Banyan is an event organized by the leading magazine, The Economist,
where the publication celebrates the intellectual dynamism driving
Asia. Prof. Irandoust will feature in the segment “The next big idea:
Technology.”
Banyan, The Economist's column on current affairs in Asia, was
launched two years ago to deepen coverage of the region and reflect its
increasing global prominence. Inspired by the column, The Economist has
launched “
Banyan: Ideas for an Asian Century” which is termed as “an
afternoon of intelligent debate followed by a thought-provoking gala
evening where some of the region's leading thinkers will present their
best ideas.”
The Economist adds that “for centuries Western intellectual dominance
has been largely unchallenged. But as the world's centre of economic
and political gravity shifts towards Asia, the region is becoming a
critical source of new ideas in every sphere from business to culture
and politics to scientific innovation.” The event is labelled as
“intellectual entertainment that takes stock of the unique concepts and
innovations driving this to be Asia's century.”
Other luminaries speaking at the event include Mr. Dominic Ziegler,
Asia Editor, The Economist; Mr. Rajat M. Nag, Managing Director
General, Asian Development Bank; Ms. Natalia Soebagjo, Executive
Director, Center for the Study of Governance, University of Indonesia;
David D. Arnold, President, Asia Foundation; Dr. Kripa Sridharan, Head
of Research Asia, World Check; Dr. Noeleen Heyzer,
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary
of ESCAP; Mr. Anil Gupta, Michael D. Dingman Chair in Strategy and
Entrepreneurship, The University of Maryland at College Park and
Visiting Professor of Strategy, INSEAD; Mr. John Naisbitt, Author,
Megatrends; Mr. Fredrik Haren, Author, The Idea Book; Dr Cong Cao,
Associate Professor and Reader, Faculty of Social Sciences, The
University of Nottingham; Mr. Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang,
Malaysia; Mr. Cho Won Hong, Chief Marketing Officer, Hyundai Motor
Company; Mr. Roshan Abbas, Film director, Writer, Personality and
Entrepreneur; and Mr. Simon Long, Asia Columnist, The Economist.
The event will be held on 18 October 2011 at Singapore.
