oikos Conference 2012

oikos Conference 2012 www.oikos-conference.org 1/9

Commodity Trade Hotspot Switzerland

24. oikos Conference

University of St. Gallen, 15. – 16. November 2012


Management Summary The oikos conference is an integral part of the oikos St. Gallen agenda. It takes place once a year for two days. Last year's conference theme: "Profits without hunger and thirst" attracted more than 100 students and was able to recruit renowned companies such as Unilever, the Boston Consulting Group and the Swiss Federal Post.

This year, the oikos conference deals with the topic: "Commodity Trade – Hotspot Switzerland". The objectives of the oikos conference are to raise the students’ awareness for the subject and to identify innovative and sustainable approaches to master the complex challenges of the industry. The oikos conference sees itself as a platform that enables a dialogue between students, academics and companies.

Participation is of great interest for speakers, partners and students. Discussions will be at a high level, networking activities are promoted and it a step towards a more sustainable future will be taken.


About oikos

oikos

oikos is one of the leading international student organizations for sustainable economics and management. We seek to strengthen action competence for sustainable development among tomorrow's decision makers. As a leading reference point for the promotion of sustainability change agents we inspire students of management & economics around the world to advance the integration of sustainable development into the teaching and research at their faculties. oikos activities comprise the organization of lectures, conferences, simulation games, and seminars, as well as practice oriented learning projects. They are conducted within the framework of a constructive and open-minded dialogue. oikos local teams are located in universities around the world and reach more than 50'000 students.

For more information please visit: www.oikos-international.org

oikos St. Gallen

oikos St.Gallen offers the opportunity to work on approved projects(eg.oikos Conference, WTO model, Carbon Neutral Campus) and encourages students to implement their own projects and ideas (eg. the newly established oikos fund or oikos consulting). These projects strengthen the student’s ability to show their initiative and to face the challenges of the future. A strong international network of experts from the public and private sectors, academia and international students provide the necessary support.

For more information please visit:stgallen.oikos-international.org

oikos Conference

The largest project of oikos St. Gallen, is the annual oikos Conference. This year’s 24th oikos Conference will take place on 15 and 16 November 2012 and deal with the topic: Commodity Trade -Focalpoint Switzerland. Following the successful oikos Conference 2011 on profits without hunger and thirst with renowned speakers and partners such as Unilever, the Boston Consulting Group and the Swiss Federal Post, this year's conference team also takes on a highly controversial subject.


oikos Conference 2012

Topic: Commodity Trade – Hotspot Switzerland

The world economy does not function without raw materials. Whether it is crude oil, cell phones or coffee for breakfast - raw materials have become indispensable for our lives. Demographic change, an increasing world population, and an enormous demand for raw materials from the developed countries and BRICS states will further increase the pressure on the raw material reserves. As a result, trade of these valuable goods is becoming more and more important.

Switzerland, even though poor in raw materials, plays a key role in the global commodity trade. The two cantons Geneva and Zug have become trading hubs for agricultural and mineral commodities. There are numerous reasons for the strong position of Switzerland in commodity trade. A specialized finance sector, political stability, low taxes, modern infrastructure and well-trained professionals are just some of the arguments for the marketplace Switzerland. In addition, Geneva is perfectly linked to the presence of many multinational institutions, such as the ICRC, the UN or the WTO.

The economic importance of the commodity trade industry is enormous. The resource companies are among the largest companies in Switzerland. Despite the tremendous volume that is traded in this sector, it is hardly noticed by the public. The planned merger of two established commodity companies has brought the subject into public discourse. While some fear damage to the reputation of the marketplace Switzerland others see it as an opportunity to maintain Switzerland's position as a centre of commodity trading.

The commodity sector is characterized by many contradictions and controversies in which there are no easy solutions at hand. Extraction of raw materials is largely held in developing countries, trade and end products remain, however, frequently in industrialized nations. Although many jobs are being created thanks to industry, it often occurs in the context of corruption, poor working conditions and exploitation of nature.

