Pune: The Asia Economic Dialogue 2025 (AED), a flagship international conference on geo-economics, will take place in Pune from February 20 to 22, 2025. Organized jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Pune International Centre (PIC), this year’s event is themed “Economic Resilience and Resurgence in an Era of Fragmentation.”
Bringing together over 40 global experts from nine countries, AED 2025 will serve as a platform for academicians, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss pressing economic challenges and emerging opportunities in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Inaugural Session and Key Highlights
The conference will commence with Opening Remarks by eminent scientist Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, FRS, President, PIC. The Inaugural Address will be delivered by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce, Government of India, followed by a fireside chat featuring Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson of Biocon Group, hosted by consumer economy expert Rama Bijapurkar.
On the final day, the Valedictory Address will be delivered by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Government of India.
Themes and Key Discussions
AED 2025 will feature 12 expert-led sessions covering topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, African Economic Transformation, the Blue Economy, MSME Growth, Climate Change, and International Monetary Reforms.
Among the key discussions:
"Re-imagining Leadership in the Era of AI and Automation" will explore AI’s impact on global leadership, featuring industry experts from Nasscom, AI&Beyond, and BCG.
"African Transformation: From Aid to Investment" will highlight Africa’s economic shift, with speakers from South Africa, Mumbai University, and Jindal Global University.
"Survival Before Sustainability: An Agenda for this Decade" will assess the balance between economic survival and sustainable development, featuring voices from CEEW, RRN Nepal, CII, and WRI India.
"Cyber Resilience as an Economic Imperative" will bring together security experts from Bosch, CyberXCenter, ICE India, and Clingendael to discuss global cybersecurity challenges.
"The Future of the International Monetary System" will examine economic policy reforms with insights from the MEA, RBI, SPPU, and ERIA.
"Empowering MSMEs for Growth" will focus on unlocking the potential of small businesses, with experts from India’s MSME Ministry, BVMW, and Keio University, Japan.
"The Blue Economy in India’s Extended Neighbourhood" will analyze regional maritime economic policies with officials from India, Sri Lanka, and Australia.