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Day 2, Wednesday, 27 September
Grand Pacific Hotel

                    TIME                                                                                        AGENDA
                                                     Session 3: Trade and Economic Growth 
                                                     Moderator: Neelesh Gounder,
                                                                       USP 
9:00 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. 
Introductory Remarks                                              
Professor Wadan Narsey
Adjunct Professor, James Cook University
9:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. 
Presentation 6. “Papua New Guinea Global Trade Potential: Evidence from the Gravity Model Analysis”

Presenter: Lekima Nalaukai
                 Associate Lecturer, USP
9:40 a.m.  – 9:50 a.m.          
Open discussion
9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. 
Presentation 7. “Investigating Trade Costs and Trade Flows of Selected Melanesian Countries
Using the Heterogeneous Trade Cost Effects Model”

Presenter: Amit Prakash
                 Lecturer in Economics, University of Fiji
10:10 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. 
Open discussion
10:20 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.   
Presentation 8. “The Nexus between Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Openness,
and Economic Growth in Fiji” 

Presenter: Anh Tru Nguyen
                 Deputy Dean, Faculty of Accounting and Business Management,
                 Viet Nam National University of Agriculture
10:40 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.       
Open discussion
10:50 a.m. –11:00 a.m. 
Coffee break
                                                     Session 4: Economic Resilience 
                                                     Moderator: Daniel Suryadarma
                                                                       Economist, ADBI
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.         
Introductory Remarks
Selwyn Takana
Deputy Secretary Economics, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Solomon Islands 
11:20 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. 
Presentation 9. “Logging Off: Searching for New Growth Drivers for Solomon Islands” 

Presenter: Prince Christian Cruz
                  ADB Consultant
11:40 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.          
Open discussion
11:50 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.         
Presentation 10. “Barriers to Micro Business Start-Ups: COVID and Post-COVID Evidence from Fiji” 

Presenter: Seone Lolesio
                  Assistant Lecturer, USP
12:10 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.        
Open discussion
12:20 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
Lunch Break
                                                    Session 5: FDI, Migration, and Remittances
                                                    Moderator: Madhavi Pundit
                                                                       Asian Development Bank
1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Introductory Remarks                                            
Sunil Kumar
Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister of Fiji
1:50 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Presentation 11. “Aiming for Sustainable Economic Development during Growing Uncertainties:
The Federated States of Micronesia Case” 

Presenter: Michael Levin
                 Consultant, PacificWeb LLc
2:10 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.            
Open discussion
2:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Presentation 12: “Migration, Foreign Direct Investment, and Vulnerability: Panel-Based Evidence”

Presenter: Nitika Nand
                  Teaching Assistant, USP
2:40 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. 
Open discussion
2:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Coffee break
3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Presentation 13: “Male Migration and Women Empowerment: The Case of Samoa”                                              
Presenter: Vu Thu Trang
                 Research Associate, ADB Institute
3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m
Open discussion
3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Closing Remarks                                             
Ashish Narain
Asian Development Bank                                             

Neelesh Gounder
University of the South Pacific                         
3:30 p.m.- 3:40 p.m.
Wrap up and reminder for next day                                             
Sanchita Basu Das
Asian Development Bank  
6:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m            
Networking Dinner (by invitation)