FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact -- see below

CLSA Executives Embark on GIFT’s Immersion Learning Programme in Laos
HONG KONG, Monday 12th May 2008 – This year’s class of the CLSA Academy will begin a two week immersion learning experience as part of The Global Young Leaders Programme (YLP) run by the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT).

The YLP will be included as part of the CLSA Academy’s annual executive-level induction initiative for the first time this year. The Academy drives CLSA's talent development and spends considerable time and resources teaching, mentoring and training executives to groom them into future leaders of the business. The Academy brings exceptionally talented individuals from diverse professional backgrounds to CLSA. This year’s group of executives is comprised of individuals from Australia, China, India, Turkey, the United States, Canada, Korea and the United Kingdom.

The programme taking place from May 12-24, begins with an MBA-style classroom module in Hong Kong during which GIFT facilitators and guest speakers from corporate and civil society groups will focus on the challenges of being effective in a rapidly changing business environment. Guest speakers will include a number of leading practitioners such as; Cassian Cheung, former president of Walmart China, James Thompson, chairman of Crown Worldwide, Subhash Agarwal, founder of India Focus, Albert Lai, vice chairman of the Civic Party and Thomas Abraham, director of the Public Health Media Project & assistant professor, HKU among others.

In their first week, CLSA participants will examine topics such as: globalisation, civil society, role of government, business ethics, diversity and corporate social responsibility. They will then apply these concepts in a seven-day experience on-site in Laos, where they will work closely with GIFT’s partner - Sunlabob Rural Energy Limited on the Laos Rural Electrification Enterprise Project. Sunlabob has been implementing renewable energy projects in the country since 2000 and has received various international awards for their outstanding work to date.

While on site, participants will learn in detail about the various business lines of Sunlabob, such as the Solar Home Systems (SHS), Village Hybrid Grids (VHG), and the Mobile Solar Lantern. They will then focus on the solar-powered water pumping and purification initiative and develop a business plan for it. The overall goal of Sunlabob is to scale up its existing businesses to provide renewable energy and value-added services to a large number of remote rural communities in Laos, through a commercially sustainable operation which works through a network of local entrepreneurs. The water initiative represents an exciting opportunity to harness renewable energy in the delivery of clean water – an essential basic necessity which 60% of the Lao population still lacks access to.

The business plan will identify priorities and key issues so that an integrated strategy can be prepared for Sunlabob to reach out to investors. The business plan will include governance provisions to ensure that the monetary returns are channeled towards community benefits and look at the potential to attract investors to finance Sunlabob’s expansion. In this way, the programme effectively links investors with real meaningful causes and substantive outcomes thus combining executive learning with positive contributions to communities in need.

The Laos Rural Electrification Enterprise Project is the sixth such initiative since the YLP was put forth as a commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative which was inaugurated in 2005. The YLP has been designed to initiate a fundamental shift in the understanding of business, its influence and impacts, by engaging participants in a life-changing field project. Previous YLP projects have been based in China, India and Cambodia dealing with issues such as; setting up rural supply chains, eco-tourism programmes and use of renewable energy.

“The YLP will provide our management trainees with an opportunity to work as a team on a real business project with tangible results for developing communities. This experience will better equip our executives to understand future markets and customers and the complexities of doing business in Asia.” said Laurie Young, CLSA’s managing director of organizational development.

About GIFT: www.globalinstitutefortomorrow.com/
GIFT is an independent social venture think tank dedicated to advancing understanding of the impacts of globalisation. Further information about GIFT and details of the YLP prospectus can be found at the above website.

About CLSA: www.clsa.com/
CLSA is a leading provider of equity brokerage, investment banking and asset management services. Clients are global institutional investors, corporates, governments and high net worth individuals. Powered by a local presence in every Asian market with global distribution capabilities, CLSA offers clients in-depth perspective on Asia with a full range of exceptional services and products wherever they are based.

CONTACT:
Chandran Nair,
Founder and Chief Executive
Ph: (852) 3571 8103
Cell: (852) 9171 3981

Thomas Tang,
Executive Director
Ph: (852) 3571 8104
Cell: (852) 9160 7595