The United Nations has speculated that with economic growth slowing down in most of the developed economies and the consistent increase in the United States net foreign liability, the willingness of investors to buy dollar-denominated assets could eventually erode. As the latest statistics show, the United States remains the main engine of global economic growth, but the continual dynamic growth of China, India, and other emerging economies is tempting the balance of power and traditional sources of investment returns to shift with important implications for the wider investment community. In the meantime, European Pension funds, spurred by the needs of their scheme holders, are becoming increasingly intrepid in pursuing less traditional investments and methods and begin to venture more aggressively into global investment opportunities.

With the threat of adverse political events and terrorism, coupled with persistently unstable oil prices ever present however, investors must continue to apply due diligence since the fragile global economy has been given little respite to lend itself to sustained bullish sentiment. Despite the risks, Pension funds find themselves none-the-less obliged to achieve ever more substantial investment returns and so must intrinsically impose an increasingly bold and diversified portfolio strategy.

EPI 2007 continues to build upon the exceptional successes of the preceding six years using a unique and flexible format that has been proven to deliver a formula that is second to none in its effectiveness in productive direct channel to the market access.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States of America

Lord Adair Turner, Chairman, UK Pensions Commission

Paul Clements-Hunt, Head of Unit UNEP Finance Initiative, United Nations