Law from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium (1988).

INDIA: ALAN DA SILVA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INDIA DESK AND PARTNER AT PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, AUDITORES S.L. Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, specialized in the ICT and high technology sectors. He also coordinates in PwC Spain issues regarding business with India. He has 25 years of experience in audit services, 5 of which in England, and the rest in Spain. He holds a degree in Economics and Management and he is member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW). He is also member of the ICAC (Instituto de Contabilidad y Auditoría de Cuentas) Institute of Accounting and Accounts Auditing, an independent body attached to the Ministry of the Economy and Taxes of Spain.

JAPAN: TOMÁS ZUMÁRRAGA, EX-CEO OF BRIDGESTONE SPAIN The Bridgestone Group, with headquarter in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires which are used in a wide variety of applications, Bridgestone manufactures a broad range of diversified products that include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Bridgestone products are sold in more than 150 nations and territories around the world. 

PANEL 2: THE EXPERIENCE OF EUROPEAN COMPANIES IN ASIA

CHINA: KAREEN HATCHWELL , ADVISOR AND DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS OF EXCEM GROUP Kareen also represents Excem Group at the Fundación Consejo España-China. Since 1997, from Excem Group, she has been managing Spanish companies of different sectors (textile, jewelry, food & beverages…) in the Chinese market, being in charge of the production and the distribution of goods. As Director of Institutional Relations at Excem Group, she is in charge of the consultancy projects of Excem China. She holds a degree in business administration from the University of New York. She is member of the University Board at the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (Madrid).

INDIA: OSCAR VÍA OZALLA, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, ISOLUX CORSAN Member of the State Economist and Trade Experts body of Spain, Oscar Vía has developed most of his career in the Public Sector holding posts in relevant entities in Spain and abroad. He has a degree in Economics from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and post graduate studies in International trade financing from the Dublin Trinity College. In ISOLUX he is in charge of the International Business development department. He was before in INDRA SISTEMAS, also as International Business Development Manager. Before working for the private sector, he has been Trade Commissioner of Spain in Manila (Philippines) and director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (China).

JAPAN: JUAN LUÍS GONZÁLEZ ANDERSSON, FORMER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR INDITEX AND CARRERA Y CARRERA Juan Luis Gonzalez has a degree in International Affairs from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and has spent most of his career in Asia or in companies with business in Asia. He started in Mitsubishi Corporation in Tokyo, to later on moving to Inditex, working both in La Coruña and in Tokyo and heading the development of the Zara brand in Japan. He has also worked in Carrera y Carrera, a Spanish high jewelry company, as Sales and Business Development Director for the Asia-Pacific region. Most recently he joined Pacifico Industrial Ltd. a Taiwanese-American joint venture in China that manufactures products that sell worldwide.

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