Joe Bates looks back at some of the highlights of the recent ACI Airport Economics and Finance Conference in Singapore. After four years in London it was Asia's turn to shine with Singapore hosting ACI's annual Economic & Finance Conference. However, if the surroundings were a little different - the Gala Dinner was held on a Chinese style river boat cruising around the calm waters of Singapore-the key issues of discussion about privatisation, government regulation, investment opportunities and good financial practice were very familiar. The event also featured two firsts: a Pre-Conference Seminar, and one speaker presenting two opposing presentations! The latter task being performed by The World Bank's lead air transport specialist, Dr Charles Schlumberger, who during his keynote address about the state of the global economy, literally put on different jackets for the different viewpoints from characters he called 'Dr Good' and 'Dr Bad'. For the record, 74% of the 92 people to vote in a poll at the end of his presentations about whether the plane was 'half full or half empty', unanimously opted for the more positive scenario. During her welcome address, ACI World director general, Angela Gittens, commented: "According to the World Bank's January 2013 global economic prospects, although the major risks to the global economy are similar to those of a year ago, the likelihood that they will materialise has diminished, as has the magnitude of estimated impacts, should these events occur."
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