The commodity industry remains for many people a black box. Therefore, the goal of this year’s oikos Conference is to bring some light into the dark and elaborate innovative and sustainable solutions for the industry. In a pluriperspective dialogue with various representatives of the industry, academia and students a path towards a more sustainable future will emerge.

Program of the oikos Conference 2012

The first day is dedicated to the participants’ increasing awareness of the topic of commodity trading. In lectures and workshops, participants learn where the opportunities and challenges of the industry lie in respect to economic, social and environmental aspects. On the second day, innovative solutions and approaches towards a sustainable development will be identified and developed.

oikos Conference www.oikos-conference.org 5/9

Program

First Day: Thursday, 15. November 2012

Time Speaker Title

Introduction

10.00 – 10.15 oikos St. Gallen Welcome

10.15 – 11.00 Bas de Leuw

Managing Director World Resources Forum

Shaping the future of natural resources

11.15 – 12.00 Urs Rybi

Erklärung von Bern

Switzerland’s role in global commodity trading

Lunch (12.00 – 13.00)

Workshops

13.15 – 16.00 Dr. Bernd Balkenhol

Former Director of Social Finance at the ILO

Understanding the social dimension of commodity markets

Dr. Clay Wescott

Director Asia Pacific Governance Institute

The challenges of good governance and anticorruption in managing commodity exports

Dr. Frédéric Jenny

Professor of Economics at ESSEC Business School

Analysing commodity markets from an economic perspective

Alice Odiot

Journalist and Director

Environmental challenges in the commodity sector

Julius Bär

Head of Commodity Research at Julius Bär

Pricing and speculations on the commodities markets (tbc)

Plenary session

16.15 – 17.00 Marta Lado (tbc)

Reprisk

Putting environmental, social and governance risk on the radar

17.15 – 18.00 Dr. Alexander Lorch & Dr. Christoph Schank

Institute for Business Ethics

Summary and discussion


Panel Discussion: Thursday, 15. November 2012

Panel discussion

18.15 – 19.45 Prof. Dr. Thomas Bieger

President University of St. Gallen

Welcome

Daniel Ammann

Journalist

Moderator

Martin Fasser

President Zug Commodity Association

Business

Urs Rybi

Erklärung von Bern

NGO

Dr. Stefan Grotefeld

Associate Professor of Ethics

at University of Zurich

tbd

Ethik

Apero (20.00 – 21.30)


Second day: Friday, 16. November 2012

Time Speaker Title

Company Brunch (09.00 – 10.00 )

Introduction

10.15 – 10.45 Prof. Simon Evenett

Professor of International Trade and Economic Development

Welcome

Workshops

11.00 – 14.00 Prof. Simon Evenett Professor of International Trade and Economic Development Prof. Thomas Dyllick Professor of Management with special focus on Sustainability Management

Prof. Florian Wettstein Director of the Institute for Business Ethic

& Dr. Arthur Braunschweig oikos advisory board (session chairs)

6 presentations about CSR challenges at the corporate and industry level moderated by MBA students from the University of St. Gallen

Lunch (14.00 – 14.45)

Closing session

14.45 Dr. Alexander Lorch & Dr. Christoph Schank

Institute for Business Ethics

Summary and Discussion

Prof. Simon Evenett

Professor of International Trade and Economic Development

& oikos St. Gallen

Closing session


Impressions from previous years


Contact details

Content/Speakers

Miriam Kaufmann

+41 (0) 79 789 33 11

[email protected]

Sascha Bianchi

+41 (0) 79 710 28 11

Finance/Sponsoring

Paula Debek

+41 (0) 76 200 24 63

[email protected]

Mark Tilly

+41 (0)79 528 9763

Marketing/Logistics

Fabienne Meienberger

+41 (0) 76 304 23 67

[email protected]

oikos St.Gallen

Tigerbergstrasse 2

9000 St.Gallen

oikos Conference 2012

Documents

Transcript of oikos Conference 2012