Greater China Business Conference at Kellogg

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The Greater China Business Conference will take place May 9 at the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston.

The day-long event will feature three panel discussions covering technology and innovation, retail and consumer markets and sustainability.

China has witnessed incredible economic development since the country opened its doors to the world 36 years ago, organizers said.

But China’s growth is facing fierce challenges from multiple angles and China’s annual GDP growth will inevitably slow down to less than 8 percent, some predict. How China addresses the issues and fuels its future growth will lay the foundation for China’s next chapter and could change the world.

The conference is one of the largest Greater China-themed conferences in North America, aiming to provide inspirations and in-depth perspectives on the China growth story, as well as to strengthen Northwestern University students’ networks with elite business leaders in China, organizers said.

The panel discussions will include:

• Panel 1: Technology and innovation - China is transitioning from the “world’s factory” to an innovation lab. What exactly is encouraging this innovation ecosystem? What should we expect to see from this innovation lab? What are the challenges in China’s quest to lead the world in innovation?
• Panel 2: Retail and Consumer Market - China is expected to surpass the United States to become the world’s largest consumer market within five years, presenting huge opportunities for consumer goods and retail sectors. How can firms manage national expansion? How can firms handle operations complexity?
• Panel 3: Sustainability - The extensive development model of China’s economy has led to inefficient use of natural resources and environment deterioration. What efforts have the Chinese government taken to change the development model? What is the implication for firms in China?

The conference, titled “China’s Next Chapter – Future Growth Engine,” will take place on May 9, 2015 at Kellogg School of Management in Evanston. It will also feature a webinar platform to help connect with remote audience members. Join us to understand more about China's growth vision and strategy and to connect with other professionals helping to shape the country's future.

Yan Xuan, Greater China president of Neilsen, Alex Tze-Pin Cheng, general manager of Baidu, U.S., Satish Gupta, vice president of technical strategy for Lenovo and others are scheduled to speak.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/conference/chinesebusiness/index.html.