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Investing in Asia Bonds Conference 2007 – Opportunities for Asian Investors

The conference aims to promote and build awareness of Asia’s local-currency denominated bonds among investors based in Japan. Public and private sector experts will discuss topics including the pros and cons of investing in Asian local-currency denominated bonds, current impediments to investment, and the potential of Asian bonds within asset allocation strategies of active market players. Updates on relevant government and regional initiatives and current regulatory issues will be provided by participating government officials.

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At the end of the conference, participants will have

• familiarized themselves with the Asian local-currency denominated bonds as well as the current developments in the bond market of Asian countries
• appreciated the various country/regional initiatives in Asia and of global investors’ strategies
• learned the advantages and disadvantages of investing in Asian local-currency denominated bonds, as well as the potential of these bonds as a new investment product and asset allocation strategies from active market players
• been provided a platform for information sharing in collaboration with the public sector on bond market development issues in Asia
• created an awareness and confidence to invest in Asian local-currency denominated bonds coming from the identification of the benefits, risks and strategies

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• About 500 market participants who will potentially invest in Asian local-currency denominated bonds
• Publication of a booklet containing various articles contributed by major private and government financial institutions on Asia bonds
• Comments and developments on various topics discussed in the conference to be incorporated in RETA 6341 final report

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The conference will provide a platform for interactive panel discussions with insights from representatives of the following

• institutional investors (life insurance, pension fund, investment trust fund managers)
• investment banks, commercial banks, trust banks, security houses
• rating agencies
• issuers
• consulting and research institutions
• Ministries of Finance and Central Banks of ASEAN+3
• government-related financial institutions

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Confirmed speakers (as of 18 October 2007):

• Akihiko Kanamura, Executive Officer, South Asia and Oceania Officer, Daiwa Securities SMBC Co. Ltd. and Chairman, Daiwa Securities SMBC Singapore Limited
• Atsushi Nakajima, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Chief Economist, Mizuho Research Institute Ltd.
• Chalongphob Sussangkarn, Finance Minister, Ministry of Finance, Thailand
• Donald Amstad, Head of Fixed Income-Asia Pacific, Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited, Singapore
• Douglas M. Hodge, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, PIMCO Japan Ltd.
• Duong Nguyen Hoang, Deputy Director, Capital Market Division, Banking and Financial Institution Department, Ministry of Finance, Viet Nam
• Hiroyuki Kudo, Executive Advisor, CEO's Office, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad
• Hon Cheung, Regional Director, Official Institutions Group, State Street Global Advisors, Singapore
• James McCormack, Senior Director, Head of Asia Sovereign Ratings, Fitch Ratings Ltd., Hong Kong
• Jeffrey H. Chen, Partner, Mayer Brown LLP, Hong Kong
• Jong-Wha Lee, Head, Office of Regional Economic Integration, Asian Development Bank, Philippines
• Kenji Sekiguchi, Analyst, International Department, Credit Rating Division, Rating and Investment Information Inc. (R&I)
• Leong Sing Chiong, Director/Head of Department, External Department, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore
• Lim Heong Chye, Chief Investment Officer, APS Komaba Asset Management, Singapore
• Martin Hohensee, Managing Director, Head, Asia Fixed Income and Credit Research, Global Markets, Deutsche Bank, Singapore
• Masato Miyachi, Senior Advisor, Office of Regional Economic Integration, Asian Development Bank
• Michael Petit, Managing Director and Asia-Pacific Head, Corporate & Government Ratings Unit, Standard and Poor's Rating Services
• Naoyuki Shinohara, Vice Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Japan
• Nicholas de Boursac, Managing Director, Asia Securities Industry & Financial Market Association (ASIFMA), Hong Kong
• Owi S. Ruivivar, Vice President, Head of Sovereign Research, Emerging Market Debt, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, US
• Ooi Boon Peng, Chief Investment Officer, Asian Fixed Income, Prudential Asset Management (Singapore) Limited, Singapore
• Seigo Baba, ABMI Task Force Team Leader/Deputy Director, International Finance Department 1, Division 2, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Japan
• Shigeto Nagai, Associate Director-General, Center for Monetary Cooperation in Asia (CeMCoA), International Department, Bank of Japan
• Stephen C. Fitzgerald, Managing Director, Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management International covering Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, Goldman Sachs Asset Management International, UK
• Takahide Irimura, Senior Analyst, International Department, Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR)
• Takami Yoshida, Head of Global Fixed Income Investment, Global Fixed Income Group, DLIBJ Asset Management Co., Ltd.
• Takao Omori, Senior Managing Director, Advisory Fund Management Division, Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd.
• Tetsuya Fukabori, Deputy President, Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.
• Thomas Byrne, Senior Vice President, Moody's Investors Services Inc, US
• Toshinao Matsushita, Executive Officer, Products Senior Officer and Products Planning Officer, Daiwa Securities SMBC Co., Ltd.
• Vinay Jayaram, Exective Director, Global Capital Market, Syndicate, Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, Hong Kong
• Yoshie Nasuno, Vice President, Fixed Income Department, Nikko Citigroup Limited