The Tribune

RoyalFidelity Merchant Bank & Trust’s upcoming Bahamas Economic Outlook conference will be held amid increasing global economic uncertainty and turmoil, its president has said.

“The global economy is effectively under attack”, Michael Anderson argued. “Political divisions and other tensions in the United States, triggered by the Trump administration’s preference for unilateral action and an increasingly nationalistic stance, have called into question the role the US will play in the world over the next several years.

“Similarly, the rise in nationalism across Europe, which has resulted in Brexit and is causing governments across Europe to have to implement reforms to remain elected, will likely lead to further turmoil in the years to come.”

The conference will be held on Tuesday, February 26, under the theme, Dynamic new world: Braving the turmoil. The one-day event will be held at the Baha Mar convention centre, and is an accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provider.

The conference’s keynote speaker is economist and author, Noreena Hertz. Her best-selling books, The Silent Takeover; IOU: The Debt Threat; and Eyes Wide Open, are published in 23 countries. She is also a regular commentator in publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Ms Hertz’s presentation, The Five Forces of Disruption and How to Navigate Them, will focus on the key geopolitical, economic, societal, demographic and technological forces that are transforming the world.

Biotechnology futurist, Jamie Metzl, will explore the opportunities and risks associated with the healthcare industry under the topic, From precision to predictive: Genetic revolution to healthcare and beyond.

Other speakers include Ian Goldin, founding director and professor of globalisation and development at the University of Oxford; Andreas Ekstrom, digital revolution journalist; and Mark Mathews, professional surfer, Red Bull athlete and motivational speaker.

Mr Anderson added: “The BEO is the only conference that tries to help the Bahamian market see what’s taking place outside of The Bahamas from a global perspective, on issues we believe are pertinent to Bahamians in the sense that they’ll impact the country within a short period of time.

“We’re trying to make the public aware of issues happening that they should be taking account of – what are the new opportunities becoming available through technology and geopolitical change in the world, and how do we benefit? It allows people to adapt to the changing situation, because without knowing about it you can’t really do anything about it.”

Conference registration is now open. Further details are available online at rfbeo.com.